Question

I had a lot of problems with my mare for the past couple of years and through a process of elimination, including working with my vet and a nutrition specialist, determined this spring that the problem was related to her hindgut. I initially started her on EquiShure®, as that was all my feed store had in stock. Within a day of feeding EquiShure, her signs improved dramatically. I switched her to RiteTrac® in April, and she continued to do well. In August, I started reducing the amount of RiteTrac in hopes of removing it entirely from her diet one day. In October, I reduced the RiteTrac to about a quarter of the recommended dosage. Boom! All of the signs she experienced in the past were back within a few days. I am in the process of increasing her intake of RiteTrac and considering switching her to EquiShure. The initial plan was to eventually wean her off the supplement. Based on the recent relapse, I'm not sure if that is possible. Is there any harm in horses being on either EquiShure or RiteTrac for extended periods of time, as in years and years?

Answer

Both EquiShure and RiteTrac have helped many, many horses over the years, and we are especially proud of their effectiveness. As with the other products in the KER Targeted Nutrition lineup, EquiShure and RiteTrac represent the goal of Kentucky Equine Research: to better the lives of all horses through research.

To answer your question, yes, both products are safe for long-term use, and many customers have fed them daily over several years with no ill effects.

Is there a reason why you want to wean your mare off either supplement? Considering the effectiveness of EquiShure, I would recommend she stay on that. If you believe the problem is the hindgut and she does not need stomach protection, EquiShure would be more appropriate and less expensive, and have less volume of powder per serving.

Some background on the horse’s gastrointestinal system may help you understand how EquiShure and RiteTrac work. Horses are considered hindgut fermenters, primarily through slow fermentation of fiber by cellulolytic, or fiber-degrading, bacteria. The hindgut, which consists of the cecum and colon, houses a large microbial population responsible for fiber fermentation and energy production. Depending on the feedstuffs presented to the microbes, different compounds are produced that alter the pH of the environment. For proper function and digestion, a balanced hindgut maintains a pH of 6.5-7 and usually contains more cellulolytic bacteria. Shifts in this pH, usually from sudden diet changes, high levels of grain, or stress, can increase lactic acid-producing bacteria and cause a host of problems. This disruption in the hindgut environment can turn into hindgut acidosis. Left unchecked, it can lead to the production of endotoxins and put horses at a higher risk of colic and laminitis.

RiteTrac provides total digestive tract protection (foregut and hindgut) through a proprietary blend of ingredients. It quickly neutralizes excessive gastric acid with buffers and coating agents, protecting the stomach lining and restoring the normal gastric environment. RiteTrac also contains EquiShure, a time-released hindgut buffer designed to act on the cecum and colon by improving the pH, thereby minimizing the effects of subclinical hindgut acidosis and supporting a stable microbial environment. Customers frequently notice near-immediate improvements due to the addition of these fast-acting products.

Read the research on EquiShure.

These products do not work like medications (e.g., omeprazole) that are dosed for a specific length of time and discontinued. EquiShure and RiteTrac actively buffer and maintain an optimal gastrointestinal tract environment and should be fed daily to maintain the benefits if the risk of gastrointestinal tract disruption persists. However, if you can identify the risk factors or causes for her dysfunctional hindgut environment, you may be able to wean her off these products eventually. You may also be able to use them as needed at specific times of concern or stress, such as during seasonal changes in grass and hay, other diet or environmental changes, or travel.

I linked a few helpful articles below for more information. Much research has been carried out lately to better understand the complexity of the hindgut and may help provide insight into improving your mare’s hindgut health.

High-Tech Detection of Hindgut Acidosis in Horses

Hindgut Bacteria Play Role in Laminitis, Colic in Horses

Stress Behavior, Diet, and Equine Hindgut Health

The Hindgut: Understanding Its Role in Equine Digestive Health