Now more than ever we are looking forward to getting out and about and enjoying our horses. Lessons, clinics and, yes, even competition are opening up again – and we can’t wait! However as we come out of lockdown, it’s worth thinking about the challenges faced, particularly at this time of year, and how we can help our horses stay fit and well, and ready for the challenge ahead.
While we’re enjoying the longer days and, hopefully, warmer weather, for those sensitive horses Spring is not necessarily all good news. High pollen counts bring challenges that may be seen as respiratory stress, and inconsistencies in your horse’s work.
It’s worth also being aware that respiratory challenge often goes unseen in horses, so look out for those subtle signs such as drops in stamina or poor performance. Studies in equine athletes have shown that sub-clinical respiratory stress is evident in over 80% of horses*, which may be linked to management, as well as environmental stress, such as pollen.
Therefore, whether signs of respiratory stress are evident, or it is simply that you wish to maintain your horses’ respiratory capacity to maximize their performance potential, we advise putting a clean air policy in place.
With the lack of work throughout the lockdown period, we now have to establish and fine-tune their programmes to get them back to fitness.
NAF Five Star Respirator Boost provides naturally sourced powerful antioxidants, working in synergy with specific herbs for lung health, such as echinacea, eucalyptus and clove oil to maintain a clear way right through the competition season. Feed Respirator Boost daily, ideally mixed with a little warm water, and fed from the floor to encourage natural drainage.
* Fe.ter.Woort J.L; et al (2018) Histologic investigation of airway inflammation in postmortem lung samples from racehorses. American Journal of Veterinary Research: March 2018, 79(3) p.342-347
