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At EquiFeast we like to keep things as simple as possible and when we look at some of the diets people have created for PSSM horses our jaws drop. It rather seems that people have been encouraged to try every supplement under the sun. And sometimes the “More must be better rule” seems to be applied. In our view this can create more problems than it serves.

So let’s look at our system and why we use certain things.

LamiCORE

(Starter version for a month then follow on version)
This product is a feed balancer (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) plus psyllium (for better insulin/glucose regulation. Most importantly it contains our patented chelated calcium which seems to help a cellular process called Calcium Signalling (CS). This is the way we switch almost every cell on and off. Trials showed it helping horses with EMS, IR and Cushings (actually re-establishing dopamine release in many). Early feedback on PSSM horses is very positive too in most of them across the various mutations.

What LamiCORE doesn’t contain is also important.

  • No magnesium as that is a sedative that blocks the CS process all over the body. It often makes behaviour worse (increasing anxiety and spookiness). In muscles it prevents proper contraction – which may give the appearance of relaxation but isn’t the same as helping the muscle fibres both contract and relax properly (which is what chelated calcium seems to do). The science on magnesium in horses is really clear and consistent but much of the feed industry is in denial about it. Click here for the science.
  • No GABA Agonist herbs or amino acids. These are a group of ingredients (often used to improve palatability) that hit the same receptor in the brain and elsewhere as diazepam (Valium). Again this brain impairment often increases anxiety. Click here for more information.
  • Tyrosine – we use tyrosine in most of our chelated calcium products. But humans with diabetes seems to respond poorly to it and so do horses with IR and EMS. We really have no experience of tyrosine in PSSM horses so for now we leave it out. We often use tyrosine as part of our behaviour “fine tuning” so I expect we will gain some experience in PSSM horses over the next few years. One of our trial horses is about to be given some (late Apr 2021). Click here for more about tyrosine.

MORE Fibre

This very low starch feed (<0.5%) contains super fibres and oat oils that improve digestive function and help the horse get better value out of all of its feed – including the cheap components (grass and hay).

Other MOREs

Many horses need no more than this to maintain health and condition. But hard workers or poor doers will so our MORE range includes MORE Work, MORE Muscle, MORE Condition, MORE Chaff and MORE Oomph! Generally people use these following consultation with us.

Other supplements

Every horse is unique and so there is no "one size fits all diet". So at EquiFeast we have developed a number of tools to "Fine Tune". We hold you hand during this process and give you the best advice we can.

I doubt there is need for any more anti-oxidants than these products provide. Horses that eat more of the oily MOREs (WORK and Condition) will find the anti-oxidants added to those products. They don’t need an extra supplement.

There may be a role for support to repair damaged tissue and inflammation that results from muscle damage. Our Fight Back product has an enviable record in this area and may benefit a few chronically affected horses.

I can see a role in hindgut support and our Digestive Balancer supplement is designed for this purpose too.

If horses have a memory of stress we sometimes use tyrosine and tryptophan and these are a part of our armoury. Some of our Fine Tuning options are available built in with the CORE balancer.

Older or those capable of harder work may benefit from our Easy Mover or WINNINGEDGE products due to their joint and soft tissue support.