Getting Your Horses Ready for Cold Weather

Photo Courtesy of Jenny McKillip

Cold weather months are just around the corner, are you prepared to keep your equines in peak physical condition over the winter? It is especially important to add nutritional supplements to horse feed as temperatures drop, Callie Novak, Dynamite CEO suggests. There are a few products in particular that support horse health and meet equine nutritional needs in the winter when pastures are limited or covered with snow. 

HES (High Energy Supplement): These pellets provide additional calories in the form of protein and fat, which are needed in winter months. HES is a great calorie option instead of offering additional grain or sweet feed, which can cause metabolic issues if overfed.

Free Choice Minerals: The concept of Dynamite’s free choice minerals evolved from the horse’s innate ability to self-regulate. “When left to roam freely,” Novak notes, “horses will find plants that grow in calcium-rich soils and then travel miles in another direction to consume plants that are growing in a more phosphorus-rich area for balance. This is obviously impossible when horses are confined and when pastures have deteriorated or are covered with snow.” Dynamite offers 1 to 1 and 2 to 1 for calcium and phosphorus balance, NTM (Natural Trace Mineral) Salt, which contains no anti-caking agents or bleaches, and Izmine, a carbon-based trace and microtrace mineral complex.

Dynamite: The signature product that gave Dynamite its name is a state-of-the-art supplement that reflects decades of research, development, and is used by the top trainers in the country. Dynamite is favored by trainers of race, endurance, event, dressage and other hard-working horses. It’s also excellent for horses with additional nutrient requirements, such as horses being exposed to severe winter weather, post-surgical recovery, and pregnant or nursing mares.

Additionally, Dyna Pro prebiotic and Excel can be added to help with winter grazing issues, Easy Balance for thyroid support and blood sugar balance, and OxE Mega for vitamin E and antioxidants that do not exist in dry winter grass and stored hay.

Dynamite's Equine Foundation Program

Photo courtesy of Janelle Lear

The most common question about Dynamite's equine line of products is "What products should I use?" We always recommend building a strong foundation first.Your horse's foundation program will depend primarily on activity, energy level, additional nutritional requirements, and your preference for ease of feeding. 

Choose a Dynamite broad spectrum supplement:

Option #1: Dynamite®— Dynamite's most popular foundation product. Dynamite is favored by trainers of race, endurance, event, dressage, and other hard-working horses.

Option #2: Dynamite Plus™—For horses with lower physical demands

Option #3: TNT™—For performance and/or high-needs horses, we recommend feeding TNT, which is a combination of Dynamite, Easy Balance (metabolic support and calming), Free & Easy (joint health), Izmine (trace minerals and detoxification), Excel (digestion catalyst), and HES, all in easy-to-feed pellets.

Add Dynamite's digestive aid Dyna Pro®:

• Dyna Pro—We always recommend adding Dyna Pro prebiotic to enhance mineral absorption and support digestive health.

Complete the program with mineral fine tuning:

• Free Choice Minerals—For whichever option you choose, round out the foundation program by providing all four Free Choice Mineral products in separate, open feeders, kept full year round. 1 to 1, 2 to 1, Izmine and NTM Salt were designed to allow horses to instinctively balance calcium, phosphorus, trace minerals, micro trace minerals, and salt as they would if allowed to roam freely in nature.

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Dynamite Testimonial—Zypher's Story

Zypher's 'Before' Photo

Zypher's 'After' Photo

I bought this Kentucky Mountain Filly when she was about 6 months old. She looked fine when I bought her but this was in March and she still had her winter coat. I had noted that she was being fed straight alfalfa and was on a dry lot. I didn't think too much about it at the time. She was delivered to me and had a cut on a hind foot that occurred from the transport. I was shocked when I took a picture of her a week later. I had put her on grass hay and did not realize how much water weight she had from the alfalfa. She was eating well on the grass hay so it wasn't that she was not getting food. She also had some mange type parasites that I discovered while trying to brush her and large patches of hair started coming off. I used the Wound Wash and Dyna Shield on it, whatever I had handy at the time to get rid of them. I had started her off with the Dyna Pro and then got her on to the Dynamite vitamins for horses. She was given free choice minerals and salt. She also started showing signs of needing a worming after I had her for about 2 weeks I put her on the Herbal Tonic. In figuring the dates out, I am sure she was only on her dam until maybe 3 months old and then was transported to Montana and put in with a bunch of other weanlings and all on straight alfalfa. I kept her on the Dynamite basics, adding the Super ACV as the weather progressed into spring. I show people the before and after pictures show people the before and after pictures and they can't believe it's the same horse. My landlord who has dealt with buying and selling horses for over 50 years told me that if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it was the same horse. He also said that he would have never bought a horse that looked like she did, he would have just shot her if he had her.... I did not spray her with anything to make her shine, that is just the sun hitting her. In fact, I didn't even brush her when I took this picture and she is in a dirt lot. 

—Wendy McComas Distributor, Montana

If you have a Dynamite Story you'd like to share with us, please send it to us here.

The statements made on this page were given freely and are the sole opinions of the author. We always caution that one person’s experience is not a guarantee of results. The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease. Dynamite Specialty Products takes a firm stance that our products always be used in accordance with the opinions and expertise of your trusted health care professional, doctor and/or veterinarian.

Dynamite Testimonial - Pretty Girl's Story

We had a two-year old Standardbred come in named Pretty Girl, who set out eating the fence boards. It got so bad some were completely eaten through, requiring ten of them to be replaced. After being on the Free Choice Minerals for about three months, the fence chewing stopped completely. She mostly ate the 1:1 at the beginning, probably for the phosphorus, but she continued eating the Free Choice minerals, all of them, until she left here to begin her training career for her owner at the track. We are thankful that we had the opportunity to have her here and build up her mineral reserves before beginning a very demanding career.

                                           —Greg Montgomery, Dragonfly Farm, Taft, Tennessee

If you have a Dynamite Story you'd like to share with us, please send it to us here.


*The statements made on this page were given freely and are the sole opinions of the author. We always caution that one person’s experience is not a guarantee of results. The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease. Dynamite Specialty Products takes a firm stance that our products always be used in accordance with the opinions and expertise of your trusted health care professional, doctor and/or veterinarian.

Dynamite Testimonial- A Shiny New Coat

Another great brag, I had a big warmblood come in with a pretty dull coat. I’ve never known a horse to settle in as well as he has at my place. I’ve been starting him off slowly with Dynamite products. First adding a squirt of Dyna Pro to his grain, and then adding Excel. He is now up to a full dose of Dynamite supplement for Horses. His coat is starting to shine, and he has put on weight. He is also on all Free Choice Minerals and Salt. He just dove into those, especially the Izmine. Thank you Dynamite!

Valerie Vaughn

Burbank, WA







If you have a Dynamite Story you'd like to share with us, please send it to us here.


*The statements made on this page were given freely and are the sole opinions of the author. We always caution that one person’s experience is not a guarantee of results. The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease. Dynamite Specialty Products takes a firm stance that our products always be used in accordance with the opinions and expertise of your trusted health care professional, doctor and/or veterinarian.

Dynamite Testimonial—Sierra's Story

My name is Lisa Mayne and I live in Middletown, Maryland. My sister, Vicki Bidle-Kelly, introduced me to Dynamite several years ago—I have been using the products since. I have a 20+ year old Quarter Horse/Appaloosa gelding named Sierra that I got 3 years ago to be a companion to my horse Lacey. In his younger years, Sierra was owned by a teenage girl that used him for eventing and fox hunting. When Sierra was in his mid-teens he developed ring bone, both high and low, and was retired to pleasure riding. Then the girl lost interest in riding so Sierra was just turned out to pasture for a few years before I got him. He was very stiff all over, especially in his front legs. He was used to being fed sweet feed so we took a few days getting him off of that and onto the Dynamite PGR and Dyna Pro. We also have all of the Dynamite Free Choice Minerals out for the horses and Sierra took to the Free Choice 2 to 1, eating quite a bit of that for the first few months. Also, my sister told me to put a thin layer of Balm around Sierra’s fetlocks and pasterns. After a couple of weeks, I noticed he was walking better. We also got a very good barefoot trimmer to take care of his feet. Now, my husband is able to trail ride Sierra with me when I take my horse Lacey out. We continue to put the Balm on when we think about it and occasionally we use the Free and Easy on him. He is doing great and is no longer just a companion horse. Sierra can go on the trail rides with the rest of the gang.

—Lisa Mayne Dynamite Distributor, MD

If you have a testimonial please send it to us here.

“The statements made on this page were given freely and are the sole opinions of the author. We always caution that one person’s experience is not a guarantee of results. The statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease. Dynamite Specialty Products takes a firm stance that our products always be used in accordance with the opinions and expertise of your trusted health care professional, doctor and/or veterinarian.”

Winter conditions? Free Choice Minerals For Your Horse

As horse owners, we control what our horses eat and it is our responsibility to supply them with the vital minerals missing in their diets. In winter, when pasture is not as readily available and horses may not get the nutrients they had during summer foraging, supplements are vital. When horses are left to roam freely, they will forage plants growing in calcium-rich soils, and then travel miles in another direction to consume plants rich in phosphorus for the balance. But in enclosed areas, they have limited resources to provide the nutrients they need. A horse’s natural instinct is to self-regulate. 

When offering your horse Free Choice Minerals, including 1 to 1 Free Choice™, 2 to 1 Free Choice™, Izmine™ and NTM Salt™,  it is important to begin slowly. Start the process by offering your horse about a cup of each mineral in separate feeders on the first day, and gradually increase daily. This process allows the horse to adjust to the availability of the minerals and ration its own cravings. After a few weeks, allow the horse to feed completely in a free choice manner.   

Times of stress or injury, hard work, parasite challenge, onset of cold weather, barometric drops, growth spurts and more will trigger consumption of 1 to 1 and 2 to 1 Free Choice. The horses might ignore them for months, then suddenly will empty the feeder. Once they are balanced, they will tend to just take a little once in a while. Until they are balanced, they may empty the feeder daily.

1 to 1 Free Choice and 2 to 1 Free Choice were designed to work together to provide commonly deficient elements necessary for proper development of bone, ligaments, tendons, connective tissues and milk production in horses and other livestock. 

1 to 1 Free Choice provides a 1:1 ration of calcium and phosphorus, generally needed in phosphorus deficient areas, or when alfalfa is mainly fed. 

2 to 1 Free Choice provides a 2:1 ration of calcium and phosphorus, generally needed in calcium deficient areas, or when grass hay is fed.

It is important to always give your animal access to both 1 to 1 Free Choice and 2 to 1 Free Choice. Your animal will know instinctively how much of each Free Choice he needs each day. Mineral needs will change daily, so provide adequate amounts of both for your horse. 

Izmine™ is mined from a prehistoric, organic deposit of kelp, crustaceans, and other marine flora and fauna. It is naturally chelated and contains more than 70 naturally-occurring micro-trace minerals, enzymes, electrolytes and bio-nutrients. Because Izmine is carbon-based, it acts as a natural detoxifier.

NTM Salt™ is a 100 percent natural deposit from a prehistoric sea bed. It is better than sea salt, because it has not been affected by pollution. No artificial ingredients or flow improvers are added.

All of the Free Choice Minerals are designed to assist in balancing the minerals and trace minerals in the ration and  are intended to be offered free choice to horses already being supplemented with either Dynamite®, Dynamite Plus™, or TNT™. It is important that 1 to 1 and 2 to 1 not be force fed because only the animal, through its instinct, will know how much to eat. There are reports of depleted horses consuming as much as 75 pounds of 2 to 1 in a few months, before becoming balanced and voluntarily reducing consumption to a few ounces per day! There are other horses who will never touch the product, and many who seem to cycle off and on depending on estrus, season, work load, growth rate, parasite load, etc.

Equine Feeding Basics - Avoiding Common Mistakes Part 3 of 3

Boo-Boo #3 Detrimental Water Sources

By Judy Sinner, Dynamite Gold Director

Water is a huge part of your horse’s nutrient profile. Weighing about nine pounds per gallon, it actually makes up the bulk of the “ration”. Consider that most horses will drink an average of 10 gallons per day, which equates to nearly 90 pounds of consumption. If forage sources and supplements are optimal, and the horse still is “ADR” (ain’t doin’ right!), look at water. 


Providing chlorinated city water is one of the most common boo boo’s, yet we don’t often have a choice. Either we are on a municipal well or at events where chlorinated water is the only option. Besides tasting awful, which keeps many horses from drinking adequately, chlorinated water can suppress thyroid function and suppress beneficial gut bacteria as well. Chlorine is put in a swimming pool to kill bacteria, after all. One option is to let the chlorine “gas off” by filling a muck bucket or other larger container and letting it sit for 24 hours, then filling the usual water tub or buckets from that, after the chlorine has evaporated. If forced to use city water for a time at events, you might also consider adding just a touch of Super ACV or even some apple juice to the water, to help disguise the taste. Doing this for a few days at home before traveling can be a great idea, so they become accustomed to the taste.


Streams and other run-off water can be very hazardous. A few years ago, one distributor had several mares abort in late-term pregnancy after flooding caused a creek to over-run their pasture. The creek contained run-off from wheat land and other crop land which had recently been fertilized heavily with nitrogen fertilizers. She moved the remainder of the mares, and all was fine. Never let horses drink irrigation water, as that can be very heavily contaminated with herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Excess nitrogen in water will suppress oxygen in the system, as well as damage kidneys. Even at lower levels, it will suppress vitamin A which can lead to a yucky coat, and may also cause wacky behavior due to low oxygenation of the brain. Many of these compounds are endocrine disrupters as well, which can lead to metabolic issues and even founder.


If you have your own well, you still may not be in the clear. Groundwater through most of the U.S. is severely contaminated with nitrogen fertilizers and other chemicals, especially in farming areas. Lead and other heavy metals may also be either naturally-occurring or the result of leaching from industrial and mining sites, which can be hundreds of miles away via underground rivers and aquifers. Expensive though they may be, if a water test indicates dangerous levels of chemicals and metals, a filter may well protect your health and investment in your animals. Some people put a handful of Miracle Clay in the tank, stir the water up well, and let the clay settle to the bottom of the tank before allowing the horses to drink. The Miracle Clay has a strong negative charge, and will glom onto chemicals and toxins which are usually positively charged, and tie them up. Be sure to clean out the tank when it gets low, so they don’t drink the clay residue in the bottom. Be aware that garden hoses may contain high levels of lead and other metals, as well as chemicals, which may leach into the water especially if the hose is out in the sun. At the very least, let the water run for a few minutes to clear out the hose before watering the horses. Hoses from RV supply houses may be a better choice.


Never feed horses softened water. One distributor years ago had a mare who kept eating dirt, no matter what minerals we provided. She would literally leave feed to go out and dig holes, eating so much dirt that she had endured several surgeries to “clean her out.”  When we asked about the water source, the owner assured us that it was fine, “I have a water softener in the barn.” Yikes. We had her unhook that, and the mare quit the dirt eating.


Don’t use the black rubber tubs or buckets made from recycled tires. Besides tasting icky, the water will pick up the ethoxyquin and heavy metals from the tire parts. At one show I attended with friends, a gelding colicked during a workout and proved to be quite dehydrated. They were watering in their “show buckets” that were black rubber, and the water at the fairgrounds was chlorinated, as well. I had them swap out the hard plastic feed buckets and put the water in those, and use the rubber ones just for the grain, and they went back to drinking more normally. 


At home, the type of tub is critical, too. Many of the rubber and plastic tubs contain chemicals which are endocrine disrupters, and often the galvanized tubs are a better choice for pasture tanks. Especially if you are seeing metabolic issues, try switching away from rubber or plastic. Optimally, automatic waterers with stainless steel bowls are likely the best choice. It goes without saying that all water containers should be scrupulously clean, and the water of drinkable temperature: Cool in summer, and without chunks of ice in winter. Some horses “backwash” and like to gargle with water as they eat their hay. They may require either a separate tub to splash around in, and a real water container to drink from…as does one of mine. Even the color of the tub or bucket can affect their drinking choice; color has a vibration, and will affect the water energetically. Observe the obvious, and perhaps try a different color. Even the location of the water in the stall or turnout may affect how they drink. A little splash of Super ACV in the larger tubs and tanks will help keep algae down in the summer, though this is best done in plastic or rubber tanks, as the acid may leach metals from the galvanized tanks into the water.


Consider that mineral content of the water may be affecting your horses. High iron in the water, for example, can suppress copper in particular. The high iron water and soil in much of the eastern part of the country, and the southeast especially, requires that extra copper be supplemented to the horses there; adding S.O.D. for Horses occasionally works great. If you are seeing “fish-hook” hair, bleaching of coat color especially in dark horses, or parasite issues, suspect that you may need supplemental copper due to the high iron.  In the west, the water can be very “hard” and high in alkali minerals like magnesium or calcium, requiring that the horses have access to extra phosphorus. For all horses, supplementing with the Free Choice Minerals regimen (1 to 1, 2 to 1, Izmine™ and NTM Salt™) in addition to the basic daily supplement, will allow them to seek out what they need to balance their system.


Reluctance to drink may also signal ulcers, and Miracle Clay ulcer protocol works smashingly well to address that issue.
 
Bottom line is, listen to your horse. Water quality is a huge issue in horse management.  Remember that water carries a vibration. There are energetic ways to affect it through systems with magnets or other energy sources, and even your own blessing of the water can go a long way toward cleaning it up in all ways.