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THE ORIGINAL, RESEARCH-PROVEN STABILISED RICE BRAN CONDITIONING SUPPLEMENT

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Stabilised rice bran, which is the main ingredient in Equi-Jewel, has become a popular dietary additive for many different types of horses. In the past decade, rice bran has achieved somewhat of a “cult-like” following with performance horse owners. Despite the popularity of rice bran, many horse owners are confused regarding the what, when, and why of rice bran.

Stabilised rice bran, such as in Equi-Jewel, is a great source of fat. Research has confirmed that the fat in stabilised rice bran is highly digestible and is equally as digestible as corn oil. In addition, fat in rice bran contains gamma oryzanol, which has been suggested to have muscle-building properties and to increase appetite in horses. Equi-Jewel is a good source of B vitamins including thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin. These B vitamins function in many chemical reactions that generate energy for the body. Equi-Jewel contains KER BMC®, a unique source of marine-derived calcium more highly digestible than other forms of calcium typically used in feeds. KER BMC buffers stomach acid to bolster gastric health and reduce the incidence of ulcers, as well as to moderate the pH of the hindgut to prevent acidosis.

Stabilised rice bran is a safe, palatable means of adding calories to the diets of many types of horses. Because many of the calories originate from fat, adding stabilised rice bran to the diet avoids potential digestive upset that may occur with high-carbohydrate (grain) feeding. Stabilised rice bran also offers the advantage of providing fat in the diet without the mess of adding vegetable oil.

Many types of horses can benefit from the addition of fat in the form of stabilised rice bran. Performance horses benefit primarily in two ways. First, dietary fat serves as a calorie-rich feedstuff that helps the athletic horse meet its energy requirements. Second, for performance horses that have trouble maintaining their weight, stabilised rice bran functions as an additional energy source that does not require feeding more grain in the diet. The additional calories provided by stabilised rice bran can increase the energy density (increase the number of calories per kg) of the diet or reduce the amount of grain that must be fed to maintain condition. Finally, it is used as part of many diets for horses with myopathies, such as recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER, tying-up).

If Equi-Jewel is used to replace a portion of the grain in the diet, it is vital to remember that rice bran is not fortified with vitamins but does contain balanced calcium and phosphorus and has added vitamin E and selenium as antioxidants. Therefore, the horse will continue to require proper vitamin and mineral supplementation in addition to the stabilised rice bran. For example, performance horses should not have their entire grain diet replaced with rice bran without the addition of a balanced vitamin and/or mineral supplement.

Stabilised rice bran is also a popular additive to the diets of show horses and horses being prepared for sales. Both groups of horses are scrutinised for coat and body condition. With its elevated fat content, Equi-Jewel is a good source of essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are necessary for healthy skin and quality coat condition. In fact, one of the first benefits noted from feeding rice bran is a positive change in coat condition. The diets of young growing horses may also benefit from the addition of dietary fat.

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THE GOOD OIL ON HOOF DRESSINGS

Hoof dressing alongside regular farrier visits is a part of routine foot maintenance because we want to make sure our horse’s feet are in the best possible condition they can be – and for good reason.

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