In this podcast, the host welcomes Elizabeth Ehrlich, Founder and President of Equine Elixirs. The discussion centers around how horse owners can better prepare their horses for travel, especially during busy show seasons, by being prepared to address diet, hydration, stress and more.

Transcript

HOST: Elizabeth Ehrlich is the Founder and President of Equine Elixirs. Her unique approach to creating all-natural, whole food-based supplements that address a wide range of equine health needs has taken the supplement industry by storm over the last five years. Formerly an attorney in New York, Liz now spends her days focused on equine nutrition. Welcome back to the podcast, Liz.

LIZ: Thanks!

HOST: As people are thinking about their show schedule, you know, maybe going to Florida, it seems that we're traveling more than ever with our horses. We're on the road more, and we really have different considerations than we've ever had—between home and the road, how far we're comfortable taking our horses, and how many classes people are doing these days. I mean, this level of comfort with the amount our horses do—they're more capable than ever, but we're also asking more of them than ever. So, I wanted to go over with you how we can, from start to finish, make sure our horses are ready for trips and what's expected of them, and then how we keep them comfortable and happy.

LIZ: Absolutely. That's definitely something we hear a lot about, so it’s a topic that we get a lot of questions about—people asking what they can do, at least on the nutrition side, to try and keep their horses as comfortable, happy, and healthy as possible when they’re moving around.

HOST: So, the most important thing is long-term diet, fitness, and low stress, but coming into about a week out from leaving for a big trip, what can you start doing proactively to help make sure your horse is ready for the trip?

LIZ: One of the things people are really focused on is trying to keep their horse's diet the same on the road as at home because that sets them up for long-term success. You want to change as little as possible. So, people start doing meal preps, which might sound a little funny, but it’s actually quite important to plan in advance before leaving. That way, the same feed and supplements they’re getting at home can be given while they’re away. And that can be a lot of work.
There are people who put them in separate little Ziploc baggies or in little Tupperwares. So, in response to people asking how to streamline this and make life easier, we’ve come up with two additional packaging systems to help. This is a bit of a preview since it should be available in the next month or so. We’re calling it Equine Elixirs Mixers. It will allow them to take all their supplements pre-dosed and pre-packaged into AM and PM bags. Then, they won’t have to worry about taking separate product bags and different scoop sizes. Instead, they’ll have all their products in an AM bag and a PM bag. This will be fully customizable online, so they can take it with them, and their diets can remain the same on the road as at home.
The other type of packaging is a bulk mix. For those who don’t want all those additional bags, we can take all their products, mix them in bulk ahead of time, and provide a custom-sized scoop. You could see, you know, up to 10 different products mixed together from one location, and they’ll all be pre-mixed in advance.

HOST: As we get closer to leaving for the horse show, how can people make sure their horses are hydrated and have everything they need for their actual travel?

LIZ: I think making sure their immune system is as strong as possible is key, and ensuring their stomachs are comfortable is also important.
In terms of hydration, some horses naturally drink better than others, but our product, Chug, has certainly become very popular. It’s something you can add to water at home to encourage them to start hydrating before leaving. You can also take it with you on the road. Even if they’re on the trailer and you need to pull over for a water break, adding Chug to the water will increase their desire to drink, ensuring they stay hydrated. But again, making sure their stomachs are in a good place before you leave gives them the best chance of success on the road.

HOST: When they’re performing and spending more days in their stalls, under pressure to perform, and maybe being woken up at night to be braided or because other horses are leaving their stalls, how do we help them maintain the best sleep and recovery habits possible in a horse show environment?

LIZ: It’s definitely tricky. Some horses adapt to it better than others. I know people often look to give their horses a calming product to keep them as relaxed as possible in a new environment. We have different types of products for that, but generally, it’s something you’d want to start ahead of time.
Positude is great for hormonal balance, Calmakazi helps reduce nervous energy, and Sudden Comfort is something you can give right before going into the show ring.
Understanding your horse’s specific nervous behaviors or tell-tale signs will put you in a better position to figure out which product might help them stay relaxed. Often, we hear about horses in new environments that go on a hunger strike or don’t drink well. When their stomachs are empty, excess gastric acid can cause discomfort, feeding into the problem and making them not want to eat even more.
We’ve found that a few different things can help calm that behavior. Ulceraser contains dehydrated cabbage, a great source of glutamine, which helps calm the stomach and increase the strength of the gastric mucosa. It also helps increase appetite, as does our product Hulk. By increasing their appetite and making their stomachs more comfortable, usually within about 15 minutes, they’ll start picking at their hay or wanting to eat some of their grain.
We also have Tummy Gummies, which are great for reducing acid over short periods. You can give four at a time before riding or heading to the ring. However, some horses find the gummy texture a bit odd, so we’re launching a new product in the coming weeks called Tummy Crunchies. These are a crunchy, more traditional cookie consistency, offering the same acid-buffering benefits as Tummy Gummies.

HOST: Once horses have shipped home or are at a layover in a calm area, what are some of the best ways to get their recovery on track? I feel like we all need to get our stomachs back on track after a horse show.

LIZ: Oh, for sure. Many people like to give their horses a muscle recovery product after a show, especially if they’ve been performing more than usual or are stiff from being in a stall for extended periods.
There are short-term muscle recovery products out there, but I’ve found more success with a long-term maintenance product. Having a daily regimen that includes anti-inflammatories, polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamin E, and other nutrients helps reduce oxidative stress and keep their muscles supple every day. This is a better strategy than only using something after strenuous activities.
Our product Immunox reduces oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the muscles on a daily basis, and OM3GA, which combines Omega-3 oil with liquid Vitamin-E, is designed for daily use rather than just after intense performance.

HOST: Anything else people can look forward to going into the winter season with their horses?

LIZ: At the moment, the big things are the Equine Elixirs Mixers pre-packaged products, which have been in the works for the last two years, the Tummy Crunchies, and the bulk mixes. We’re also developing a liquid gastric product that coats the stomach and acts as a natural alternative to something like citrate. So, keep an eye out for those in the coming months.

HOST: Well, we’ll keep an eye out for them. Thank you, Liz, so much for joining us again on the podcast.

LIZ: Of course. Thanks for having me.