MetabolicHorseCo

"I'm very pleased with the result - Wenna rapidly lost her crest and was sound over the stones on the yard for the first time in years."

MD, Surrey

Magnesium is one of the major ‘macro-minerals’ like calcium of which every horse horse needs to eat several grams each and every day. Over 300 enzymes in the body are dependant on magnesium as a co-factor, and it is especially critical for energy production and metabolic function. Magnesium is also closely involved with nerve function, controlling electrical activity within cells, and the contraction and relaxation of muscle.

When a muscle is low in magnesium it contracts more readily, and is less able to relax. It is more likely to become twitchy or tight feeling, and at the same time, excitory neurotransmittor levels are increased - the net result often being a nervous, jumpy horse. Magnesium is closely involved in the control of adrenalin secretion too, but the converse is also true - stress and the release of adrenalin causes increased magnesium useage.

For the horse with metabolic problems, sufficient magnesium is essential for normal glucose ‘homeostasis’ - that is the normal secretion of insulin and the uptake of glucose into the tissues it controls.

Lowered tissue magnesium content is often associated with insulin resistance - the state in which the tissues are not able to respond to insulin normally. Horses with insulin resistance often display the typical ‘cresty neck’ or fat pads that can be associated with lack of magnesium.

In vascular tissues, for instance in the feet, the vessel lining acts just like the horses muscles, and are more prone to contraction when cellular calcium is high and magnesium low. This causes an increase in blood pressure, but a reduction in blood flow - sufficient magnesium is essential for the maintenance of normal vasodilation and circulation..

Magnesium is also important as part of the defence system against oxidative stress - to combat the damaging effects of free radicals. In animal research it was shown that raising antioxidant Vitamin E or C levels could combat some of the oxidative signs caused by magnesium deficiency, suggesting that magnesium was indeed functioning in the same way within the body. Other research has suggested that the relationship may be interdependant, lowered magnesium levels being associated in turn with depressed Vitamin C and E levels.

Where supplementary magnesium is required to balance a diet which is either low in magnesium or high in other macromineral like calcium, we have had excellent results with high purity magnesium oxide. Our high density, low dose product is carefully selected to fulfill several important criteria and give the best possible results. It is a fine powder that is well accepted in-feed (being almost totally tasteless). It is a heavy grade oxide providing the lowest dose feeding rates, but of the finest particle size - which research has proven is the key to optimum absorption. We have also carefully selected material with a low surface area, so it does not have an undue antacid action on sensitive stomachs, and so avoid the rebound effect seen with very light high dose magnesium products.

Typical daily maintenance feeding rate for 500kg horse is 10g oxide, providing 5.6g elemental magnesium.