If a horse spends most of its life in a confined space, its bones may pay the price.
Bone is a dynamic, living tissue strengthened through use. “Impact stress from moderate exercise—whether it’s a structured regime such as daily training or simply roughhousing in a pasture—encourages osteoblasts to lay down osteoid tissue, which is converted into healthy, resilient bone,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research.
When a horse does not exercise regularly, osteoids grow lazy, refusing to deposit substrate for skeletal renewal, and eventually mature bones will demineralize. Over time, Crandell said, demineralization weakens individual bones, which in turn reduces the strength of the entire skeleton. Studies have shown that horses kept on an exercise regimen have stronger skeletons than their stall-bound peers.
For maximal skeletal resiliency, allow horses daily exercise, be it in a tailored training setting or just cruising in a pasture with friends. For those horses that must be kept confined, choose DuraPlex for long-term bone health and soundness.
Do you have a horse that’s recuperating from an injury and requires stall rest? These horses often have changed dietary requirements. If you need help revising your stall-bound horse’s diet, contact a professional equine nutritionist today for a free consultation.
Stall rest is often a necessary evil as a horse recuperates from an injury or disease. To some extent, supplements can combat the negative effects of extended stall confinement. DuraPlex, a product developed by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), is an effective mineralization supplement complete with a special blend of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Read the study showing the efficacy of DuraPlex. In Australia, choose Bone Food Plus.
February 25, 2016 By Kentucky Equine Research Staff
