Re: Legal Remedies and Herbs

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-10-27 12:01:32 EST, flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu writes:

<< How about proBiotics that folks are starting to use?  Yes they are
naturally
 occurring in the horse (ie the gut flora) but they are give in large
quantities
 compared to what the horse would normally ingest.  The horse will not die
 without them, <but their performance will be enhanced>.  Are these banned?
 Acceptance seems to be widespread for ProBiotics. >>

In what way do probiotics "enhance" performance?  They are merely bacteria
that are the same or similar to the ones already in the horse's gut.  They are
not absorbed into the body.  They do not mask pain.  They do not increase the
horse's capabilities.  They do not do much of anything except assist in
digesting food.  You could make a case that feed and water "enhance"
performance in the same way.  I could ride 50 miles without feeding or
watering my horse, but I would darn sure do it in a different fashion than I
would in competition!  He also might look pretty sorry at the end of it.  I
feed my horse MUCH larger quantities on days he is at rides than he gets on
other days--heavens, if he ate like that at home he would look like the
Goodyear Blimp!  I can also tell you that judging from how much I have to add
to his water tank at home daily, he consumes a heck of a lot more water on
ride days, too.  That "enhances" his performance about like putting gas in
your car does.

Personally, I think probiotics are far over-used--most horses eat and digest
just fine without them, since their gut is already full of their own
"probiotics".  In fact, I think some horses digest LESS efficiently with added
probiotics if they are not used to them, because they can CHANGE the bacterial
makeup of the GI tract and cause the horse to have to adjust to a slightly
different nutritional pattern.  SOME horses surely digest more effectively,
but am not sure I can make the stretch to what I would call enhancement of
performance--any more than I could if you switched to a different type of hay
and did better, or to a different concentrate and did better.   (The bottom
line here once again is knowing your own horse, and not doing something just
because Becky or Darla or Valerie or some other successful rider does it.)  I
personally prefer to select horses with efficient digestion to start with than
to have to shove natural gut bugs down them to make their intestines
work--much more efficient in the long run, and easier on the pocketbook, too.

Heidi