DAN: "How can I keep my horse healthy without being
heavy on supplements?"
Good question for you.
DR LYDIA GRAY: So when you read that,
what did you think that was asking?
Because I'm not quite sure which way to go here.
DAN: Great question.
So I was wondering because being on our Customer Care team,
we have a lot of people who call in who are nervous that they're
going to do too much, and--
DR LYDIA GRAY: Over supplement.
DAN: And have a lot of overlap in ingredients,
and then we have some people who go
the other end of the spectrum, and if the horse has a hoof,
they want a hoof supplement.
If the horse has a skin and coat, they get a skin.
Basically, any part that the horse has,
they want a supplement for it.
So I was thinking that this person, based on the question,
was they're just looking to have maintenance level
support for their horse is kind of how I understood it.
DR LYDIA GRAY: OK, all right.
DAN: How did you interpret it?
DR LYDIA GRAY: Well, I interpreted it
as kind of the first part you said.
That they felt like they're--
if they're using SmartPaks, that their strip
was getting too long.
DAN: That happens.
DR LYDIA GRAY: And maybe I'm over supplementing,
and I want to do the right thing by my horse,
but I don't want to overdo it either.
How do you strike the right balance?
DAN: Exactly.
DR LYDIA GRAY: OK, that's what I'm answering.
I don't know.
So my first thought is-- and I'm always
a let's back up to get on the same page.
And I thought, well, when it comes to supplements,
you only give what your horse needs.
So you don't give what's trending on social media,
and you don't give what your friend gives her horse
because horses are all different, and they're unique,
and they're individuals, and you don't give what's on sale--
the clearance.
Although, it's fun.
How, then, do you know what your horse needs?
And I think this is a theme for this segment is knowing normal.
You always have to know your horse.
And so now we're talking about not just
the vitals and the behavior, but does your horse
tend to be an easy keeper or a hard keeper?
Does he have-- my horse has very good hooves.
That sort of thing.
So know what's normal for your horse,
but also have that good relationship with your vet
because your vet is going to give exams and also
good wellness care.
And so you guys are a team of what's normal for your horse,
and how to keep him that way.
Then you start with nutrition.
You don't start supplementing until the nutrition is there.
DAN: Absolutely.
DR LYDIA GRAY: And that's forage first,
and then we have this little saying, MVP,
and it stands for minerals, vitamins, and protein.
You've got to have all.
You've got to meet the horse's diet that way--
at least the minimums.
Hopefully, optimize it.
And then calories as needed.
Then I get into--
DAN: And that's all kind of based
on the work load of your horse.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Age.
DAN: Body condition, and age, all of that.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Right.
DAN: OK.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Amount of exercise.
You said workload.
Now we think about, well, horses aren't getting a lot of salts
in their food, right?
So I always--
DAN: They're doing way better than we are.
DR LYDIA GRAY: I give salt, but to some people that's
a supplement, and for some, it's not.
DAN: That is where it does get a little tricky.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Right?
Because to supplement--
DAN: It's a seasoning.
DR LYDIA GRAY: It's a noun, it's a verb, it's an adjective.
I don't think it's an adverb.
For some people, hay, oats , and water period.
Well, salt is OK.
Well, but then you're supplementing.
And then what about omega-3's?
That's also supplementing if you're
throwing those babies in there.
After that's done, anyway, and of course, management.
So nice, healthy, clean, good-smelling stall,
and a good turnout, and an appropriate exercise program,
and all that.
But now you begin to look, like what
you were saying earlier, at the different systems
of your horse.
The hooves, I mentioned.
Digestive tract.
You have a new horse in your barn.
Joints, maybe.
And you say, where does my individual, unique,
one-of-a-kind horse need support?
So I don't give my horse any sort of hoof supplement
because he has great feet.
DAN: So to your point, make sure their regular diet is balanced.
DR LYDIA GRAY: Complete and balanced.
DAN: Forage, grain, and added calories if needed.
And then from there, once we kind of have that balanced out,
then we start to see what areas might be missing or lacking.
DR LYDIA GRAY: So maybe you're feeding great,
and your horse is not keeping weight on.
And of course, the first thing you do
is you have a relationship with your vet,
so you get the vet out.
And it's simply a lack of groceries
or he just isn't utilizing the nutrition
that you're giving him, and you're giving him
a ton of hay a day, and it's just not--
it's just going right through.
So maybe a digestive support supplement
is appropriate for that horse.
That's how you think about supplements.
DAN: I love that.
So balance that all out.
See if there's any areas that are missing
once that's all in place.
Have a conversation with your vet
and then fill in the gaps as needed with some supplements.
DR LYDIA GRAY: I think it makes a lot of good sense.
DAN: Easy enough.
Let us know if you have any more questions about it.
Of course, you can always call our Customer Care team, though,
because Dr. Gray does an amazing job with all our trainings
and keeping us up to date on everything.
So if you do have any questions about supplements,
just give us a call.