Of all the basic nutrient substances, fat is the best supplier of energy; it is a vital component of every feed ration. Bergahorse Energy Balance is the simple way to meet the animals' daily requirements.

It may sound obvious, but horses need energy - constantly, and in sufficient amounts. Their organism is geared to a permanent supply of energy so that the vital organs such as the heart and liver can function properly and keep the body temperature on an even level. But beyond these life-sustaining functions, horses need an additional reserve of energy - more or less, depending on how they are expected to perform in breeding, sports, or just ordinary leisure pursuits.

In the horses' feed it is the carbohydrates, largely present in plants, that are the main source of energy. Carbohydrates consist of sugar compounds such as starch and sucrose which are split up into simple sugars in the digestive tract. In the process of metabolism these so-called monosaccharides are used for conversion into energy, formation of important substances for the cells and transformation into glucose or fats.

Vital functions

Fats are one of the nutrients with the highest energy content. They contain more than twice as much energy as carbohydrates. Moreover, they can be stored as depot fat in the form of triglycerides. As a rule, fats consist of glycerol and one or more fatty acids.

Depending on their molecular bonds they are classified as saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, the latter group being more readily digestible. It is assumed that horses, like other mammals, need a supply of unsaturated linoleic and linoleic acid.

Besides their function as a source of energy, fats - or the components derived from them in the process of metabolism - control vital functions such as the blood flow, the functions of the heart, brain and nerves, the hormone system and nutrition of the skin cells. Fats also contain antioxidants, including vitamin E, which offer effective protection against cell-destroying free radicals.

Preventing an energy deficiency

In order to prevent a shortage of energy in the feed ration, horse owners should use suitable additives. That is all the more important if the horse has to "work" in the broadest sense. "Work" is not only good performance in equestrian sports of all kinds; it also includes a good condition for breeding, pregnancy and lactation. Even while still growing a horse needs a balanced supply of energy in the form of carbohydrates and fats. An inadequate supply of fats and fatty acids may also be caused by an unbalanced diet of hay and oats or disorders of the digestive system. But a deficiency does not only result in reduced performance and problems with reproduction. Impaired skin metabolism and various nerve or brain disorders such as disturbed vision may be deficiency symptoms too.

So it is a wise precaution to supplement the fat suply specifically through the feed ration in order to prevent such an imbalance. However, animal fats such as suet and certain vegetable fats, including rapeseed oil, are unsuitable for feeding horses because they may cause digestive problems.

Specific supplementing is possible

With Bergahorse Energy Balance the specialist manufacturer Berg+Schmidt offers horse owners a practical way of ensuring a daily supply of energy to their animals. Bergahorse Energy Balance is a readily digestible energy source based on palm fat with a high percentage of valuable fatty acids, phospholipids and vitamin E. Because of this combination, Bergahorse Energy Balance has several positive effects. The use of palm fat ensures the horse the quantity of unsaturated fatty acids it needs each day. For example, Bergahorse Energy Balance contains an omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid ratio which is nearly identical to the body fat composition of the horse.

A further source of rapidly available energy in Bergahorse Energy Balance is the palm oil fraction, with its large proportion of triglycerides which are converted by the organism directly. Especially when horses are subjected to very hard work or stress, with the resulting risk of reduced nutrient absorption, this property shows itself to be an important advantage. Moreover, the triglycerides promote the utilization of fat-soluble substances such as vitamin A and E.

Furthermore, the phospholipids contained in Bergahorse Energy Balance increase the overal digestibility of the nutrients, help to protect the animal against digestion problems and supply essential unsaturated fatty acids. Together with the vitamin E in Bergahorse Energy Balance the phospholipids act as antioxidants and protect the body cells against free radicals. This protective effect is particularly important for hard-working horses with increased metabolic activity.

Performance and beauty

Bergahorse Energy Balance is ideal for horses that have to perform well in any sector and also for those with disturbed carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, Bergahorse Energy Balance can be used as a feed supplement to meet the requirements of different kinds of sports. That applies to all competitive sports that demand short-term peak performance, such as racing, where Bergahorse Energy Balance prolongs the conversion of glucose in the muscles and thus helps to prevent premature exhaustion. Bergahorse Energy Balance is also a useful continuous source of energy for long-distance riding, where it maintains muscle performance and stamina. When beauty is the main objective, the unsaturated fatty acids ensure a glossy coat. With Bergahorse Energy Balance, horse owners have a specific and thus effective extra energy source for achieving the animal's optimum physical condition and preventing the disturbed carbohydrate metabolism that may result from an increased proportion of grain and sugar in the ration.

For mares and foals

We also recommend the use of Bergahorse Energy Balance for breeding mares and stallions during the mating season. Bergahorse Energy Balance can prevent an undesirable loss of body substance at this time and keep the stallion in breeding condition. Moreover, the phospholipids contained in the product enhance the quality of the sperm. Breeding mares benefit by Bergahorse Energy Balance through stimulation of various hormones, which have a positive effect on the early phase of pregnancy and ensure that the embryo and future foal is well supplied with nutrients in the womb. By adding Bergahorse Energy Balance to the mare's feed, the breeder ensures that her mils is sufficiently well fortified with nutrients to give the foal a healthy start in life.

Fats instead of carbohydrates

Horses with abnormal insulin metabolism are unable to convert sugar and other carbohydrates adequately - a problem called equine metabolic syndrome, which may also result in laminitis. To prevent such metabolic imbalance, fats should be added to the feed instead of carbohydrates. Bergahorse Energy Balance is recommended for this purpose and also for the treatment of genetic equine polysaccharide storage myopathy. In the latter case, too, carbohydrates in the ration should be replaced with fats to prevent an excessive accumulation of glucose in the muscles caused by the metabolic disorder. The resulting muscular pain inevitably leads to restricted movement and muscular degeneration.

Summary

For horse owners,Bergahorse Energy Balance is an effective means of supplementing the animals' rations specifically with energy, fatty acids, phospholipids and vitamin E. This has proved useful for meeting the demands of various types of sports, for breeding, and for helping to treat certain metabolic disorders in which fats should be administered instead of carbohydrates.