A new product was launched at BETA, and we were seriously excited when we saw the demo.
There are three products in the range: Equidgel, Endurogel, and Lammigel (the last contains no starch at all, and is designed for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.)
They are all fibre based products, the first two being made of grass meal, alfalfa and oatmeal (the oatmeal is omitted in the Lammigel), plus a secret ingredient which binds them together. There are no synthetic ingredients, and the oil component (the secret part) is the richest source of Omega 3 fatty acid apart from fish oils. The product also contains a natural antioxidant in the form of Vitamin E.
Equidgel is high-fibre (85% fibre) and high-energy, with a Digestible Energy level of 14.9, but in the form of volatile fatty acids in the hindgut which has been documented to reduce excitable behaviour and the effects of fatigue.
This photo, taken from the Equidgel Fb page, shows how the gel holds the mixture in suspension.
Digestive problems seem to be ubiquitious at the moment, with very high percentages of race horses and competition horses suffering from ulcers. EquidGel forms a soluble fibre Gel which lines the stomach. (When acid is produced to digest a sugary feed the acid irritates the ulcers causing pain. Because EquidGel is a fibre based feed, less acid is produced as this type of feed is digested by bacteria in the hind gut.)
Also, reduced water intake is a known cause of colic, and this product is specifically designed to aid hydration, by providing steady hydration throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
Testing so far:
Equidgel’s antacid properties have demonstrated how it can relieve the effects of gastric ulcers in an ex racehorse that displayed quite distressing cribbing behaviour.
EquidGel has been used to hydrate horses travelling long distances by allowing the owners to use the palatable gel to get more hydration through to the hindgut on demand. This is a vital application – many horses won’t drink on long journeys, and even offering soaked hay doesn’t tempt them, risking dehydration.
EquidGel has been used as a complete feed for an eventer as it utilises the three energy systems of the horse, providing for the instant and slow release energy needs of this dicipline, whilst reducing excitability.
It is palatable and very hydrating, and will retail at approximately £20 for a 20kg bag.
Further details are on the Equidgel Facebook Page, where questions are answered promptly by the founder of the business, Ms Sandra Murphy BSc(Hons) Equine Sports Science (Senior Nutritionist).
She can also be contacted at equidiet.org@gmail.com or on 07903 993879
[…] angry about having her girth done up. The difference in her on Equidgel has been amazing (see my previous report) and her field companions got a taste of it, because I tried them all on a little bit of it as a […]