Horse supplement

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and their uses, specifically provides supplements for equines, in particular horses and ponies. Such a composition is ideal for horses and ponies where promoting, supporting or maintaining calm behavior is desired or required.

Claims

1. A equine feed or supplement consisting of: about 2 g to 15 g magnesium from one or more sources; about 2 g to 15 g of any species of chamomile; one or more of about 2 g to 15 g of any species of passion flower, about 2 g to 15 g of any species of lemon balm, or about 2 g to 15 g of any species of hops; optionally, one or more of thiamine, pyridoxine and folic acid, and/or yeast; and optionally, one or more binders, flavorants and/or carriers.

2. The equine feed or supplement of claim 1, wherein the source(s) of magnesium are selected from magnesium oxide, magnesium aspartate hydrochloride, magnesium carbonate or combinations of these.

3. The equine feed or supplement of claim 1, consisting of at least two sources of magnesium.

4. The equine feed or supplement of claim 1, optionally further consisting of about 50 mg-500 mg thiamine, about 50 mg-250 mg pyridoxine and about 2 mg to 100 mg folic acid and 2 g to 15 g yeast.

5. The equine feed or supplement of claim 4, consisting of about 6 g magnesium, 10 g chamomile, 5 g passion flower, 3 g lemon balm, 3 g hops, and optionally, 250 thiamine, 120 mg pyridoxine, 20 mg folic acid and/or 8 g yeast.

6. A method for promoting, supporting or maintaining calm behavior in an equine comprising administering to the equine an equine feed or supplement consisting of: about 2 g to 15 g of magnesium from one or more sources; about 2 g to 15 g of any species of chamomile; one or more of about 2 g to 15 g of any species of passion flower, about 2 g to 15 g of any species of lemon balm, or about 2 g to 15 g of any species of hops; optionally, one or more of thiamine, pyridoxine and folic acid, and/or yeast; and optionally, one or more binders, flavorants and/or carriers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the source(s) of magnesium is selected from magnesium oxide, magnesium aspartate hydrochloride, magnesium carbonate or combinations of these.

8. The method of claim 6, consisting of at least two sources of magnesium.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the equine animal weighs from 350 kg to 650 kg and the feed or supplement optionally further consists of 50 mg-500 mg thiamine, about 50 mg-250 mg pyridoxine and about 2 mg to 100 mg folic acid and 2 g to 15 g yeast.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following specification may be better understood with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(3) FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(4) FIG. 3 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(5) FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(6) FIG. 5 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(7) FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(8) FIG. 7 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(9) FIG. 8 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(10) FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement;

(11) FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a graph depicting the results of a feeding trial conducted with an embodiment of the feed or supplement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) The composition of any of the aspects of the invention may be in the form of a food, in particular, in the form of a food supplement. The food supplement can additionally contain ingredients, which enable the food supplement to be formulated in a particular form. For example, the food supplement can contain molasses or molasses/oil mixture (including vegetable oil) for example cane molasses with approximately 6% or above oil such as Molglo (eg. to bind the ingredients together or as a palatability agent) or, oat feed, wheat feed or another suitable filler ingredient (as a filler ingredient). The food supplement may also contain a fiber source such as grasses, grass meal, alfalfa, sugar beet, soya hulls and oats, a fat source such as corn oil, soya oil, processed canola oil, coconut oil, palm oil or sunflower oil and/or a starch source such as cereals (e.g. corn or maize, barley, oats). Thus, the food supplement may be a food. The invention is described with reference to the following examples, which show the practical use of the aspects of the invention in day to day horse care and management.

EXAMPLES

(14) The aim of the trials is to prove the product has benefits to the horse which are recognizable by its care giver and which relate to the product's intended use.

(15) To ensure that the supplements are palatable to the horse.

(16) The following supplements were evaluated.

(17) TABLE-US-00001 Product Functional Specific Functional Identifier Area Area Total Horses Required in Trial 6th aspect of Joint Maintaining joint health 20 Horses invention (already being fed or in the past been fed a competitor supplement) 5th aspect of Joint Supporting Challenged 20 Horses (cross-over)* invention Adult Joints (Horses not to have fed a competitor supplement) 3rd aspect of Behavior Supporting Positive 20 Horses (cross-over)* invention Behavior (Horses not to have fed a competitor supplement) 1st aspect of Behavior Energy Boost For Laid 20 Horses invention Back Horses (already being fed or in the past been fed a competitor supplement) 2nd aspect of Skin Supporting Challenged 20 Horses invention Skin (already being fed or in the past been fed a competitor supplement) 4th aspect of Performance Supporting Challenged 20 Horses invention Muscles (already being fed or in the past been fed a competitor supplement) Total horses recruited: 120 Cross-over trial *Within the Joint and Behavior groups 20 horses were recruited from within each group who had an issue in the related area but were currently not feeding a competitor supplement. These 20 trialed our respective supplement for 5 weeks and a competitor supplement for 5 weeks with a 2 week wash out period in-between. Half the group feed the supplement to be tested first and the other half the competitor supplement first. Those who already feed a competitor supplement were recruited into the maintaining joint health functional area.

(18) The competitor products are as follows:

(19) Behavior (Competitor B)

(20) Ingredients

(21) Magnesium oxide, grass meal, hops, passion flower, calcium carbonate, white mineral oil, Brewers' yeast, magnesium chloride, fenugreek seed, oligofructose (dried), Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract.

(22) Dose: 50-75 g loading dose and then 25-50 g maintenance dose. Dose is per day.

(23) Joint (Competitor A)

(24) Ingredients:

(25) Dehydrated alfalfa meal, isolated soy protein, dextrose, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), glycine, glutamine, chondroitin sulphate, glucuronic acid, proline, glutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, ammonium propionate (preservative), vegetable oil, monosilicic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, histidine, manganese sulphate, pyridoxine HCl (vitamin B6), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), sulphur, alanine, serine, valine, isoleucine, copper sulphate 5 mg/kg (added).

(26) Dose: 14 g loading dose and then 7 g maintenance dose. Dose is per day.

(27) Additional Trial Aims Per Product (Care Giver Evaluated):

(28) TABLE-US-00002 Challenged Joints (Cross over Healthy Joints trial) Stiffness, when ridden Stiffness when turned Stiffness, when turned out out, compared to competitor product Stiffness, when ridden, compared to competitor product

(29) TABLE-US-00003 Calm Behavior (Positive Behavior) (Cross over trial) Energy Boost Spookiness/nervousness Energy/enthusiasm vs. competitor product Focus/concentration Excitability/fizzy vs. competitor product

(30) TABLE-US-00004 Challenged Skin and Coat Challenged Muscles Coat shine Recovery rate after high intensity Coat scurf exercise Stiffness after high intensity exercise

(31) Trial Time Scale

(32) TABLE-US-00005 Functional Area Product Identifier Time Split Total Time Joint -Normal 6th aspect 12 wks 12 weeks Behavior - Normal 1st aspect 12 wks 12 weeks Skin 2nd aspect 12 wks 12 wks Performance 4th aspect 12 wks 12 wks Cross over trials Each horse was provided with enough supplement to last throughout the trial

(33) TABLE-US-00006 Functional Area Product Identifier Time Split Total Time Joint-CrossOver 5th aspect 5 wks-2 wks 12 weeks washout - 5 wks Behavior -Cross 3rd aspect 5 wks-2 wks 12 weeks Over washout - 5 wks

(34) Data Collection and Analysis

(35) Questionnaires were designed for the horse care giver to complete.

(36) 6th Aspect

(37) Each horse care giver was asked to score each horse for stiffness, when ridden. The results are shown in FIG. 1.

(38) Each horse care giver was asked to score each horse for stiffness, when turned out. The results are shown in FIG. 2.

(39) In addition, the product was noted as palatable: 100% horses ate it. It was fast acting; 27% of care givers noticed a beneficial change within 1 week; 65% within 4 weeks. It was efficacious; see results graphs.

(40) 5th Aspect

(41) Each horse care giver was asked to score the improvements in their horse stiffness when turned out. The results are shown in FIG. 3.

(42) Each horse care giver was asked to score the improvement in stiffness when ridden. The results are shown in FIG. 4.

(43) In addition, the product was noted as palatable. 87% horses ate it. It was fast acting; 48% of care givers noticed a beneficial change within 1 week; 72% within 4 weeks. It was efficacious; see results graphs.

(44) 1st Aspect

(45) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in energy/enthusiasm. The results are shown in FIG. 5.

(46) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in focus/concentration. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

(47) In addition, the product was noted as palatable. 91% horses ate it. It was fast acting; 36% of care givers noticed a beneficial change within 1 week; 68% within 4 weeks. It was efficacious; see results graphs.

(48) 3rd Aspect

(49) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in the horse being spooky/nervous. The results are shown in FIG. 7.

(50) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in the horse being excitable/fizzy. The results are shown in FIG. 8.

(51) In addition, the product was noted as palatable. 94% horses ate it. It was fast acting; 65% of care givers noticed a beneficial change within 1 week; 76% within 4 weeks. It was efficacious; see results graphs.

(52) 2nd Aspect

(53) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in coat shine. The results are shown in FIG. 9.

(54) Each horse care giver was asked to score a change in coat scurf. The results are shown in FIG. 10.

(55) In addition; it was palatable; 92% horses ate it. It was efficacious; see results graphs.

(56) 4th Aspect

(57) Each horse care giver was asked to score recovery rate after high intensity exercise, stiffness after high intensity exercise and topline/muscle tone, both before and after the trial. The results are shown in FIG. 11.

(58) In addition; it was palatable; 95% horses ate it. It was fast acting; 24% of trialists noticed a beneficial change within 1 week; 68% within 4 weeks. It was efficacious; see results graph.