February offers to support your horse as the season takes shape
We’re now into the last week of February and while winter hasn’t quite loosened its grip yet, the days are noticeably getting longer. There’s a sense that the light is starting to appear at the end of the tunnel, and with the clocks changing in just over a month, we know lots of our customers are beginning to shift their focus towards spring and the competition season ahead.
For some, this might be the season that you’re aiming to step up and compete at a higher level, others may be bringing on a young horse, returning to the ring for the first time in a while or just looking forward to longer hacks and enjoying time in the saddle as the countryside starts to come back to life.
Whatever your goals look like, keeping your horse happy, comfortable and physically supported is key to making the most of the months ahead. With that in mind, this month we’re focusing on two products designed to support horses through common challenges at this time of year: Gastro-Mag and TRM Equine’s Maxi Top.
Support digestive comfort with Gastro-Mag
Many competition horses experience discomfort linked to excess stomach acidity, particularly during winter months when their time in the stable is often greater or when workloads start to ramp up again ahead of spring competitions. Behaviours that were once labelled as just “stable vices”, such as wind sucking, crib biting or weaving, are now widely understood to often be signs that a horse is trying to cope with discomfort. Other indicators can include reduced appetite, loss of condition or changes in behaviour under saddle, and it’s important to take notice of anything that’s not normal.
Gastro-Mag is a liquid feed supplement designed to support gastric health by helping maintain normal stomach pH in horses prone to acid-related issues. By supporting balance within the digestive system, it helps horses feel more comfortable and settled, something that can have a positive impact on their physical wellbeing and on their performance.
For horses returning to work, those in regular training or individuals that are sensitive to changes in routine, adding targeted digestive support can help smooth the transition into a busier season. Gastro-Mag is suitable for use during training and competition and has no withdrawal period, making it easy to incorporate into daily management.
Support strength and development with TRM’s Maxi Top Equine
As riders begin to increase fitness work, building and maintaining muscle becomes an important part of preparing for the season ahead. It doesn’t matter if you’re bringing on a young horse, managing a competition horse through an intense training schedule or supporting a horse returning from injury or time off, nutritional support can help ensure their body has what it needs to respond positively to training.
TRM Equine’s Maxi Top is formulated to provide a concentrated source of amino acids - particularly branch chain amino acids to support muscle development and topline. That means it’s great at helping horses build and maintain condition during periods of increased workload, growth or rehabilitation. When horses are asked to do more physically, providing targeted nutritional support can help maximise the benefits of training while supporting overall wellbeing.
Maxi Top can be particularly useful for growing youngsters developing strength and balance and competition horses that struggle to maintain muscle when in training - despite correct feeding and exercise.
A perfect time to try or stock up
Both Gastro-Mag and Maxi Top are on special offer throughout February, making now an ideal opportunity to try them out for the first time or stock up ahead of the busier months. Gastro-Mag is currently reduced to £20 for the 1-litre bottle (usually £26.77) and £75 for the 5-litre size (usually £97.85), offering excellent value for horses needing ongoing digestive support. Maxi Top Equine is also reduced in our February promotion, with a 1.5kg tub priced at £35 (was £46.54) and the 5kg tub available for £110 (was £139.60) - a great chance to support muscle development and condition as training ramps up!
Planning ahead now can help set your horse up for a successful and enjoyable season, whatever your goals. And remember, if you have any questions about our products then your local account rep is a great source of practical advice and recommendations – their contact details are on our team page here.