Case Study: Addressing Topline, Immune & Behavior Concerns in a Nine-Year-Old Gelding

In April of 2024, a diet evaluation was requested for a 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding named Rage. He weighed approximately 1,200 lb (544 kg) and was located in Alberta, Canada. Reported concerns included respiratory, topline, and joint health, and as well as increased reactivity following an unknown illness five months prior. .

The horse owner’s primary goal was to maintain Rage’s overall health and support his immune function.

Presentation Prior to Diet Intervention

At the time of diet evaluation, Rage (9 year-old Quarter Horse) was listed as being at a normal weight and he was in light exercise.

He also presented with the following special care needs:

• Respiratory issues
• Poor topline muscling
• Joint issues
• Increased reactivity

The owner also noted they suspected gastric ulcers, but he was never scoped to confirm a diagnosis, and his digestive health was not a major concern at the time of submission.

The following photos were provided of Rage from November 2023 and April 2024 (prior to diet evaluation):

Rage November 2023

Rage November 2023

Rage April 2024

Rage April 2024

Horse History

In November of 2023, Rage’s owner noticed his condition was looking poor and he was exhibiting respiratory symptoms and atypical behavior. His owner immediately began working with several professionals to diagnose and treat his unknown illness.

His owner noted that his immune health had been an ongoing issue since she acquired him when he was 2 years old, despite being under excellent management and receiving regular veterinary care.

His owner noted that his issues could be hereditary or acquired, and that she suspected it could be the results of poor immune development as a foal, as he came from a ‘rough area’.

Despite efforts to investigate, the underlying cause of his symptoms was never confirmed. Following the results of his veterinary work-up, Rage was put on a frequent and intense deworming protocol, as well as a number of supplements aimed at speeding his recovery.

His dietary routine included free-choice access to hay and in the winter and pasture for the remainder of the year. Forage analyses were not available, so nutrient intake was estimated using averages for a mid-quality grass hay and pasture for his region.

Prior to receiving a diet evaluation from Mad Barn, Rage was supplemented with various nutraceuticals which included:

• 2 cups of Equine Power®  2000
• 30 mL (1 oz) of Aloe Vera gel
• 8 pieces of Rose Hips
• 3 tablespoons of Red Clover
• 2000 mg Vitamin C
• ½ tablespoon Chlorella
• 2 drops of oil of Oregano
• 1 teaspoon of Olive Leaf
• 1 tablespoon of colloidal silver
• 2 tablespoons of kelp

He was also fed 2 tbsp per day of an ‘acid cleanse’ solution which included apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and honey.

By December of 2023, his owner noted that he was showing improvements in his attitude and clinical signs with the above regimen.

Respiratory Health

Respiratory issues in horses can be caused by non-infectious disease processes like heaves or roaring, as well as a number of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections such as Equine Influenza, Strangles, and exposure to mold. ^[1]

Common signs of respiratory issues include: ^[1]

• Abnormal respiratory noise
• Increased respiratory effort
• Nasal discharge
• Cough
• Appetite loss
• Poor performance

Owners can support their horse’s respiratory health by implementing the following management practices:

• Feeding a balanced diet
• Ensuring adequate ventilation where horses are housed
• Checking for and eliminating moldy hay
• Soaking or steaming hay prior to feeding
• Maintaining a clean barn environment

It is hypothesized that Rage’s respiratory issues may have started as a respiratory infection, either viral or bacterial in origin, which can be common in young horses. While mild infections are often self-limiting, Rage did not make a full recovery by the time of diet intervention. His respiratory issues persisted, possibly due to suboptimal immune health.

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Topline Health

The impact of serious acute illness on muscle in horses has not been widely researched, but conditions with severe systemic effects, such as sepsis, are known to divert protein supplies from muscle to other tissues. ^[2] This can limit the horse’s ability to maintain muscle mass during an illness, and result in muscle wasting.

When horses struggle to maintain their topline muscle, owners often question whether they are getting enough energy and protein in their diet. However, muscle health also depends on a variety of vitamins and minerals that aid in tissue repair, provide antioxidant protection, and directly support muscle function.

Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure the diet meets all vitamin, mineral, energy, and protein requirements to maintain optimal muscle health.

Table 1. Key nutrients for supporting muscle health ^[3][4][5][6]

Before dietary changes were made, Rage experienced topline muscle loss. This may have been due to a combination of his health issues, as well as an imbalanced diet. Notably, his diet was low in vitamin E.

Joint Health

Joint problems in horses are common and can result from age-related wear, imbalances in joint tissue synthesis and degradation, injury, excessive or repetitive strain, or other contributing factors. ^[7]

Key principles for supporting joint health in equines include:

• Maintaining a balanced diet
• Engaging in regular light exercise
• Ensuring proper conditioning prior to high intensity training
• Maintaining an appropriate body weight
• Adding supportive supplements when needed

Nutrients like zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C are required for the function of enzymes that maintain connective tissue and provide antioxidant support to protect joints from oxidative stress. ^[8][9]

There are many different equine joint supplements on the market. Options include hyaluronic acid, MSM, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, each with varying levels of evidence supporting their effectiveness.

The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) support healthy regulation of the inflammatory response in horses with arthritis. These fatty acids may aid in preserving mobility and overall joint comfort in horses. ^[10]

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Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a readily available form of the mineral sulfur that can help maintain healthy joint tissue. Sulfur is a key element in the structure of cartilage and glucosamine, both of which help build and maintain healthy joint tissue.

In addition, research in horses has shown that MSM has an antioxidant effect that may provide additional support for joint health. ^[11]

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Reactivity

Increased reactivity in horses can present as heightened sensitivity to new objects or experiences, nervousness and anxiety, or unusual or dangerous behavior on the ground or under saddle.

Unusual reactivity in horses can arise due to various factors, including: ^[12][13][14]

• High starch intake
• Severe magnesium deficiency
• Mycotoxin poisoning
• Other factors that affect the central nervous system

Practices such as limiting starch intake, feeding a balanced diet, checking for mold in forages and feeds, and consulting with a veterinarian if health concerns arise can help identify and mitigate potential causes of reactivity in horses.

In this case, Rage’s atypical behavior coincided with his medical issues, suggesting that they may have been due to pain, or secondary to physical health problems.

Initial Diet:

In addition to the herbal and nutraceutical protocol Rage received in November 2023, his daily ration at the time of diet evaluation included:

• 1 lb timothy/alfalfa cubes
• Approximately 100 grams (3.5 oz) whole oats
• Approximately 160 grams (5.5 oz) Hoffman’s Horse Mineral
• 15 grams (1/2 oz) of Redmond’s salt
• 30 mL (1 oz) of Red Cell Liquid

In addition, Rage was on an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement as well as Mad Barn’s MSM powder.

Overall, the diet was sufficient in most vitamins and minerals with the exception of sodium and vitamin E. Based on an average grass hay protein content of 10% (Dry Matter Basis), the gelding’s protein requirement was likely met, and the estimated HC (sugar and starch) content of the diet was 9%.

Intervention

As part of the consultation, an updated diet plan was proposed to address the horse’s specific concerns.

Table 2. Summary of Diet Intervention

Horses on a forage-based diet without fortified feeds or supplements often lack key nutrients such as sodium, vitamin E, and trace minerals like zinc and copper. ^[15]

Adding a complete vitamin and mineral supplement ensures that horses meet their nutrient requirements without oversupplying energy and protein. To balance the diet, Mad Barn’s Omneity® Pellets were added as a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals.

Omneity® Pellets are made with 100% organic trace minerals, the amino acids lysine, threonine, methionine, and a full serving of biotin to support hoof health.

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• Complete B-vitamin fortification
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Balancing the Diet

The primary goals of Rage’s dietary intervention were:

• Supporting immune health
• Providing targeted respiratory support
• Encouraging muscle gain

Since he was already consuming sufficient protein and calories, it was crucial to balance his diet with the right vitamins and minerals to support immune function, muscle development, and overall health without promoting unnecessary weight gain.

Updated Diet

After the consultation, the owner replaced their previous vitamin and mineral supplement with Omneity® Pellets, removed Red Cell, increased salt, and added W-3 Oil.

The horse’s updated daily diet consisted of:

• 1 lb timothy/alfalfa cubes
• Approximately 100 grams (3.5 oz) of whole oats
• 225 grams (2.25 scoops) of Omneity® Pellets
• 30 grams (1 oz) of salt
• 100 mL W-3 Oil
• 10 grams MSM
• 1 gram (1 scoop) of Optimum Probiotic

Outcome

Overall, along with time for recuperation, the dietary adjustments resulted in a significant improvement in topline health and overall condition.

The following photos show his updated condition after three months on the recommended diet:

Rage July 2024

Rage July 2024

While his owner observed that Rage was doing well on W-3 Oil, he developed a slight cough in early spring.

To provide more respiratory support, the owner decided to add Spirulina powder in addition to W-3 Oil. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that has been shown to support a healthy immune system and help maintain healthy respiratory function when fed in combination with Jiaogulan. ^[17]

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• Used in horses with allergies
• Supports metabolic health
• Rich in vitamins & protein

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• Supports circulation
• Promotes hoof health
• Supports muscle performance
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Discussion

A balanced diet is particularly important for supporting sick horses and those with weakened immune responses. Given that Rage exhibited ongoing signs of compromised immune health, and experienced a very serious illness five months before his diet evaluation, his difficulties with respiratory health and muscle maintenance were not surprising.

Since he was at a good weight, had recovered from his illness, and appeared to be consuming an adequate amount of protein, maintaining his caloric intake while meeting vitamin and mineral requirements and fortifying amino acids were priorities for the updated feeding program.

The addition of Omneity® Pellets and increase in salt helped meet his nutrient needs and support immune health. Addressing nutritional deficiencies and continued regular, light exercise helped to encourage muscle development.

By August of 2024, five months after his diet was adjusted, his owner noted that he was “feeling much more chipper”, and is doing well.