Vetpro Flex Equine Plus
- Regular price
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$90.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$90.00
Vetpro 3 Horses Flex-Equine Plus is a nutriceutical (100% natural) supplement formulated for feeding to horses with impaired joint function. It helps to maintain cartilage elasticity and aids in the repair of damaged cartilage. It is an improved development of Flex Equine as it also contains Undenatured Collagen Type ll, which has been scientifically proven to increase the already established benefits of our formula with Glucosamine, mixed Glycosaminoglycans (Chondroitin), Manganese Ascorbate, Copper Chelate, Zinc Chelate and Gelatin.
Joint Soreness – Trauma or Age?
In fact it can develop from trauma, direct or from the concussive effects of the legs striking on hard surfaces, or from age i.e. degenerative loss of cartilage quality. The resulting osteoarthritis is similar in humans and horses. Joint pain can affect horses of all ages as confirmation defects, work on hard or uneven surfaces can be detrimental at any age. While anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain and reduce inflammation, it has been scientifically proven that drug free Nutriceuticals containing key ingredients at the right levels can in fact assist cartilage quality and so help relieve the prevalent condition.
The role of the Actives: Glucosamine – Chondroitin – Coolagen Type II – Gelatin – Zinc and Copper
Glucosamine is the major structural component of the principle Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in cartilage. It is the GAGs that maintain the high water content of cartilage and hence its ability to resist the compressive forces during weight bearing. When the joints need more Glucosamine, as suggestive age or working damage, resulting finally in degenerative joint disease, the body is unable to speed up production because it is set at a fixed rate, therefore a supplementary form of Glucosamine is beneficial. Scientific studies have shown that 10-12,000 mg daily is required for effective repair, and that the body is able to absorb the Glucosamine and use it directly in the joints to repair and maintain the cartilage.
The mixed Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) include Chondroitin Sulphate and Keratin Sulphate. Both these are used in the cartilage repair process. The Manganese Ascorbate is necessary for the conversion of the Glucosamine to GAGs to occur. Note Glucosamine alone is not effective – it needs to be in a formulation that ensures the required dose is not absorbed by the liver, but reaches the cartilage. Science has also shown that the combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin provides a more effective response than either actives alone.
Undenatured Collagen Type ll is a new discovery that was determined to be effective in relieving osteoarthritis in humans but has now been independently scientifically tested on horses and showed remarkable positive responses. Flex Equine Plus contains 555mg – higher than the 450mg shown to be effective in the science trials.
Copper and Zinc are important trace elements that are essential for cartilage repair and maintenance. 3 Horses Flex-Equine Plus uses these minerals in the latest chelated form (glycinated) which means they are absorbed quickly and efficiently from the gut.
The gelatin in the formula includes high levels of Glycine and Proline, both of which are important components of collagen, the protein found in the cartilage matrix and again science has shown that gelatin improves the homeostasis of those amino acids required for cartilage synthesis.
Vetpro Flex Equine Plus contains the recommended amounts of the actives to be effective in improving joint elasticity and joint repairs. It puts the spring back into the horse and can assist to prolong the competitive life of the horse.
Active Ingredients Per 30 gm dose:
Glucosamine Sulphate 12g
Undenatured Type ll Collagen 555mg
Mixed Glycosaminoglycans 1.8gm
Manganese Ascorbate 3.6mg
Copper Chelate 13.4mg
Zinc Chelate 25.9mg
Gelatin 15.2gm
Dosage:
Loading Dose (first 4-6 weeks)/ Maintenance Dose:
Horses (450-500kg) 26-30gm/ Horses 13-15gm
Ponies (225-350kg) 13-20gm/ Ponies 7.5-10gm
Couldn't load pickup availability
RUG GUIDE
New Zealand's climate varies greatly, ranging from warm subtropical in the far north to cool temperate climates in the far south. It's essential to choose the correct horse cover to ensure protection from the elements all year round.
Selecting the right horse cover can be overwhelming with so many options available and different size measurements. The good news is that we're here to help with choosing the right horse rug, and demystify horse cover jargon!
Horse Cover Sizing
Horse blankets have different sizing labels depending on which country they were made in.
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Measure your horse
The first step in determining the right size horse cover is to measure your horse's height (hh = hands high).
Follow these steps to accurately measure your horse's height:
- Grab a measuring tape or stick
- Stand your horse on a level surface and hold the tape/stick vertical to the ground whilst placing the top of the tape/stick at the horse's withers.
- Record this measurement to determine hh. For example, if my horse measures 66 inches, divide 66 by 4. The total is 16.5. In this example, 16 is the number of hands and the .5 is considered half a hand, or 2 inches. My horse is 16.2 hh.
This horse rug sizing chart will help you to estimate what size horse rugs you need.
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Selecting the correct weight / fill for winter horse rugs
The warmth of a cover is determined by the "fill". The fill is measured in grams per square meter. The higher the fill, the warmer the rug. Our rugs come in No Fill, 50g, 100g, 200g and 300g. Choosing the correct weight is critical to keep your horse comfortable through the cooler months.
A thermoneutral zone is the range where the body temperature can be maintained with little to no energy expenditure. Humans have a narrow range of 21 - 28 °C, but horses' thermoregulatory zone is 5 - 25°C. This means it’s important not to rug our horses based on how cold we are, as over rugging can cause serious health issues such as metabolic and thermoregulatory disfunction.
Tips for choosing a weight for your winter horse rug
- If your horse is clipped, a heavier gram fill may be required.
- Horses can warm themselves up much better than they can cool themselves down when covered, so go for a lighter rug if you are unsure.
- Choose a rug that has easy on/off attachments so you're not standing around in the rain.
- Check your horse regularly to ensure that your horse is not overheating or too cold.
- Take into consideration the age of your horse and their ability to stay warm.
- As a basic guideline, we recommend rugging your horse if temperatures drop below 5-10 degrees, but take the individual needs of your horse into account.
- Ensure your rug is waterproof; no rug at all is better than a wet one.
Here is a guide to choosing a winter horse rug. This is an indicative guide only and factors individual to each horse such as wind chill and your horses age and weight should always be taken into account.
If you would like to remove the guesswork, we suggest using Orscana, a health and activity monitor that fits into the inside of your rug. Download Orscana's app to your smartphone and let it determine the best rug for your horse – it even checks the weather forecast and predicts which cover to use!
Horse rug fitting for comfort
Now that you know the size of your horse, it is important to remember that although your cover has tabs to tighten or loosen, fitting for comfort is paramount. For example, my horse is 16.2 hh, but he may be a little slimmer or larger in the midsection, or he could be longer or shorter than other 16.2 hh horses!
How do you choose? Here are a few helpful tips:
- The cover must not be too loose or too tight. If it's too loose, the cover may slip, and your horse will have problems when rolling, sleeping, or moving in general. If it's too tight, the cover may cause unwanted rubbing, chafing, and discomfort.
- The front of the rug should be done up so that the Velcro overlaps completely and the buckles should not be pulling on his chest.
- The end of your horse's rug should not be hanging down over his butt; the extra weight will cause the rug to pull on your horse's shoulders.
- To allow freedom of movement and to prevent chafing, adjust the leg straps equally until there is room for the width of one hand between the leg straps and the horse's thigh.
- Check your horse often and always look for any signs of rubbing.
Which lining should I choose? Synthetic vs Cotton
The mostly commonly used lining is nylon/synthetics. Synthetic linings tend to be more durable, lighter, cooler, last longer and tend to slide over the coat better than cotton, preventing rubbing.
While synthetic is better for most horses, cotton does have better wick-ability and if your horse has skin issues then cotton lined may be a better option.
If you already have a synthetic lined rug and don't want to fork out out for a cotton lined, you can always use a Summer Cotton cover as a liner underneath your Turnout Rug.
Make sure it's waterproof!
We can't stress this enough, it's extremely important that your rug is waterproof! Your horse is naturally able to fluff up his coat with the individual hairs standing up, rather than laying flat against the skin, trapping air close to his body and thereby insulating him from the cold. A wet rug will inhibit your horse's natural ability to do this, you are better off with no cover at all than a wet one.
Regularly check your horse's rug is waterproof, especially after heavy rain as covers tend to lose their waterproofing as they age. You can buy over the counter products to reproof it or have it professionally reproofed.
We have a 100% Waterproof Guarantee on all our Rain Sheets and Winter Rugs
What is a denier?
Good question! Denier refers to the strength of the cover's outer shell. The higher the denier, the thicker the weave and the stronger the material. The most common rugs will be 600D, 1200D and 1680D. 1200D is a good middle ground and offers superior strength and durability. It will also outlast a 600D rug as well as still being lightweight and breathable when compared to a 1680D.
Choosing your horse's summer rug
Ah, summer! Choosing a rug for summer is simple! Get rid of annoying biting flies, bots, midges, ticks and sunburn! Here are some pointers to help you choose wisely…
- Biting flies and ticks can be a real nuisance to both horse and rider. A mesh sheet such as our Mesh Fly Combo provides optimum air flow with UV protection, as well as protection against flies, bots, and midges. The Zebra fabric is not only awesome, but the pattern is proven to deter flies!
- UV protection is especially important for light coloured horses who are sensitive to skin cancer and sunburn or if you want to reduce sun damage to your horse's coat. Check out our Cotton Summer Cooler Combo for the ultimate UV protection.
- Always choose a summer sheet that is lined at the shoulder, neck and tail to prevent rubbing.
- Our favourite is the Summer CrossOver Cooler, which is a great durable sheet for horses that are tough on covers. It is a combination of cotton and mesh; a cotton upper ensures the best UV protection from the sun, while the tough, durable mesh allows optimum air flow to keep your horse cool. These factors combined result in a durable summer sheet that provides both optimal UV protection, is highly breathable and deters flies with the zebra patterned mesh.
- Summer requires a fly mask, too. Try our Fly Mask that provides UV protection as well as protecting the ears and nose from flies.
WARRANTY
We offer a 1 year guarantee on nztack rugs which includes waterproofing of fabric, hardware Integrity and stitching
Please note: We cannot guarantee 100% waterproofing of gussets and seams.
If you have received a faulty rug, please email us at sales@nztack.co.nz with detailed photos showing the fault. For waterproofing faults, you must provide a photograph showing the inside of your rug and your horse showing where the rug has leaked before we can proceed.
FAQ
All your questions, answered.
Returns & Exchanges
No problem! We offer 30-day returns and exchanges on all full priced items in new, resalable condition with the original packaging. See our policy.
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Vetpro Flex Equine Plus
- Regular price
-
$90.00 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
$90.00