KERx News

Three horses recently underwent gastroscopy to ascertain stomach health. Brief descriptions of the three horses, all with a different history of RiteTrac administration, follow:

Horse 1: 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in light training that competes occasionally but travels several times a month; diet includes a well-fortified grain mixture, alfalfa-grass hay, and free-choice pasture; never given RiteTrac; somewhat nervous by nature and oftentimes cranky;

Horse 2: 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in light training; diet includes a well-fortified, high-fat, high-fiber grain mix, a balancer pellet, and free-choice access to good-quality pasture; given RiteTrac once daily when cribbing frequency increased; and

Horse 3: 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in heavy training, ridden six to seven times weekly; diet includes a well-fortified, high-fat, high-fiber concentrate, free-choice grass hay; given RiteTrac as indicated on the label, twice daily mixed thoroughly in a grain meal; during stressful times, he tends to lose his appetite and fret.

Gastroscopy results indicated diverse gastric environments.

Interior view of a horse's stomach.

Horse 1, the gelding that had received no RiteTrac whatsoever, was diagnosed with roughened gastric tissue and small pinpoint lesions that ran the entire length of the lesser curvature of the stomach. No healing lesions were noted. (See a detailed diagram of the equine stomach.)

Horse 2, the gelding that had been placed on RiteTrac a few weeks prior to gastroscopy, was also diagnosed with roughened margins and minute lesions along the length of the margo plicatus. Hyperkeratosis (thickening of tissue) and a moderate-sized healing ulcer were also noted along the greater curvature of the stomach.

Horse 3, the gelding that had received RiteTrac as indicated for a several months, had the healthiest stomach environment. Though there was evidence of healed ulcers, there was no active disease and no noteworthy lesions.

RiteTrac provides total-tract support for horses involved in all disciplines. RiteTrac is one product in the KERx range of nutritional supplements.

For more information on gastrointestinal ulcers, check out "Overview of Gastric and Colonic Ulcers," written by Frank M. Andrews and published in Advances in Equine Nutrition IV, edited by Joe Pagan, Ph.D., founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research.

John Crandell and Heraldic earned their second Tevis Cup victory on July 26, 2010.

Considered the most arduous endurance race in the world, the Tevis Cup is contested over 100 miles of rugged California trail.

In addition to grueling terrain, the scorching heat offered challenges this year. Temperatures soared into the 90s, and this single factor caused many of the horse-and-rider teams to go slower than normal or retire. Fewer than half of the starters finished the trek.

LR Bold Greyson, ridden by Shannon Constanti, finished in second place. The Crandell family of Star Tanney, Va., owns both Heraldic and LR Bold Greyson, a homebred. Crandell and Constanti finished two hours in front of the other competitors.

Crandell uses several KER-formulated products to produce winning results including Preserve and Hemabuild. In addition, he also uses the KERx Wellness Supplement specifically designed by KER nutritionists. Crandell is brother-in-law to Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a KER nutritionist based in Virginia and an endurance enthusiast.

Kathleen Crandell has spoken extensively on feeding and managing elite endurance horses, most recently at this year's KER Nutrition Conference, where she presented the paper "Observations and Recommendations for Feeding the Endurance Horse."

Equine Ester 100 provides superior antioxidant support to horses that require vitamin E supplementation. Horses that might benefit from supplementation with Equine Ester 100 include those without access to fresh forages such as pasture, performance horses in strenuous work, breeding horses, and those diagnosed with neurological problems such as equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

For a limited time, Kentucky Equine Research is offering a clearance sale on Equine Ester 100 at 50% off its regular price. Purchase a 750 gram jar--that's 50 servings--for $21.50. Learn more about Equine Ester 100 and buy online.