Digestion and Behaviour are inextricably linked. Digestive disruption can lead to temperamental imbalance or undesirable behavioural habits. If a horse is upset, highly strung or nervous this will have detrimental repercussions on gut function...it can be a chicken and egg situation!

Research has consistently shown that being kept in a stressful environment is one of the main causes of behavioural abnormalities in the horse. Box walking, weaving and crib biting can often be traced to an aspect of the animal's environment that it perceives as stressful. This in turn can be traced back to digestive upsets which are a direct consequence of the diet and feeding regime. The horse is designed to spend long periods of time grazing on a diet composed mainly of fibre. While the provision of hard feed is often a necessity of modern management, diets containing relatively large amounts of complex carbohydrates can upset the digestive system. This 'digestive rush' results in a build up of acid in the gut.

Over 20 years ago, NAF hit the market with a revolutionary new product called Thrive. Based on montmorillonite clay, Thrive aims to slow down the rate of passage of fast moving concentrate food as it passes through the gut, thus mimicking the slow moving action the horse's digestive tract is designed to cope with naturally. This also allows more time for thorough digestion. Montmorillonite clay also helps to absorb the potentially harmful acids created as a by-product of the digestive process, which can be a further source of irritation to the horse.

The horse relies heavily on bacterial fermentation to breakdown the important fibrous part of the diet, therefore the microbial balance within the gut must be kept stable to allow effective fermentation to take place. This delicate balance can be so easily upset, by a change of diet or environment, a course of antibiotics, the trauma of an injury or the pressures of workload or travel, these are all situations which can pressurize the natural balance of the gut. If the fibrous part of the diet is not being utilized correctly, the horse will lose weight or suffer more serious digestive upset, such as gut blockages or spasms. In these cases the gut needs to be encouraged to repopulate with beneficial bacteria and the microbial balance restored to the norm. This is where the use of Probiotics and Prebiotics come into play. Probiotics are encapsulated yeast and beneficial strains of bacteria. They can support the digestibility of the diet by acting as a source of enzymes for the gut, however, there is a question over their ability to pass through the acidic environment of the stomach to reach the hindgut where they are needed. Prebiotics are oligosaccharides, or sugars, these support the growth of micro organisms within the gut by providing food for the beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are non-digestible by enzymes and will reach the hindgut safely. Latest research indicates feeding a product that supplies a source of both pre and probiotics, such as is found in Synbiozyme.

Moody mare?...

We all know of a mare who can change from an angel to an evil witch when her hormonal cycle begins to kick in. But upon closer examination it is not difficult to understand.

During her oestrus cycle, the mare's ovaries and surrounding area of the reproductive tract,can become swollen and painful. The ovaries are situated relatively high up near the spine a little behind where the saddle sits, which is why she becomes sensitive to grooming, tacking up or undue pressure during riding. NAF developed the revolutionary Oestress which has been hugely successful in helping mares deal effortlessly with their seasons. Oestress helps to address the hormonal imbalances utilising nutrition, just as the mare would have done naturally. The carefully balanced formula is based on natural antioxidants and includes herbs known to have beneficial effects on both the reproductive and nervous systems. By helping to bring her system back into balance, hence encouraging regular cycling, the mare's discomfort should become less and her moods more even.

And finally for those 'Hot Heads' ...

There are horses who have those behavioural traits that need 'on the spot' action. For these NAF developed Tempralax, another unique product, that is a dietetic for the reduction of stress reactions - the perfect solution for the 'equine hot head'! Tempralax is also a valuable tool for horses who struggle with the farrier or the dentist, have difficulties loading, or find certain situations stressful, where it can be a useful training aid.