Are you blinded by science, or are you having the wool pulled over your eyes in the name of pseudo-science?
Reputable companies give good, free advice, writes
Carolyn Henderson. While they’ll obviously give their own products as examples, they should be able to explain their recommendations in plain English.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of mis-information out there. Some comes from well-meaning folk who think they’ve stumbled on a magic herb that will do everything bar raise the dead; the rest is down to claims that really shouldn’t be out there and before the days of social media, probably wouldn’t have surfaced.
There’s a fine line between clever but responsible marketing and exaggerated claims. But before you splash out on a bag of Wonderfeed or a bottle of Piaffe Better, make sure the claims
are legal, decent and truthful.
In the UK, companies are not allowed to market veterinary products unless they have a marketing authorisation from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. That means non-veterinary products, including feed and supplements, can’t be ascribed veterinary properties. Those who break the rules face prosecution and the latest case, earlier this month, resulted in a £5,000 fine for the company concerned.
Nutraceuticals - products derived from food sources which have extra health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value – have become part of modern horse management. We’ve all got our favourites, but if your horse has a problem, start by getting your vet’s advice.
If you’re a competitor, the buck stops with you on banned substances. It’s frighteningly easy for a horse to consume or absorb a banned substance and fail a subsequent dope test, as the recent case of the horse affected by an ingredient in his owner’s hair-thickening product proves.
The list of banned substances grows longer by the year and some riders believe the system can be unfair. However, as long as there are unscrupulous people, there will be rules designed to protec
t horses – and you can’t argue with that.
Our responsibility as owners is to make sure we buy feed and supplements from the safest sources we can find and feed them responsibly. Look for products which have been audited to meet the British Equestrian Trade Association’s NOPS (naturally occurring prohibited substances) code. Make sure that every horse has his own feed and water containers, and keep them scrupulously clean to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
Some companies also volunteer to join the
Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) which
requires them to adhere to stringent production procedures. These companies are regularly audited to retain their accreditation and use high quality, traceable ingredients, to meet legislation and safety standards.
If you’re confused, ask questions. If you’re competing and aren’t sure whether an ingredient is banned, check the FEI banned substances list at
https://inside.fei.org/fei/cleansport/ad-h/prohibited-list and if necessary, ask your vet.
Be careful. If the blurb on a product or the claims on a social media page sound like science fiction, they might be just that.
are legal, decent and truthful.
In the UK, companies are not allowed to market veterinary products unless they have a marketing authorisation from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. That means non-veterinary products, including feed and supplements, can’t be ascribed veterinary properties. Those who break the rules face prosecution and the latest case, earlier this month, resulted in a £5,000 fine for the company concerned.
Nutraceuticals - products derived from food sources which have extra health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value – have become part of modern horse management. We’ve all got our favourites, but if your horse has a problem, start by getting your vet’s advice.
If you’re a competitor, the buck stops with you on banned substances. It’s frighteningly easy for a horse to consume or absorb a banned substance and fail a subsequent dope test, as the recent case of the horse affected by an ingredient in his owner’s hair-thickening product proves.
The list of banned substances grows longer by the year and some riders believe the system can be unfair. However, as long as there are unscrupulous people, there will be rules designed to protec
t horses – and you can’t argue with that.
Our responsibility as owners is to make sure we buy feed and supplements from the safest sources we can find and feed them responsibly. Look for products which have been audited to meet the British Equestrian Trade Association’s NOPS (naturally occurring prohibited substances) code. Make sure that every horse has his own feed and water containers, and keep them scrupulously clean to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
Some companies also volunteer to join the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) which 
requires them to adhere to stringent production procedures. These companies are regularly audited to retain their accreditation and use high quality, traceable ingredients, to meet legislation and safety standards.
If you’re confused, ask questions. If you’re competing and aren’t sure whether an ingredient is banned, check the FEI banned substances list at https://inside.fei.org/fei/cleansport/ad-h/prohibited-list and if necessary, ask your vet.
Be careful. If the blurb on a product or the claims on a social media page sound like science fiction, they might be just that.