Galway Downs Equestrian Center

Sponsor Spotlight – RevitaVet’s Get Ready Blanket

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Every rider, regardless of the discipline, is looking for an edge. 

RevitaVet’s therapeutic systems have provided that edge for many years and the company is taking that to the next level with its Get Ready Blanket. Poised to be introduced later this year, the Get Ready Blanket offers the significant performance advantage of reducing or removing common soreness. 

It’s a “game changer,” says Revitavet’s Tom Neuman.  “No other blanket can do what this can do.”

The new blanket’s primary function is to warm up a horse before competition. “During testing on horses with sore hamstrings, muscles, back, etc., it took the soreness and tenderness out within 15 minutes,” he shares. “This will make the horse perform better because there is no soreness.” 

The blanket also is very useful for post performance.  It’s a great tool for eventing horses, especially after dressage and XC.

Equine therapists are also using the blanket for general therapy.  

How it Works

Along the spine, the blanket has two columns of infrared LEDs that penetrate deeper because this is a common area of soreness in sport horses. 

The blanket works off a rechargeable battery pack or electricity and weighs about 12 pounds. Even though it has 1600-plus red diodes, it produces no heat.  The Get Ready Blanket uses state-of-the-art surface mounted LEDs that are flush with the surface of the blanket.

Easy to use and lightweight, the Get Ready Blanket has an industry-leading two year warranty. It is the ultimate competition blanket.

For more information, visit www.revitavet.com or call 602 971 4353.

Sponsor Spotlight – Feeding to Improve Your Horse’s Topline

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by Marty Adams, PhD, PAS – Cargill Technical Services Equine Nutritionist

The topline of the horse refers to the muscle cover over the top of the horse’s neck, back and rump, specifically the withers, back, loin and croup. Show and performance horses require strong toplines to provide balance and strength for racing, jumping and dressage.

Many factors contribute to the horse’s topline or lack of it; including genetic conformation, age, exercise, diseases (gastric ulcers and Cushing’s Disease, for example) and chronic back pain (kissing spine, poor saddle fit, vertebral sublaxation, arthritis, etc.).

Nutritional factors include body condition because, as the amount of fat tissue increases, it will add depth to the horse’s topline as well. However, if we provide enough calories to maintain a body condition of 5.0 or more in a horse that is in regular work, and don’t supply enough quality protein, the topline can be inadequate to provide optimal muscular performance.

Protein’s Role

Protein quality is dependent upon the amount of essential amino acids that it contains. The three most important, or “limiting,” amino acids for the horse are lysine, threonine and methionine.

Growing horses and horses in work need more of these amino acids for muscle growth and repair. They are called limiting amino acids because, if they are not provided in the diet, they can’t be synthesized at an adequate amount in the body and protein or muscle growth is limited.

Many mature horses in work are provided large amounts of hay and pasture, and many of these breeds or types, especially sport horses, are easy keepers. Adequate body condition can be maintained with these horses, but in many cases, topline can be improved with a simple feeding change.

The problem is that conventional horse feeds or concentrates are designed to meet nutrient requirements when fed at a minimal amount of 0.5% of body weight daily. Many sport horses, and other easy keeper breeds, are fed less than this amount because of their more efficient metabolism and large amounts of forage fed. This results in less than required amounts of amino acids, minerals and vitamins in the horse’s diet.

Ensuring Enough Amino Acids

This situation is more problematic for providing essential amino acids for the horse, because the digestion of protein or absorption of essential amino acids from forages is less than half as that for concentrates, resulting in inadequate essential amino acid intake.

Feeding a few pounds per day of a regular horse feed won’t provide adequate essential amino acids for many active horses, and a good topline will not be achieved.

The way to ensure an adequate supply of essential amino acids is to include a diet balancer in your horse’s diet. Diet Balancers are designed to meet the protein, mineral and vitamin requirements when fed at small amounts along with only forage (hay and pasture).

They are recommended for easy keepers, horses requiring a feeding program for weight reduction, and as a way to fortify the diet if a concentrate is fed at less than the recommended amount. The minimum feeding rate is 1 pound per 1,000-lbs body weight per day. Replacing one pound daily of your regular horse feed with one pound of a diet balancer will help to provide the required amount of essential amino acids to your horse’s diet, and you should see an improvement in topline in a few months.

ProElite® Options

ProElite® Horse Feeds include Grass Advantage and Alfalfa Advantage Diet Balancers. These two products are designed to meet all nutrient requirements of your horse with a low minimum feeding rate of 1 pound per 1,000 pounds of body weight, for active horses increase to 1.5 to 2,5 pounds per day depending on activity level and desired topline.

ProElite® Topline Advantage is a supplement that can be fed in addition to a regular concentrate and has an even greater protein and amino acid content, with a feeding rate to 8 to 16 ounces per day, according to activity level.

These products contain high levels of guaranteed amino acids and will provide a significant improvement in your horse’s topline in a few months.

Sponsor Spotlight – Dechra Equine

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It’s easy to find horse health information online.

“Dr. Google” can be a good place to get a broad sense of diseases and conditions that affect our horses. But the Internet and “facts” found there are no substitute for the knowledge and experience of an equine veterinarian. Part of that knowledge is familiarity with the latest research, medicines, supplements and treatments and a keen understanding of the horse who might best be helped by them.

In an era when many pharmaceutical companies are consolidating their animal health divisions, Dechra Equine is doing the opposite. It has a division and extensive product line devoted to horses and the veterinarians who care for them.

Support of initiatives like Not One More Vet is one of several Dechra efforts to help promote mental health and happiness in the equine veterinarian profession. The field has a heartbreakingly high suicide rate and a shortage of new people entering the professional pipeline.

“We are not just about ‘buy our product,’” notes Alex Riddle, Dechra’s Large Animal Marketing spokesperson. “We want to help educate veterinarians about structuring their lives to have balance. I am happy the industry is starting to take an active role in this and to work for a company that’s committed to it.”

With the recent introduction and FDA approval of its intramuscular Zycosan® (pentosan polysulfate sodium injection), Dechra Equine elevates its trusted status with veterinarians to become equally well known among horse owners. Zycosan® joins Dechra’s well-established supplement, Phycox® MAX EQ Joint Supplements, in helping support healthy joints in horses.

Joint Problems are Everywhere!

Joint problems are estimated to cause 60% of lameness cases and it can affect every joint in the horse’s body, from hocks and stifles to the neck and back. It can impact horses of all ages and breeds, is a top cause of poor performance, and can make life uncomfortable at any life stage. Zycosan® is the first and only injectable pentosan polysulfate sodium product for horses to be evaluated and approved by the standards of the Food and Drug Administration for the control of clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis in the horse. [1] The FDA approval helps to convey efficacy, quality, and safety. Since the active ingredient is derived from beech wood, Zycosan® is sustainable and available for consistent supply. It is administered and prescribed by licensed veterinarians.

Zycosan® produces anticoagulant and fibrinolytic effects. This is thought to stimulate hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycan synthesis found in damaged joints, to inhibit proteolytic enzymes involved with swelling and pain and to tackle damaging free radicals.

Caution should be used when NSAIDS are administered concurrently due to the anticoagulant effects of Zycosan. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are injection site reactions, prolongation of coagulation parameters (activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT)).

A biology degree may be needed to understand these physiological sequences, but the results of a study involving 237 arthritic horses is easy to grasp – More horses in the Zycosan®-treated group had improved lameness grades than those in the control group.

Daily Support

Phycox® MAX EQ is a supplement harnessing the power of phycocyanin in a comprehensive proprietary formula supporting joint health and flexibility. Phycocyanin is a natural antioxidant that has powerful free radical scavenging properties. It supports the body’s normal defense against the harmful effects of free radicals.

Phycox® Max EQ can be purchased through veterinarians and found in local tack and feed stores.

As a maintenance treatment, Phycox® MAX EQ helps combat oxidative stress that horses deal with in their daily exercise. Even when their performance days are over, older horses can still suffer lingering effects of stress on their joints. Phycox® MAX EQ can help them, too.

Dechra is a global enterprise happily aligned with Galway Downs, says Alex Riddle. “Everybody on the equine team, and especially our sales force, rides or trains horses. Our representative in Southern California, Nicole LeGrange, told us about Galway Downs. She is doing a great job out there and she thought it would be good for us.”

Nicole is a veterinary technician and a rider, too. She’ll be at upcoming Galway Downs events to help horse owners understand Dechra’s products and be prepared to discuss options with their horse’s veterinarian.

For more information on Dechra Equine, visit www.dechra-us.com.

As with all drugs, side effects may occur. For intramuscular use in horses only. Not for use in humans. Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a weak anticoagulant. Caution should be used when administering Zycosan if you are taking an anticoagulant. In case of accidental self-injection, seek immediate medical attention. If product comes into contact with skin, rinse skin thoroughly with water and seek medical attention if needed. Horses with hypersensitivity to pentosan polysulfate sodium should not receive Zycosan. Do not use Zycosan concurrently with other anticoagulant drugs. Do not use in horses with clotting disorders or within 24 hours of surgical procedures. Caution should be used when administering this drug before or after strenuous activities. Caution should be used when NSAIDS are administered concurrently due to the anticoagulant effects of Zycosan. If Zycosan and NSAIDS are used concurrently, horses should be monitored for hemorrhage or other clinical signs of abnormal bleeding. The safe use of Zycosan has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or lactating horses.

The safety of long-term repeat use of Zycosan has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are injection site reactions, prolongation of coagulation parameters (activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT)). Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com.

Dechra is a registered trademark of Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC. Phycox® and Zycosan® are registered trademarks of Dechra Limited.

Sponsor Spotlight – Pyranha Animal Health

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Flies and other insects can be much more than an annoyance for horses and their people. In Southern California, that became clear last spring with the outbreak of the vesicular stomatitis virus. Black flies, mosquitoes and biting midgets are among the flying insects believed to transmit the disease.

An upside of the outbreak emerged in heighted horse owner awareness of the danger these pests pose and the fact that not all insect control products are created equal. 

In helping owners protect their horses against the outbreak, the California Department of Food and Agriculture recommended insect control products made with a high pyrethrin content. Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower.

Galway Downs sponsor Pyranha Animal Health leads the way when it comes to insect control products with high pyrethrin content. For example, pyrethrin and its synergizing ingredients comprise 15% of Pyranha’s Equine Spray N’ Wipe.  “That’s huge,” notes Christina Gindt, a long-time Southern California horse owner and the company’s Western Account Sales Executive. Three percent is the norm in most competitor’s products, she explains.

Pyranha’s formulas combine pyrethrin with permethrin, a synthetic compound known for its outstanding insecticide properties. The powerful combination ensures rapid knockdown and sustained control of a wide spectrum of flying insects.

That’s why Galway Downs enlisted Pyranha power to treat manure piles and stalls during the Nilforushan Equestrian Events hunter/jumper shows last spring. And it’s why Pyranha Spraymaster® mister systems are part of Galway Downs’ year-round insect control efforts.

“In the case of an outbreak, you definitely want to make sure you’re using a product that will prevent an adult fly from laying more larva,” Christina explains. As an insecticide, Pyranha’s sprays eliminate and repel insects, setting them apart from products that only repel insects.

Effective from First to Last Spray

Emulsifiers that maintain suspension of the insecticide also set Pyranha apart from the competition. Whether dispensed from a bottle or a misting system, the solution is equally effective from first spray to last. Bottles don’t need to be shaken and mister wells don’t need to be agitated.

When other products suddenly become ineffective, it’s often because the active ingredients settled at or near the bottom and were already drawn out through the tubes that connect to the spray or mist dispenser.

Even without an outbreak, effective everyday insect control is critical to health, performance and relaxation for our horses.

Established in 1972, Pyranha Animal Health is a family-owned, horse health company that corners this market with sprays, grooming products, Odor Eliminator and the Pyranha SprayMaster® Misting System.

Christina gets ready for a rush of inquisitive horse owners at the Fundraiser Clinic party last month.

As a horse owner herself, Christina urges proactivity in maintaining a fly-free environment. Educating fellow owners is a gratifying aspect of her work and Pyranha’s range of products provides solutions for individual horse’s different needs.

In addition to insect control options, Pyranha has innovative and price-conscious grooming products. These range from a luxurious, skin-friendly aloe concentrate shampoo and the new Essential repellent conditioning shampoo to the non-slip coat conditioner and tail strengthening Shine Baby Shine spray and Detangler that dries instantly. “No more goopy hands,” Christina says.

Options For All

Pyranha’s Wipe N’ Spray comes in a familiar yellow bottle. Its oil base enables the formula to kill and repel over 70 species of flying and biting insects through sweat, dirt and water.  Its fly fighting performance is rivaled only by the lustrous shine it leaves on the horse’s coat. Pyranha-protected horses enter the ring looking their best and ready to perform without the distraction of flying pests.

The blue-bottled Equine Spray N’ Wipe and the white-bottled Legacy are water-based, versus oil-based, fly control options that deliver the same protection as Wipe N’ Spray. Using a water base, rather than oil, they don’t attract dirt to the horse’s coat and are good options for horses with sensitive skin.

Zero-Bite® fights flies with wholly natural ingredients – geraniol (from geraniums), peppermint and clove. These natural oils are suspended in more than 90% water, so it’s not oily or greasy.

Christina is excited about the new Legacy formula. This uses the same natural ingredients found in Zero-Bite, with micronized silicone that helps it stick to the coat longer and to resist sweat and water.

Enhancing the Stable Environment

Fly masks and sheets and a roll-on product for eyes, ears and wounds round out Pyranha’s insect control approach for individual horse owners. For stable and property wide control, pyrethrin and permethrin formulations, and the all-natural counterpart, come in concentrated form for 30-gallon and 55-gallon spray mister systems. They’re ideal for use in Pyranha’s SprayMasters and in misting systems designed by other companies.

SprayMaster is a programmable system that releases a fine mist at predetermined intervals. This consistent and highly effective approach ensures a virtually fly-free environment, in which horses and humans can relax, focus on other aspects of horse care and enjoy their time together.

Scan to determine what size system best suits your needs.

Built for the rugged stable environment, SprayMasters feature robust construction and their user-friendly design makes them easy to manage. Determining system size is easily accomplished by answering simple questions accessed through the QR code here.

SprayMasters can be ordered through retailers including Big Horse, Mary’s Tack & Feed, Carters Feed, Inland Vet Supply and many others. Shipping is free and all systems come with a complimentary refill of Pyranha insecticide.

Christina has a long history in the California and national horse community. She enjoys consulting individual horse owners and stable managers to find insect control approaches best suited to their needs.

Pyranha Animal Health is proud to support various industry partners, including Galway Downs. Christina’s equestrian background includes eventing and working with Thoroughbreds, both of which are a big part of Galway Downs’ past and present. She’s enjoyed seeing Galway Downs emerge as a world class equestrian venue and knows that Pyranha’s support will further that impressive evolution.

Visit Pyranha Animal Health for more information, or contact Christina Gindt at Christina@pyranhalife.com or (281) 382-2946.

Sponsor Spotlight – Mrs. Pastures Cookies For Horses

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Joanna Russell was already excited to get a call about a potential job at Alltech®.

She “literally screamed” when she learned the position was account manager for Mrs. Pastures® Cookies for Horses, she recalls with a laugh. “That’s my all-time favorite horse cookie!”

The 38-year-old brand of health-conscious horse cookies often evokes that kind of reaction from its fans. People love them because their horses love them. That’s why they’ve gone from a simple goodie made in a horse mom’s home kitchen to an easily identifiable, red-lidded container recognized by both horses and horse people throughout North America.

The crunchy treats are now sold in everything from 8-ounce pouches to 50-pound tubs and their devoted fans include Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, who still receives regular shipments of Mrs. Pastures at his home in Japan.

Made of simple, all-natural ingredients, Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses were originally created by California horsewoman Patricia Burge, who was seeking a wholesome treat for her daughter Maggie’s horse Poncho. Poncho was incredibly picky, which inspired Burge to refine her recipe to horse-approved perfection. The ingredients of her original cookie recipe remain the same — apples, oats, cane molasses, rolled barley, water and wheat middlings — a nutritious byproduct of the wheat milling process.

No preservatives, corn or soy have ever been used to produce the timeless treat.

An Ongoing Legacy

Patricia Burge officially started the Mrs. Pastures business in her home in 1986 at age 66, and trailblazed its growth to a national brand for 30 years thereafter. Burge’s daughter, Maggie Carroll, continued the legacy when her mother passed away in 2016..

Alltech – a global leader in the animal health and nutrition industry – acquired Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses in 2021 to help grow its “hoofprint” in the equine industry. The company shares a similar origin story of being founded by passionate, goal-oriented individuals. Alltech was started by Irish biochemist Dr. Pearse Lyons in 1980 and has since grown to employ over 6,000 people worldwide, while remaining a family-owned company.

Alltech’s support of equestrian sports came front and center as the title sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. The Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park continues to showcase the sport and Alltech’s enduring commitment to the equine industry. Above all, Alltech’s Lifeforce™ equine supplements, feed products and specialty ingredients support and promote equine health and performance.

Health conscious cookies play their part in the horse-human bond.

After Alltech initially purchased Mrs. Pastures, Maggie Carroll served as a close advisor to ensure that customers could continue to count on the high quality and good taste for which the treats are famous.

In The Oven…

The winning combination of a home-kitchen developed recipe, plus Alltech’s experience and global scope, positions Mrs. Pastures to meet the equine industry’s evolving needs and preferences.

For example, a new recipe variation was designed to give more health-conscious horse owners a superfood-packed option in treat form. The new Super Cookie™ is made with the same time-tested process as the original cookie, but it has no molasses or other added sugar. Sweet potatoes, turmeric and kelp add “super” nutrients for overall horse health.

Supporting the bond between horses and their humans was a founding inspiration for Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses. The treats are a popular incentive in ground-based and under-saddle training methods that use positive reinforcement.

“We are learning more about how horses learn and what types of reinforcement and motivation affect them,” Joanna observes. “I’ve used Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses to turn around a mare who came to me with some emotional baggage. They helped me mentally rehabilitate her. I’ve also used them to teach horses to stand still at the mounting block, among other things.”

Mrs. Pastures Cookies for Horses has grown significantly under Alltech’s umbrella, and that’s “just the beginning,” says Joanna. Horse owners should stock up on cookies and stay tuned for several more exciting developments planned for the New Year.