RESUMEN
Calming supplements are common in the equine industry. This study tested the hypothesis that Phytozen EQ, a blend of citrus botanical oils, magnesium, and yeast would reduce startle response as well as reduce behavioral and physiological signs of stress in young (1.5-6 years of age) horses (n = 14) when tied in isolation and when trailered in isolation. During the 59-day trial, horses were assigned to either the control (CON; n = 7) or treatment (PZEN; n = 7) group that received 56 g of Phytozen EQ daily. Horses underwent a 10-minute isolation test on d 30 and a 15 minute individual trailering test on day 52 or 55. For both tests, blood samples were obtained pre, immediately after, and 1-hour post for analysis of plasma cortisol concentrations, which were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. On day 59, horses underwent a startle test, for which time to travel 3 m and total distance traveled were recorded. These data were analyzed using a T-test. During trailering, PZEN horses tended to have lower overall geometric mean (lower, upper 95% confidence interval) cortisol concentrations than CON (81 [67, 98] vs. 61 [48, 78] ng/mL; P = .071). For the startle test, PZEN horses tended to have longer geometric mean times to travel 3 m than CON horses (1.35 [0.39, 4.70] vs. 0.26 [0.07, 0.91 seconds, P = 0.064). Other data points were not different between treatments (P > .1). It is possible that this dietary supplement could have beneficial calming effects on horses undergoing trailering or in novel situations.
Asunto(s)
Suplementos Dietéticos , Hidrocortisona , Caballos , Animales , Suplementos Dietéticos/análisisRESUMEN
Exercising horses are commonly plagued by muscle fatigue and soreness, which can result in reduced performance ability. In the present study, ten unconditioned horses were fed 200g per day DigestaWell NRG, a commercial dietary supplement containing Yucca schidigera and Trigonella foenum-graecum, two herbs shown in other species to reduce post-exercise muscle pain and soreness. A control, unsupplemented group contained ten horses of similar age, breed, and gender. Horses completed a 50 minutes, ridden standardized exercise test of moderate intensity immediately prior to (Period1) and after 28 days of supplementation (Period2). Muscle soreness and tightness were evaluated 24 hours prior to and after each exercise test and used to determine the percent increase in post-exercise muscle soreness and tightness. Blood samples were collected before, and at 10 and 30 minutes, and 1, 4, and 24 hours post exercise. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, lactate, non-esterified fatty acid, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1ß concentrations. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA using SAS Enterprise Guide v. 7.1. No changes in plasma parameters were indicated between periods for unsupplemented horses (P > 0.1) during Period2, excepting glucose, which was greater during Period2 (P = 0.018). Supplemented horses had lesser concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (P = 0.016) and lactate (P = 0.058) during Period2 than during Period1. During Period2, supplemented horses experienced a smaller percent increase in post exercise muscle soreness (P = 0.031). DigestaWell NRG supplementation may benefit unconditioned horses undergoing moderate intensity exercise through reducing lactate production and inflammation.