Favorite Finds 52
ReSolvin EQ
A client of mine told me about this product because her horse struggles with ulcers and she has been on the search for something for her horse as a preventative considering you should not keep horses on Ulcerguard or anything of the sort as a long term fix. ReSolvin EQ is made by Kentucky Equine Research and protects horses from gastric ulcers. Kentucky Equine Research is such a reputable company and although I have not personally used this product, I know Kentucky Equine Research has the research to back this up so I am excited to see something on the market like this. Many performance horses struggle with ulcers and there are very little long term supplements/maintenance options out there so if your horse struggles with ulcers, this product may be right for your horse. Check out the product, send it to your veterinarian and I hope this product can make your horse more comfortable!
Increase Water Intake
With the heat coming this next week, I start to think about electrolytes and different options to get your horse to drink more water and I find that most horses do not like the taste of the traditional powdered electrolytes. Of course many people have heard of giving horses Gatorade but it’s always hard to know what flavor/kind to buy and if your horse will even like the taste of it.
Enter Horse Quencher, a grainy mix that you add to a bucket of water to help your horse drink. It is not an electrolyte mix, it is simply a product to get the horse to drink more water. I cannot guarantee that your horse will drink this but I can tell you that my very picky mare LOVES the peppermint flavor, she will chug a bucket with Horse Quencher in it.
Now my geldings love Purina’s Hydration Hay and I can hide powdered electrolytes and/or other meds in the hay mash. I don’t use a whole block of Hydration Hay at a time but I will peel off chunks or about half a block and use about half a bucket of water to create the mash. My mare will not eat Hydration Hay, a messy mash is below her, she would not be caught dead with green slime all over her muzzle.
I suggest both of these options because they are both great products but obviously very different. Some of you may be able to guess which one your horse would choose depending on their personality and preferences but if you’re not sure which one to purchase, I suggest teaming up with a barn friend and each of you buy one of these. That way you can try both with your horse and figure out your horse’s preference. It’s a fun way to get to know your horse a little better as well as helping them stay hydrated during these upcoming hot days.
No Stupid Questions- How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pressure?
This is one of my favorite podcasts but I don’t think I’ve ever shared No Stupid Questions because most episodes are not applicable to equestrian sports, but this episode is definitely palpable for most riders. Freezing while riding is not just common in the show ring, it also happens in many scenarios such as riding in clinics or when riding a spooky horse. Maria Konnikova and Angela Duckworth discuss how they handle pressure and what they do to combat that frozen, choking feeling. I already apply a few of their ideas but it was very helpful listening to these two women discuss this topic, especially Maria who is a professional poker player as well as a psychologist. One of the techniques that many people know about is visualization but I bet their take on visualization is not what you think it would be…
The techniques they discuss sound easy enough but they take practice and awareness. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and that you learn a little about how to help yourself if you struggle with freezing under pressure.