Lameness And Performance SUPERFIX Lameness And Performance

Introduction and Aim A standardised product, made from a combination of plants containing actives with significant phenolic properties and anti inflammatory and pain relieving agents made by Superfix was tested against the most commonly used NSAID in horses, Phenylbutazone. Health indicators including blood tests and willingness to exercise were also monitored.

Method One Eighteen thoroughbred horses were included in a double blind placebo controlled trial The horses were randomized in groups of six of which one group received the bute one group the Superfix formula and one group a placebo. The entire group were all in race training and the trial took place in situ during the final build up for the start of the race season. The horses were treated for one month

Method Two The horses were selected from a yard of 65 thoroughbreds and were chosen following gait analysis in trot on a hard surface. The horses were given a score out of 10 for evenness of gait stance, swing and arc of foot fight. The eighteen trial horses were selected from the middle scoring group. At the end of each week the eighteen horses on the trial were trotted in a straight line on a hard surface and were given a mark out of 10 for soundness

Method Three Good health has always been an important factor in the success full training of horses. Many horses lose their willingness and enthusiasm for exercise during the season, the Superfix product was formulated to give pain relief and also contains significant quantities of potent medicinal anti-oxidants and immune stimulants and as part of the trial measures of health ie skin condition (ringworm spots), coat condition, appetite, thirst, recovery after exercise and willingness to work were also monitored on a weekly basis over the one month trial. Weekly haematology and biochemistry were also taken as health indicators

RESULTS

SKIN CONDITION Comparatively the Superfix formula shows that it has a higher standard of health benefits for the horse and even increases the condition which can be seen by comparing it with the placebo. Bute appears to have no effect on the condition of the skin as the mean is very close to the placebo group which received no treatment

Coat Condition Compared with the placebo the results show that the Superfix product increases coat condition whilst Bute actually has the opposite effect. Coat condition is a main indicator that the horse is thriving on the exercise regime

Hay Intake Both treated groups of horses’ hay intake has reduced compared to the non treated placebo group. In the case of the Superfix group it could be down to a reduction of gastrointestinal disruption as the high level of omega 3 and 6 content have been shown to buffer and reduce gut pain from stress related conditions

Hard Food Intake Although the horses which were treated with Superfix had lower hay intake these results show that they have a slightly higher hard food intake than the placebo, and bute treated horses which show a reduction in hard food intake. In racing the hard food intake is specifically important for racehorses as they are regularly fed on high concentrated food to ensure that they meet the energy requirements

Water Intake The results don’t show any significant change in the water intake, although bute has a slight lower water intake and Superfix had slightly higher, the difference is not significant to have an effect on the horses health

Droppings The droppings were rated on a 1-20 basis, 1 being loose and 20 being normal. There was a significant reduction in the quality of droppings in the Bute group. The Superfix and placebo were close to normal. This difference could be a major hint to the detrimental side effects of treating with Bute. Loose droppings are a symptom of gastric ulcers in any event looser droppings cause a reduction in absorption of vital b vitamins from the hind gut. The chi-square probability is also significant signalling that this result would be probable for most horses

Maintain Willingness to Work Horses being treated with Superfix maintained more willingness to work. Horses treated with bute showed no sign of improvement from those which were not treated. This might be due to an increased absorption of nutrients from the hard feed ration. Chi-square probability is less than 0.001, showing that this is a significant result again meaning that the results will be probable for most horses

Training Progress The horses which were treated with Superfix had a higher mean than those treated with bute and those which were not being treated at all.   This result would suggest that Superfix has improved the horses’ ability to train

Soundness The Superfix group had a significantly higher score for being free from lameness/stiffness than Bute, this group had all progressed and thrived suggesting that they had recovered and healed from their injuries. The group of horses on bute had a significantly lower rate for being free from lameness suggesting that a maintenance dose of 2 mg per day was an insufficient amount to relieve the pain whilst the horse was in training. The horses in the placebo group had a slightly lower but insignificant score for lameness, if the numbers in the trial had been higher the difference between the Superfix and Placebo groups may have been less

Conclusions Superfix performed well in this trial with 98% of horses showing an improvement A maintenance daily dose of bute caused a deterioration in health and was less effective in treating lameness and stiffness. The overall health of the horses and willingness to work improved with the Superfix