06/22/2025
A heathy & balanced diet plus essential Vitamin & Mineral (VitaStance) is what horses need. An excellent source of protein & useable cool energy with low sugar & starch (CoolStance) can be added safely.
Do you know about Amino Acids?
Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein. Too many amino acids can create toxicity, and strain on the kidneys. Amino acids can create strong thick urine with strong ammonia levels which can lead to kidney issues and also dehydration (Lasix users need to pay attention to this). If protein levels are too high they can also be converted into fat depots which can result in cresty neck and other fatty areas and as well as lead to metabolic diseases.
Most horses in Canada who are partially grazing on green grass and/or are fed good quality hay and receive a complete vitamin & mineral supplement should no require a complete Amino Acid supplement. Amino acids are received through protein naturally from alfalfa, cubes, pellets and grass.
Supplementing amino acids on top of grass, hay, pellets can cause a overload. An overload of protein will breakdown the tissues, organs, and the structure of the body over time. A horse that consumes too much protein will be at an even greater risk of contracting disease (lower immunity) and be predisposed to other symptoms such as hypothyroidism, tying up, kidney problems, and arthritis to name a few.
Do your research on what your feeding, ensure your horse is getting a balance of protein, fat, and low amounts of sugar and starch. The most important supplement to feed your performance horse is a complete Vitamin & Mineral which contains all of the necessary elements for a healthy horse including choice amino acids.
We recommend feeding Stance Eq Canada CoolStance Copra, good source of protein & fat, very low sugar and starch (low NSC) and VitaStance – a complete vitamin, mineral, trace minerals and amino acids. It contains fatty acids and co-factors to assist bioavailability and to provide benefits of omega 3 and lauric acid.
A good article on protein https://duwell.co.nz/pages/problems-with-excessive-protein
