Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> Could someone please explain why selenium is important to the endurance
> horse  or any competing horse.  I give my horse Ultium.  Should I
> supplement?  Thank  you.  I look forward to the information.
>
> Diane Roemer
Selenium is a trace mineral that is involved as a co-enzyme in cell
membranes in many systems in the body.  Lack of selenium affects the
ability of those cell membranes to do their jobs.  Just a few places where
we see issues in endurance horses include muscle cell membranes (more
prone to tying up if deficient), white blood cell membranes (not able to
engulf bacteria properly if deficient), membranes of cells lining the
intestinal tract (less able to digest food efficiently), etc.  Deficient
horses also grow hoof wall more slowly.

There are probably aspects in other systems that are subtle and that we
don't even see.

Commercial feeds as a rule are selenium deficient.  Whether or not you
need to supplement will depend primarily on the selenium level in your
forages.  If you are in doubt, have blood drawn on your horse and submit a
whole blood sample for a selenium assay.  They are not very expensive, and
will give you the best guidance as to whether or not to supplement, and
how much to supplement.

Heidi



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=