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Magnesium Oxide
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Manufacturer: Performance Equine
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Every time a horse gets excited, its body uses magnesium to calm down and relax. The lower the magnesium level, the lower its' threshold for new stress. Thus, your horse becomes increasingly more sensitive to stress: more adrenaline, greater magnesium loss, greater sensitivity, etc. Soon its intracellular magnesium level is no longer 10 times that of serum, and the cells are in a chronic state of excitability.
Anxiety, irritability, spooky, defensive behavior, random bucking, rearing and refusals are just the tip of the iceberg of magnesium deficiency symptoms. Magnesium- The Mineral Superstar
What contributes to magnesium deficiency?
STRESS and stress hormones adrenalin, noradrenalin and cortisol- Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands. It is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response to stress.
Adrenaline burns through magnesium
Physical exertion, sweat, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances
Diuretics (lasix given on the track routinely and to speed event horses- barrel horses)
Excessive sodium and/or calcium supplementation or a calcium rich diet.
Imbalances in Calcium, Potassium and Phosphorus.
Approximately 60 percent of the body's magnesium is in the skeleton, 39 percent is inside cells(20 percent in skeletal muscle), and less than 1 percent outside the cells (mainly in the bloodstream) This makes testing for magnesium levels in the blood inconclusive because the body will work hard to maintain the proper amount of magnesium in the bloodstream.
Mares can pass on a deficiency to their foals in turn passing on the behavior associated with a short fall of magnesium.
Horses with a magnesium shortfall often crave excessive amounts of salt, increasing urine output therefore increasing the amount of magnesium excreted.
How much to feed each day?
General dosage would start at 2 grams of Magnesium Oxide per 100kg body weight 500kg (1100lb) horse (non-working daily requirement) would be 10 grams of Magnesium Oxide. However, trans-dermal (through the skin) is the most efficient way to increase magnesium status. Some horses may benefit from both oral and trans-dermal application. If a horse is exhibiting signs of a magnesium shortfall such as muscle tremors, tight muscles or has a history of tying up you can double the amount for the first ten days or up to bowel tolerance. Horses in heavy training have a much higher daily requirement, often double or triple that of a non working horse. If your horse develops loose manure, cut the amount you are feeding in half or offer magnesium throughout the day in smaller portions. You can increase the absorption or bio-availability when you offer it in smaller increments with more frequency. Magnesium toxicity is extremely rare but it should be noted that horses with impaired kidney function should not be supplemented with magnesium without the supervision of your vet.
Why feed Magnesium to Horses?
Magnesium plays an important part in nerve and muscle function, and horses deficient in this important element can show signs of nervousness, wariness, excitability, jumpy, tight sore backs not related to saddle fit, muscle tremors and skin is hypersensitive. This gives magnesium its reputation for having a calming influence on equines. A deficient horse is likely to have a poor tolerance to work, fatigue quickly and are prone to tying up. They build up lactic acid more readily. This is why magnesium deficient horses sometimes have behavior problems...it's because they are prone to muscle cramping and have a poor tolerance for work, they fatigue quickly and have poor recovery from hard workouts. Magnesium is also known to play an important part in reducing equine obesity, and can lessen the risk of laminitis in animals prone to it during periods of strong spring grass growth.
Magnesium and the athlete
Research in human athletics-Muscle endurance and total work capacity, declines rapidly with nutritional deficiency in the area of key minerals like zinc and magnesium. “Magnesium is essential to a diet for athletes under a lot of stress or want to experience the ultimate rush,” says Dr. James Thor, National Director of Extreme Sports Medicine. “Several reasons, one is if you are working out in a gym, or continual stress excessive amounts of lactic acid in the muscle have been linked to higher levels of anxiety,”
Magnesium and Laminitis
Magnesium supplementation has been advised by veterinary surgeons with excellent results. The supplementation serves not only to re-balance the diet in low magnesium areas or with high grain diets, but also to help in combating fat deposition in overweight animals (cresty necks). In particular, with laminitics, to aid weight loss where necessary, and aids horses with insulin resistance.
Signs that may indicate a shortfall? Your horse may some of these signs all the time or only during times of stress and competition when magnesium requirements are higher.
Very tight, sore back not related to activity, fitness level or saddle fit
Horse never really relaxes
Cranky about being brushed or palpated especially over the back on either side of the spine
Cranky about being blanketed
History of tying up
Muscle tremors or all over trembling not related to outside temperature
Requires long periods of lunging before being able to focus on work
Does not tolerate work well and works up, not down
Bucks shortly after workout begins, seems fine at first then bucks or balks
Would be described as 'thin skinned' or hypersensitive to touch
Chiropractic adjustments, massage and body work do not have lasting effects
Has difficulty getting round or picking his back up under saddle, moves hollow
Difficulty focusing on work, poor work ethic
Can't be still, repetitive movement
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