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Tying Up
The tying up syndrome can be dramatically affected by balancing nutrients. First, a definition is in order. The classic tie up case is an exertional myopathy, caused by lactic acid buildup from exercise. Lactic acid .drops cellular and blood pH too low, leading to electrolyte imbalances that make muscles unable to contract then relax-the muscles stay in a contracted or "tied up" state, hence the name of the syndrome. Usually, a tied up horse will exhibit frozen back and loin muscles, and will be reluctant or unable to move. Don't even try to move a horse in this state, as moving can cause irreparable muscle damage.
Let's review some common causes and scenarios, and you can give your clients a working knowledge of how to deal with tying up.
- Lactic acid buildup and EPSM Syndrome.
This is the most common situation, occurring after strenuous exertion. Too much protein (alfalfa or high protein grain rations) and too much carbohydrate (too much grain) are the usual culprits. Both of these feeding situations create acid in the system, and then when YOU throw in lactic acid from work,you have instant "vapor lock." The solution: top quality grass hay and Dynamite Complete Grain Ration or dry cob with HES Pellets for hard working horses. Both the Grain Ration and the HES are very digestible, allowing you to feed far less grain than would usually be required. Some horses who suffer from Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (inability to convert carbs to glycogen and back to glucose for muscle fuel) do really well on extra HES and no grain at all. Adding Dyna Pro to the ration also enhances utilization of the feed. Remember from Regan's columns also that bioavailable minerals are necessary to stock the "alkaline reserve" in the body, which assists in neutralizing acid.
Mares and fillies seem to tie up more readily than colts and geldings, probably due to fluctuations in estrogen levels. Many mares and fillies will become very tight and twitchy at the start of their heat cycles, and are the frustration of their trainers. As in human female athletes, higher estrogen levels appear to cause magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is important for muscle relaxation, and a deficiency will also cause nervousness and irritability. There is a reason that magnesium is a primary ingredient in PMS and menopause formulas for women. Take note, all you males out there! Our equine supplement of choice for magnesium deficiency is Easy Boy, which contains chelated magnesium as well as thiamine, riboflavin, chamomile, clay and glucose. I have personally had great luck with this product on my National Show Horse mare that was a borderline tie up case. She never truly tied up, but would get very cinchy and wring her tail before her heat cycles, as well as being unable to move freely at these times. I sneaked Easy Boy into her diet for three days, and on the fourth her trainer (who did not know I had added the supplement) commented on her great work and motion that day and her happy attitude. Many mares benefit from a low level of this product daily, as well as a higher level around their heat cycles. Much preferable to feeding Epsom salts (magnesium oxide or inorganic magnesium) as many old time race trainers do! Now that we have our new TNT which is a combination of regular Dynamite, Easy Boy, Izmine (which is high magnesium), Excel, Free and Easy and HES Pellets (which provide fat for muscle fuel), this product is receiving rave reviews from owners of performance horses. More ease and freedom of movement is a common reaction to the TNT.
- Low blood glucose levels and electrolyte imbalance.
A good fat source and balanced electrolytes are important. Since we addressed electrolytes in a previous column (Nov. 1996 issue), you can go back and review that information on salt and electrolytes. Earlier, I mentioned feeding Dynamite Complete Grain Ration or HES Pellets. These are both great fat sources in the form of organic, whole extruded soybeans. This is much more preferable to feeding oils, since oils clog the receptor sites for the fat soluble vitamins A, D E and K and prevent these nutrients from being utilized. Whole beans contain all the oil and the enzymes necessary for complete utilization. Be wary of horse feeds which contain animal fat as a fat source-this is not appropriate for herbivores! Would a horse naturally eat a fatty hamburger or steak? No, very likely he would beat feet to the next county if you offered it to him in his feed tub! There is another subtle reason not to feed animal fat to herbivores. Adrenaline and hormones generated when animals are killed at the slaughter house leave a vibration of fear in the meat and fat that other animals can feel, and it is not beneficial to the emotional well-being of grazers. In addition, it is almost impossible to procure a source of animal fat that is not preserved with ethoxyquin, BHT or BHA, and/or denatured with creosote or other ugly stuff to keep it from being used for human consumption. Factor in that most animal fat from rendering plants is from 4D meat: dead, diseased, dying or decayed. These include euthanized pets from humane shelters and vets, as well as animals who have died from good ness-knows-what diseases. Boy, are those whole extruded soybeans looking better all the time!
- Impaired thyroid function.
Horses that have a low circulating level of T4 thyroid hormone can't metabolize glucose efficiently and are thus prone to tie up or have a lot of stiffness. Colorado State researchers have discovered that feeding excess levels of protein can decrease T4 levels. Remember that a mature working horse only requires about 12 percent protein in the diet. That is the protein level of grass hay and oats. Stay away from 18-22 percent protein alfalfa and high protein sweet feed of 14 percent or more. These same researchers discovered that supplemental dietary magnesium will increase the level of T4. Thyroid function can also be impaired by feeding in hay racks where a horse has to reach up and crank his head at an angle to eat. This puts pressure on the nerves and meridians to the thyroid, suppressing it. And, remember, in a previous column (October 1996) we learned that the liver is the primary site for conversion of T4 to T3 which is the more active hormone. So, if the liver is toxic from wormers, drugs, or chemicals in the feed, there will be a deficiency of circulating thyroid hormone. (And the thigh bone is connected to the knee bone ... ). And again, low magnesium levels are implicated in thyroid disfunction.
The classic veterinary response to tying up is to use injectable or supplemental selenium. It is true that a selenium deficiency can be a factor, but it is important to do a blood assay to determine deficiency as selenium in excess can be toxic. Many other minerals are needed as well. Because hard working horses generate a high level of free radicals, they require high levels of zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamin E, C, and A. Bill Vandergrift Ph.D., states, "Zinc and copper provided in an organic form (chelated or proteinated) are far superior to zinc and copper sulfates in their ability to reduce free-radical concentrations." Our hard knockin' Dynamite" race and endurance horses thrive on original Dynamite which supplies these nutrients and others at optimum levels as amino acid chelates. As a caution, many people feed iron tonics, which can be dangerous as excess iron oxidizes and increases free-radical production and can lead to tying up. The optimum program I recommend for Dynamite race and endurance or event horses is regular Dynamite, grass or timothy hay, Complete Feed or dry COB with HES Pellets, and 2 to 1 Free Choice, Izmine, NTM Salt, and Dyna Pro. Barrel horses, who do not run as long, often do great on the above with the substitution of Dynamite Plus instead of regular Dynamite. TNT may also be used as the supplement of choice. Sandy Crow in WA has this to say: "Satin is looking better and not so bloated and her body looks more defined (on TNT). She also is less witchy. It will be interesting to see what spring and her cycles bring. I started riding on Saturday after her sitting out for 3 weeks and she didn't tie-up or get short strided and tight in her butt muscles. The big difference was the next day. Her stride was fluid and long with no sign of the above symptoms which have happened before. I haven't barrel raced and won't until March 12th so I'll let you know how it goes. At this point I am happy with this product...Thank you sooo very much for all your help and being there with something for this mare. I had tried everything and was at my rope's end."
In addition to the scenario above which inhibits the conversion of thyroid hormone, a clogged liver is just like running your car with a dirty air or fuel filter. Because all of the blood filters through the liver, a horse with a toxic liver simply can't pump the blood through fast enough and runs out of oxygen under stress. We have had super results on several tie up cases just by feeding Herbal Tonic for a month as the only supplement to assist in detoxifying the liver. Sometimes, the solution is pretty simple! During competition season, worm only if absolutely necessary and then use an herbal product if possible and save the chemical wormer for the off-season. Dynamite Director Ray Brinlee reports that he was able to increase the performance of racing Greyhounds simply by supporting liver function with S.O.D. before and the day after monthly heartworm medication. Before S.O.D. they would show slower race times right after the wormer, and on the S.O.D. they didn't miss a beat!
I personally know of several race horses and one trail horse who tied up consistently just from emotional stress. If a horse associates running or working with pain (even past pain) or stress, that is often enough to precipitate a tie up situation. These horses were assisted dramatically by Relax. Given daily at 20-30 sprays in the feed and then as needed before the event, my experience with this product has been most dramatic over the years. Of course, shoeing and lameness issues, saddle fitting and dentistry all need to be addressed as well.
So, once again, we see that there is not one simple answer. All beings are a complex combination of physical and emotional factors - we are truly "wondrously made." As we continue to raise our level of awareness about options and nutritional solutions, we increase our ability to make informed choices for our animals and ourselves.
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