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| Staff Writer |
In the world of competitive horse racing and endurance riding, maintaining peak athletic performance is paramount. One key component in achieving this is the effective use of antioxidants—nutrients that play a crucial role in optimizing oxygen utilization, reducing muscle damage, preventing conditions like muscle ‘tying-up,’ and enhancing immune function. These benefits make antioxidants essential for equine athletes, particularly in mitigating oxidative stress, which can significantly impact performance and recovery.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring nutrients found in feed that, once absorbed into the body, serve a variety of functions, primarily in protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. These damaging compounds, also referred to as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are formed through the uncontrolled oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cell membranes.
Common antioxidants vital for equine health include:
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Beta-carotene (a precursor to Vitamin A)
• Selenium-containing enzymes
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During aerobic exercise, vast amounts of oxygen pass through muscle cell membranes, resulting in the production of free radicals, including peroxide and superoxide compounds. When the body’s natural antioxidant defences are overwhelmed, oxidative stress occurs, leading to damage in muscle cell walls, inflammation, and overall decline in performance. This process is particularly concerning for equine athletes undergoing intense or prolonged exercise, where oxygen diffusion rates are elevated and body temperature rises, accelerating oxidative damage.
A horse’s diet plays a pivotal role in ensuring adequate antioxidant protection. Vitamin E levels can be compromised due to poor feed content, prolonged storage, and lack of access to fresh green pasture. Similarly, selenium content in feed may be insufficient due to soil deficiencies in many grain and hay-growing regions.
Research highlights the significant impact of antioxidants in minimizing muscle cell damage during exercise. Endurance horses, in particular, require substantial oxygen intake—up to 40 litres per minute during prolonged exercise—while Thoroughbred racehorses can utilize up to 70 litres per minute at full gallop. The sheer volume of oxygen and resulting waste heat places immense oxidative stress on muscle cell membranes, necessitating robust antioxidant protection.
• Muscle weakness and fatigue
• Reduced stamina and recovery ability
• Increased risk of conditions like ‘tying-up’
• Compromised immune function due to cortisol release post-exercise
While horses can synthesize their own Vitamin C in their liver, controversy surrounds whether this natural production meets the needs of high-performance horses under intense exercise stress.
Research suggests that combining Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplementation, rather than Vitamin C alone, enhances antioxidant protection. The recommended supplementation rate is 10-20mg/kg body weight per day, particularly during strenuous exercise or travel.
The National Research Council (NRC) 2007 guidelines indicate that working horses require 600-1800mg of Vitamin E daily to maintain optimal blood, liver, and muscle tissue levels. Since horses cannot synthesize Vitamin E, it must be regularly supplied through diet. Unfortunately, Vitamin E degrades significantly during feed storage, with up to 80% loss in stored grains and hay. With most processed and stored feeds containing inadequate Vitamin E levels, supplementation is essential.
• 1,000-2,000 IU/day for racing horses
• 4,000-5,000 IU/day for competitive endurance horses, especially in the 2-3 days before competition
Selenium plays a vital role in metabolic and tissue-protective enzymes, with glutathione peroxidase enzyme acting as the last line of defence against peroxide radical formation in muscle cells. This prevents the escalation to harmful superoxide radicals, reducing oxidative damage and supporting muscle function.
• Selenium Sources: Natural organic forms like selenomethionine are significantly more bioavailable than inorganic forms like sodium selenite or selenate, which may even have harmful pro-oxidant effects.
• Recommended Intake:
o 0.1mg selenium/kg feed for daily maintenance
o Up to 0.5mg/kg feed for high-performance horses
o A maximum of 1.0mg/100kg body weight per day (5.0mg daily for a 500kg horse) for intense exercise
Higher selenium supplementation is advised in the 2-3 days before strenuous exercise and immediately post-exercise to neutralize free radicals in muscle tissue.
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For racing and endurance horses, antioxidants are not just beneficial—they are essential. The interplay between Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and selenium is critical in mitigating oxidative stress, maintaining muscle integrity, and enhancing overall performance. Given the variable quality and degradation of nutrients in stored feeds, supplementation is necessary to ensure horses receive adequate protection against the oxidative stress imposed by intense training and competition.
Strategic supplementation with high-quality, bioavailable antioxidant sources provides an effective way to safeguard equine athletes against performance-hindering oxidative damage, ultimately leading to stronger, healthier, and more resilient horses.
Kohnke’s Own Cell-E Premium is a scientifically formulated supplement of high potency antioxidants designed to support muscle health, boost aerobic capacity, and enhance recovery in performance horses under intense training or competition. With high levels of vitamin E, organic selenomethionine, magnesium and vitamin C, it reduces fatigue, protects muscles from oxidative stress, and optimizes metabolic function for peak performance. The advanced formulation allows regeneration of the primary antioxidants, as well as helping to maintain optimum muscle and nerve function.
Boost your racehorse’s performance, stamina, and coat shine with Kohnke’s Own Energy Gold, a premium, slow-release oil blend packed with omega fatty acids for natural anti-inflammatory benefits and enhanced muscle function. Made from cold-pressed Australian oils and infused with garlic for palatability, it’s free from preservatives and provides sustained release of fat-based energy that may help delay the switch to anaerobic energy at the end of a race.
For Muscle Build and Recovery
Kohnke’s Own Muscle XL is a powerful top-line builder, packed with essential proteins and amino acids to quickly enhance muscle strength, tone, and recovery. Ideal for horses needing extra muscle support, it helps develop lean muscle without causing hot or fizzy behaviour, making it perfect for training, rehabilitation, and peak performance. Featuring a superior balance of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), L-glutamine, and natural vitamin E, it optimizes muscle replenishment, repair, and energy recovery after exercise. Designed for targeted supplementation, Muscle XL builds lean muscle mass efficiently, ensuring stronger, fitter horses for training and performance in racing, as well as recovery after racing and endurance competition.
By Dr. John Kohnke BVSc RDA
Founder and Managing Director of Kohnke’s Own Horse Supplements