Okay, this is an unpaid, completely unsolicited review on a product we've been using for less than a week, but I have to tell you how completely blown away I am with the results.
According to the website: Equipride is "all-in-one" vitamin
and mineral supplements for horses that include strong prebiotic
and enzymatic digestive aids for better horse health and superior
performance. Equipride is designed to work effectively to help improve hooves, hair coat, joint lubricity, feed utilization, circulation and reduction of colic.
Diane suggested it because the Strategy that the barn feeds is non-specific on the food source and only gives minimums on stuff like sugar and carbs, which means it can have a lot more sugar than they claim. She wanted to me move away from that and to an all natural (she is holistic) product that would reduce Ashke's risk of Cushings or diabetes. I'm all for preventing stuff just by feeding better product, so I bought a bag.
Here is a link to the information about what is in the supplement and how it helps. http://equilix.com/pdf/EquiPride-EquiLix-trifold-SweetPro2013.pdf
Ok, so what I've seen: even though Ashke has been stalled for a week and hasn't been asked to work with the exception of a couple of 4 minute exercise periods in the outdoor arena, he is moving very easily in the snow. He can shift from one lead to the other flawlessly, he is no longer cross cantering in either direction (and this has been an issue since I brought him home), every time he moves to the trot he "gets floaty" as J likes to say. He feels great and moves just flat out better. Yes, part of this has to do with his recent adjustment and I think taking the week off (as much as I hate it) has been great for his body. I can say in watching his two videos from yesterday, that he is feeling awesome. (I just hope he doesn't decide to rear while he is under saddle).
But the biggest issue is . . . . wait for it . . . . he's no longer licking. None. Nada. Not my clothes, not my hands, not my hair. Stopped. Completely. I'm thinking the nutrients in the Equipride have finally hit all of his nutritional needs and he is no longer seeking whatever he was missing. It will be interesting to see if he is girthy when I saddle him on Monday. The Equipride has a lot of stuff to help with digestion.
Anyway. Equipride was kind of expensive - $69 for a 50# bag. But, you only use 10 ounces or so a day (1000# horse) and so I'm expecting my bag to last for a fairly long time. I am mixing 5 ounces of Equipride with about two cups of Timothy hay pellets, half his smart pak flex supplement (which I will be changing for Vet Flex) and then feeding this twice a day. I was worried that Ashke wouldn't like the Equipride, but he loves it. He licks all the granules out of the corners of his feed bin.
Best Stuff EVAR!!
i think i am going to try this, you made it sound great! i want to combine it with shadows smartpak and see if there is any improvements in his movement. he is swapping leads in the back and we are not sure if it is simply because he is trying not to pace or because there is something else like a hock or stifle issue. I only give him his smartpak in his pm feeding, do you suggest he gets this in his am and pm feeding?
ReplyDeleteMy smartpak has two little cup things of the same thing, so I added one cup thingy to each baggie. I did it that way so the barn crew can grab whatever they want and I don't have to worry if he is getting the right dose every day. I was told to feed the Equipride twice a day. About five ounces per feeding. He loves it.
DeleteThe cross canter might be a weakness in his back. At least that seems to be the issue with Ashke. He's not a pacer and its been six months of working on the canter to get him strong enough he no longer needs to cross canter.
yeah the weakness is what we are concerned with, but I am also thinking with more work and more consistency he will build the strength back there and be okay, but i am really going to try this equipride, its $60.00 for a bucket i found online, once i get it ill let you know how i feel about it. Thanks for the recommendation!
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