I give my horse 1-2 cups of the Omega Horseshine (mostly flax) per day for the amino acids /protein and I also add 1 scoop of fat supplement. I found that as my horse progressed up the levels, he needed a bit more “fuel” for energy levels and muscle-building. This supplementation is in addition to his senior feed. He looks and feels great.
I use Equitop Myoplast too with really good results.
Mare has PSSM, so it does help her muscles on a daily basis.
After her check ligament injury, it helped put her back in shape when she was cleared to start real work.
It gives her a great topline. Prior to her last show season, I had increased the dose to the max one and her neck and muscles in general just puffed!
More muscles, more athletic, less injuries.
Of course, good training is a must…
Friend of mine’s young x-tall horse also bloomed with it. She just started it and can see good results after a month. It was prescribed by her vet after a thourough check. Clearly, he was missing something in his diet. That did the trick.
No, but as we school 4th level, I will be watching soreness and muscle mass. I do believe in regular time off to help with muscle recovery
I’m sort of a nutrition nut (though maybe not as much so as cowgirl, whose mare does have a fantastic topline and coat). So, yes, I supplement my horse to support his muscular development and overall health.
He gets ProAdd Ultimate, magnesium, natural vitamin E, flax, plus GUT and joint supplements in a warm beet-pulp mash (with some cinnamon and a little oatmeal, because it makes him so happy). I used to use Tri-Amino but wanted to simplify life so I replaced that and the ration balancer with the ProAdd. I also buy hay directly from the farmer and test it, so I know what they are getting there.
I did think the Tri-Amino made a noticeable difference in my other horse when he was in work, compared to when I fed him only the ration balancer.
I’m convinced that the amino acids and other nutrients are beneficial, though certainly not a substitute for the work. If the diet is lacking or marginal, you just won’t see the same results. My horse has a great topline and he glows and turns heads wherever he goes. I’ve even had total strangers photograph and video him (which I thought was a bit odd).
Short and sweet. Google “amino acids horses” for plenty more. https://kppusa.com/tips-and-topics/protein-demystified/
By supplementing the top three limiting amino acids you are not providing a dangerous excess of protein. Far more “dangerous” to kidney function is an excess of non essential and non limiting amino acids found in alfalfa… hence the increased urine output and ammonia smell of horse fed high amounts of alfalfa. Adding those limiting amino acids can actually reduce protein waste by allowing the body to utilize more of the excess amino acids. There are several scientific studies you can read about that suggest that you can lower the crude protein in the diet by adding lysine (the first limiting amino acid).
Every single foodstuff you give your horse besides straight oils has protein and therefore amino acids. They are the building blocks of protein. But despite a high crude protein diet, some of this amino acids can be deficient depending on the amino acid profile of the source… there are 22 different amino acids that comprise protein molecules and they are combined in an infinite number of ways to produce muscle, hormones, sweat, hair and hooves among other things. If any one of the 10 essential amino acids is lacking, something will suffer be it muscle building and repair, hoof quality, wound healing, immune response, etc.
A balanced diet is key. Adding amino acids to a horse already getting his requirements from a quality feed and hay will see no benefit from supplementation. Some require more than others. Most high quality commercial feeds have this already covered and will list minimum amounts of lysine, threonine and methionine by a weight percentage, not just overall crude protein.
And to be clear, I’m not saying alfalfa is in any way dangerous. Just clarifying that it is silly to be worried about the effects of an AA supplement when you are feeding 10# of alfalfa a day.
Who said anyone is feeding 10# of alfalfa a day?
I wholeheartedly stand by my assertion that supplementation with protein is dangerous in a horse with renal disease and that a horse with renal disease needs very careful management.
And therefore, if you do not know whether your horse has renal disease, and you have not had him tested, you should.
If you have actual studies that describe the contrary, I’m happy to read them. Actual studies, mind you, not a product description.
It’s basic pathophysiology.
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;9021507]
Who said anyone is feeding 10# of alfalfa a day?
I wholeheartedly stand by my assertion that supplementation with protein is dangerous in a horse with renal disease and that a horse with renal disease needs very careful management.
And therefore, if you do not know whether your horse has renal disease, and you have not had him tested, you should.
If you have actual studies that describe the contrary, I’m happy to read them. Actual studies, mind you, not a product description.
It’s basic pathophysiology.[/QUOTE]
I believe excess protein is simply excreted in the urine for horses (i.e., strong ammonia smell in a stall). Nutrition textbook here.
No, it is NOT with renal insufficiency or failure.
It damages the kidneys further.
RHATRT, I wasn’t singling you out… a number of posters expressed concern that amino acid supplements could be dangerous. There’s a wide swath of the country where it is common to feed only alfalfa at around 15-20 lbs per horse daily and many more where an orchard or timothy mix with 50% alfalfa is standard for sport horses. This type of excess protein consumption is no more dangerous that a few ounces of an AA supplement.
I am in agreement with you that a horse with renal disease would do better on a diet with less stress to the kidneys and less crude protein but that horse is still going to have a similar amino acid profile requirement to any other horse in similar work and therefor could benefit from an even lower protein diet plus supplementation of the lysine he is likely to be lacking from that restricted protein. I’m sure there is a veterinary nutritionist one can consult if they are facing this specific problem.
For healthy horses, excess protein is harmlessly excreted in the urine.
I’m not a veterinarian and I’m stepping out of the conversation politely.
Impaired renal function is something that doesn’t have immediate symptoms and sometimes it’s too late when it is discovered. And for we horse lovers, that can be absolutely tragic. Yes, personal experience.
For horses with normally functioning kidneys, sure, it’s excreted. But not for those horses whose renal function is impaired.
That’s the only message I’m trying to convey here.
gypsymare, I just saw your response to me after I posted above.
I know you weren’t talking just to me 
but I care enough about this issue (and am an expert in the human side of all of this 
) because it’s an issue near and dear to my heart regarding horses.
It is possible to manage chronic kidney disease in horses and diet is the primary way to do it. OP asked, and I’m answering, and it seems like everyone is saying, “oh, it’s no big deal.” When it is.
[QUOTE=right horse at the right time;9019964]
Do you mean that soy is an ANTI-inflammatory?[/QUOTE]
No, I mean that soy protein can cause inflammation. Soy oil, on the other hand, has omega 6s. But I stay away from soy altogether.
Thanks, Gypsymare. I’m a PhD physiologist and this makes more sense. I think that most dressage horses (IME, at least) have good nutrition. Most are fed good feeds and often to manufacturer instruction, plus decent hay. Occasionally, some have good turnout. Most dressage horses I know are not particularly lacking…unless dressage work creates some kind of deficiency (not talking about GP levels). That said, I know quite a few AQHA people whose horses are fed a spectacular diet and are still fed protein supplements.
I don’t think people feed these supplements to correct diets. IME, people who can afford these are also feeding quality hay and feed. It seems like these supplements are fed “on top of” a good diet.
I believe this is the article that was going around FB a few months ago, written by a veterinarian who believes our processed grains are falling short on amino acids and supplementing protein is necessary.
I feed Tri-Amino as my draft cross came to me with a lot of fat and little muscle. I am trying to help boost him in gaining muscle overall, not just the topline.
Is Equitop Myoplast available in the states?
Interestingly, I can’t seem to find what is in Equitop Myoplast except for “18 amino acids”. I wonder if it is similar to the typical higher-end AA supplements that you can find in the U.S. (except for the marketing - slick marketing). Hmmm…
[QUOTE=alibi_18;9020193]
I use Equitop Myoplast too with really good results.
Mare has PSSM, so it does help her muscles on a daily basis.
After her check ligament injury, it helped put her back in shape when she was cleared to start real work.
It gives her a great topline. Prior to her last show season, I had increased the dose to the max one and her neck and muscles in general just puffed!
More muscles, more athletic, less injuries.
Of course, good training is a must…
Friend of mine’s young x-tall horse also bloomed with it. She just started it and can see good results after a month. It was prescribed by her vet after a thourough check. Clearly, he was missing something in his diet. That did the trick.[/QUOTE]
Is Equitop Myoplast available in Canada?
Ugh can’t edit my post. In Canada, do you have to get Equitop Myoplast over the counter from the vet’s? Was it expensive?
I get it from the vet. 80$ per container.
