Three horses recently underwent gastroscopy to ascertain stomach health. Brief descriptions of the three horses, all with a different history of RiteTrac™ administration, follow:

Horse 1: 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in light training that competes occasionally but travels several times a month; diet includes a well-fortified grain mixture, alfalfa-grass hay, and free-choice pasture; never given RiteTrac™; somewhat nervous by nature and oftentimes cranky;

Horse 2: 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in light training; diet includes a well-fortified, high-fat, high-fiber grain mix, a balancer pellet, and free-choice access to good-quality pasture; given RiteTrac™ once daily when cribbing frequency increased; and

Horse 3: 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in heavy training, ridden six to seven times weekly; diet includes a well-fortified, high-fat, high-fiber concentrate, free-choice grass hay; given RiteTrac™ as indicated on the label, twice daily mixed thoroughly in a grain meal; during stressful times, he tends to lose his appetite and fret.

Gastroscopy results indicated diverse gastric environments.

Interior view of a horse's stomach.

Horse 1, the gelding that had received no RiteTrac™ whatsoever, was diagnosed with roughened gastric tissue and small pinpoint lesions that ran the entire length of the lesser curvature of the stomach. No healing lesions were noted. (See a detailed diagram of the equine stomach.)

Horse 2, the gelding that had been placed on RiteTrac™ a few weeks prior to gastroscopy, was also diagnosed with roughened margins and minute lesions along the length of the margo plicatus. Hyperkeratosis (thickening of tissue) and a moderate-sized healing ulcer were also noted along the greater curvature of the stomach.

Horse 3, the gelding that had received RiteTrac™ as indicated for a several months, had the healthiest stomach environment. Though there was evidence of healed ulcers, there was no active disease and no noteworthy lesions.

RiteTrac™ provides total-tract support for horses involved in all disciplines. RiteTrac™ is one product in the KERx range of nutritional supplements.

For more information on gastrointestinal ulcers, check out "Overview of Gastric and Colonic Ulcers," written by Frank M. Andrews and published in Advances in Equine Nutrition IV, edited by Joe Pagan, Ph.D., founder and president of Kentucky Equine Research.

KERx has added three new nutritional supplements to its line of scientifically formulated products.

"KERx is pleased to introduce three new products to the marketplace. RiteTrac™, Nano•E™ and Synovate HA™ have a real place in the management of horses used in all activities, whether it's high-level competition, production, or pleasure riding. As with all of the KERx products, these were created using sound science," said Anne Burton, sales manager for KERx.

RiteTrac™ is a proprietary blend of ingredients designed to support total digestive tract health. Targeted at both the foregut and hindgut of the horse, RiteTrac™ works in two distinct ways. First, with its combination of fast-acting antacids and coating agents, RiteTrac™ quickly neutralizes excessive gastric acid, protecting the sensitive nonglandular portion of the stomach and restoring the normal gastric environment. Second, RiteTrac™ contains EquiShure™, a time-released hindgut buffer designed to act on the cecum and colon by minimizing the effects of subclinical hindgut acidosis.

Nano•E™ is a liquid natural-source vitamin E product. The availability and necessity of vitamin E in equine diets is well established. Using a unique delivery system called nanodispersion, Nano•E™ increases the bioavailability of vitamin E, making it more immediately available for use as a body-wide antioxidant essential for tissue repair and for its imperative roles in various body systems. Nano•E™ is available in easy-to-measure packaging to ensure quick, accurate feeding.

To protect joints and other connective tissues from injuries caused by athletic training and performance, choose Synovate HA™, a safe, highly digestible form of sodium hyaluronate. Synovate HA/™ supports athletic performance by reducing friction in the joint, increasing flexibility and range of motion, and supplying much-needed nutrients to the joint capsule.

Through its research and consultation efforts over the last two decades, Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has taken a leadership role that has positioned it as an authority on equine nutrition and exercise physiology. To extend the scope of its services to the equine and veterinary communities, KER established KERx Special Needs Nutrition, an array of services designed especially for horsemen and veterinarians that includes the formulation and manufacture of innovative nutritional supplements. KER nutritionists design KERx products to meet the needs of today's horses.

To learn more about KERx and its products, visit www.kerx.com.