The Laminitis Trial that started in June 2009.

This is Xander is 12.hh and is a New Forest cross Welsh section A.This picture shows the fatty deposits in his neck prior to the trial commencing.

He has been owned by the same gentleman since a young foal and is known personally to the English Herbal Company owner Marie Bonner.

He was well looked after. He was in a small paddock with very limited grass. He seemed to be continually hungry and his ribs were showing. He was brought in every night and hay was soaked beforehand. He was on another supplement in a handful of Mollichaff but has suffered with half a dozen bouts of Laminitis every year since he was a yearling. He was good at escaping and would be found in a sorry state the next morning which would result in 2 weeks confinement and severe lameness.

The supplement is known as Diabetic Balance and is a 350 year old recipe that has been continually used for people with both types of Diabetes. As there appear to be some similaraties between Laminitis and Diabetes, in that it would seem to be about the bodies inability to produce Insulin to break down sugar it was decided to see if it would help with this awful condition in ponies, as we know it works for people. 

The supplement was named Lamicalm and was introduced and built up gradually to 1 level scoop per day, that is a percentage based on his weight and the amount of food consumed. He has this once per day in a small feed.

He has escaped from his limited grazing 4 times, each time overdosing on grass. He was brought in and given an extra feed with the same amount of supplement in. He had not developed Laminitis on any of these occasions.

He also had a cresty neck from large fatty deposits which are now breaking down and reducing. He has an inch of normal health hoof growth that the farrier commented on and apppear to be recovering.

Xanders grazing area will be gradually increased, and possibly the supplement dose too. It is the hope that this pony will eventually be able to be turned out in normal grazing and not develop any symptoms of Laminitis.

This is a picture of Xander's feet prior to the trial.

After just three months Xander is now turned out in a normal paddock with other horses for the first time in his life. He remains on 1 scoop per day and has continued to be free of any signs of Laminitis. He is gaining weight and losing the fatty deposits in his neck. Hoof growth is strong and becoming a better shape and composition.

Lamicalm is clearly working to control the digestion of sugars in his body and preventing Lamnitis from developing. His owners says he has never gone this long without an attack and has lost the ribby look. He is calmer and happier and his owners are very impressed and happy that this pony is at last free of pain.

More photo's and testimonials will appear shortly.

Natural Cleanse (Complecleanse) as a worming solution for horses.

A trial study done at a local DIY livery yard near Warminster Wilts.

Background;

Whitbourne Farm is a working farm and a DIY livery yard with 17 horses present at the time of the trial.

The trial ran over a 12 week period from November 1^st 2008 until Feb 1^st 2009.

The herbs were provided at no cost to the owner and the worm counts were all conducted by Marie’s veterinary, Francis and Jackson at Truddoxhill near Frome in Somerset and were all paid for by her.

Based on knowledge of how this remedy works in people, the idea was that a detox dose would apply for a period if parasites were known to be a problem, then dropped to half that dose to maintain a clear system. The idea for the trial was to establish evidence showing what dose worked for each horse.

Horses taking part;

There were 17 horses at the yard. All the owners were approached and asked if they wanted to participate. 12 took part and 10 completed it. The horses ranged from a 220 kg Miniature Shetland to a 720 kg horse. All ages, breeds and colors, combination of mares and geldings. No stallions are present at the yard.

Preparation;

Each horse was weighed prior to the trial in KG and every horse had a live egg and worm count (EWC) done prior to the trial. 2 further EWC others were scheduled at 6 weeks and then again at 12 weeks. Each owner was asked to provide some basic information about their horse, age, size, sex, general condition, temperament, fitness level, type of work done etc. prior to the trial, and asked not to use any other type of wormer, either herbal or conventional. They agreed not to use the wormer in the same feed as any other supplements or medication. All the owners are responsible for clearing their paddocks of stools at least once a week, many did it more regularly than that.

Important;

Egg and live worm counts (EWC) do not show up encysted larvae living in the intestine wall of the horse, or in other areas of the horse, e.g. skin, muscles, organs blood, eyes etc. A clear count means there were no eggs present or live worms in the gut. A clear count does not necessarily mean that the horse is completely clear of all and any worms. Also Tapeworm and Liver Fluke do not show up in EWC, blood tests are required. Therefore EWC are limited in testing for comprehensive parasite levels. Observation of the animals health, condition and other factors are required to monitor possible infestation. EWC's generally show up Pinworms (not a risk to to humans). Roundworm and Redworm eggs and live worms.

Of the 12 tested, 10 were clear. 2 showed a low count of less than 200epg (eggs per gram) All the horses started taking the supplement on the same weekend. It took a few days before all the horses ate eagerly as usual, it seems some found the taste odd.

2nd worm count; After 6 weeks;

6 weeks later all the horses were tested through the same vet and the same 2 showed a moderate count. The rest were clear. The horses were all kept on the half dose for the remainder of the trial.

3^rd  and final worm count; After 12 weeks;

At 12 weeks all the horses were tested again. The same 2 horses showed a higher count. The rest were clear. Both horses showed a count each time and it increased with the passing weeks. They were both deliberately kept on this low dose to see the results. Both horses were moved up to a double detox dose for their weight and tested a week later. Both were clear and have remained so since and have remained on the detox dose.

Results;

The conclusions drawn given the limitations of this study, and the egg and live worm counts is that Natural Cleanse works as a worm control (and possibly other things too, e.g. Yeast and fungal infestations) and the horses remain worm free to the calculated detox or maintenance dose.

Evidence showed the maintaining dose was not enough to clear infestations in 2 horses but the detox dose did. Further study is required to establish how long a detox dose is needed. Going on the principle that eventually the animals system would be completely clear, at some stage the dose could be reduced without the fear of parasite re-infestation. Establishing that would take time and keen observation.

Over the following months none of the horses using this product have not shown any evidence of parasites.

One of the mares taking part had a typical mareish attitude, her owner noted that over the 12 weeks this behaviour changed for the better and has remained so since.

One owner said her horse was calmer and more patient than he had been before the trial. She is not able to account for this difference in him.

One young lady caught Ringworm from another yard. She went onto the Natural Cleanse capsules and it was cleared up in 2 weeks.

All the owners were impressed at the condition of the horses as the spring approached and all commented on how good they looked. The mare that showed a count each time lost some weight, but gained it once she had detoxed. All the others kept their weight on, most horses come out of the winter having lost some weight and that would be expected.

Follow on use of the product;

8 horse owners bought the product and remained on the Complecleanse since then. It was recommended that those horses stayed on the maintaining dose, but went to detox dose (2 level scoops per day) for 7 days at the start of each worming ¼ for a week. All were advised to check stools for evidence of worms on a regular basis and watch for other possible signs.

New owners have come into the yard since there are now 12 horses using the Natural Wormer now called Complecleanse. 

Equuigest is Natural Balance for horses.

Dirty Harry is a 19 yo x racehorse and suffered an impaction in his gut some months ago. The vet flushed his system through which left him with "cow pat" droppings, light in colour and with a vile smell since then.

After just 24 hours on Eqquigest his stools are now normal well formed, darker in colour and smell how they should.