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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Beat the Summer Heat with Dynamite

Photo courtesy of Dynamite Distributor Helen Mosser 

When your horse or dog's electrolyte levels are disturbed, via summer heat, or exercising, her gastrointestinal system may not work properly, her muscles may develop cramps, she may experience heart problems, and she may not even be able to think straight, because her brain may not function normally.
Most animals cool themselves through sweating or panting. The body can lose many important major electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride as well as ionic trace minerals that are necessary for maintaining fluid levels in the body, muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission, and hydration.This impairs temperature regulation and both physical and mental performance. Did you know that fluid loss as low as 2 percent of total body weight impairs temperature regulation and reduces endurance capacity and aerobic performance?

Any mammal is approximately two thirds water. For an average size horse, that translates to about 80 gallons of water! Hal Schott, DVM, writing in USA Equestrian, June 2002, cites studies done at Michigan State University on strategies to get horses to drink more water during strenuous exercise periods. In a 36 mile test, horses without electrolyte supplementation lost about 50 pounds and drank only 3 gallons (about 25 pounds) of water during rest periods. Horses given salts drank 5 to 6 gallons of water, replenishing their entire weight loss and sweat loss. The horses receiving electrolytes began to drink earlier in the test, than those who did not. 

How do most manufacturers formulate electrolytes?

When we evaluate most commercial electrolyte formulas, we find them to be nothing more than refined and processed salt (sodium chloride), commonly at a rate of more than 50%. Then another 10-20% will be potassium, and the remainder other minerals, almost always in an inorganic (unusable) form. Some commercial entities add bicarbonate of soda in an attempt to neutralize the acid which is the by-product of exercise. Many electrolytes contain dyes and artificial flavorings, which are not conducive to keeping a clean liver in a running horse.

Most formulas are arrived at by scraping sweat from the horse and analyzing the minerals therein. That is much like taking the exhaust from your car, analyzing it, and then putting one of those elements back into the gas tank! Auto exhaust is a by-product of combustion, just as sweat is a by-product of exercise.

Dyna-Spark for Horses
Dynamite’s premium horse electrolyte is totally different than any other on the market. It contains organic blackstrap molasses, natural trace mineral salt, and balanced mineral chelates specifically chosen to address mineral deficiencies and muscle imbalances resulting from hot weather, strenuous exercise, stress and more. Based on the research above, Horses exercising more than an hour or two in hot and/or humid climates would benefit from Dyna-Spark. General use is 1 ounce daily. Endurance use calls for 2 ounces administered 24 hours before the race, and then 2 ounces at each checkpoint before feed and water, and again at the finish of the race. Dyna-Pro™ may be mixed with Dyna-Spark, but be sure to feed the mixture within 24 hours. For eventing or flat racing or a hard ride in high humidity, give 2 ounces 12-24 hours in advance, and repeat at the finish of the workout. For general dehydration, give 2 ounces a day until the situation is resolved.

Dyna-Spark for Dogs
Any pet owner who has mopped up after a panting dog knows how much water a dog can lose on a hot day! Many people do not believe a dog needs electrolytes because they pant and the by-products of cooling are left on their tongues (ie. still in their bodies). Recall what we said above. Those are merely by-products of physiological reactions and a dog will still need the initial elements replenished. A dog will absolutely benefit from electrolytes, but it’s important that they are formulated for dogs to balance potassium levels (not sodium, like humans and horses who sweat). Want the ultimate proof? Attend a dog trial and watch the recovery times of dogs taking Dyna-Spark versus the ones that don’t. Dyna-Spark for Dogs should be mixed up with water and offered in a third bowl, separate from food and water, and
the dog should have its free choice to consume as needed.

Click here to read Tess and Gus' Dyna-Spark story. They are competing in sheepdog trials all around the Northwest this summer.

The Holistic Hoof - The Science Behind Dyna Hoof™ Success

The story of Dyna Hoof begins in 1983 when Dynamite founder, Jim Zamzow, studied the structure and function of elk antlers to create a very successful supplement for an elk ranch in Colorado. Upon seeing the results of those efforts, Gold Director Judy Sinner asked if Jim would put the same effort into developing a product for horse hoof health. Working with a large, established farrier, a full analysis was done to determine which components made up the good hooves that were not present in the unhealthy hooves. The foundation of Dyna Hoof was based on these comprehensive findings.

One of the many features of Dyna Hoof is that it uses “chelazones®*." These are minerals bound to specific amino acids so they are delivered to the targeted location within the horse’s body. This is important because if you supplement a horse with zinc, for instance, the horse will use that mineral in a general application throughout the body, meaning that you may or may not see results in the hoof tissue specifically. In Dyna Hoof, chelazones target nutrients to the hoof specifically. This delivers the minerals where you want them, making the supplement more effective with quicker results. (Side note: This is one of the reasons we always suggest horses be on our Foundational Program--to fulfill the general nutritional needs of the horse. If you feed the Dynamite Foundation Program along with Dyna Hoof, you will likely be able to stop supplementing Dyna Hoof once hoof health is achieved and the daily foundational nutrients will maintain hoof health.)

Another aspect of Dyna Hoof is that it is a holistic hoof product. Jim often says, “A horse has 5 hearts--the heart + all 4 hooves." This is because the hoof is designed to use the weight of the horse and the spongy component of the inner hoof to push blood back up the leg and keep it circulating. Many products just address the hoof aesthetically and not the holistic health of the entire leg and all its purposes. Dyna Hoof includes nutritional support for the capillaries and surrounding tissues that are required for blood flow supporting its important function as an “organ” of circulation.

Science, chelazones, and a holistic approach all make Dyna Hoof a favorite product. Many competitors have attempted to duplicate Dyna Hoof over the years, but our proprietary formulations cannot be copied and will always deliver what we say they will…guaranteed.

Innovation guided by nature, backed by science™.

*Chelazone® is a registered trademark of Albion Laboratories

Order Dyna Hoof here
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Dynamite Testimonial- Turning Back Time with TNT Horse Supplement

Turning Back Time

"I wanted to share a success story with you. My daughter’s mare, Molly, is 20 years old. We’ve had her for a year and a half, and she’s been on Dynamite since we got her. She has always had minor soundness issues, but did her job as a jumper. She’s now my daughter’s 2’ 6” equestrian horse. I had a planned visit with the vet yesterday to do a soundness exam and purposely planned it after a show where the mare jumped 6 courses and did 3 flat classes.

First of all, from looking at her (without peeking at her teeth) the vet thought the mare was 12, not 20! AND she was completely sound, even in the right front where she has some confirmation issues that used to get her sore after hard work. No bute [Phenylbutazone], no isox [Isoxsuprine], no injections! Just TNT, an extra bit of Free-n-Easy, and some SOD every day. 

The picture (bottom right) is from a regional Finals competition at the end of October where they  were both division and high-point champions for the season. 

Thanks for making such great products."

Denise Avolio  SUPERVISOR, NEW YORK

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     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.

 

                                                                                                                                                                        

"Winterizing" Your Horses

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Read our full article on horse winter nutritional needs here. 

Dynamite's Perspective of the Equine Herpes Outbreak

According to the USDA, neurologic EHV-1 can cause an acute paralytic syndrome in horses where they are weak and ataxic in the hind legs. This weakness and paralysis of the muscles of the hind limbs gives rise to incoordination, gait abnormalities and, in some cases, the inability to rise from the sitting position.

“The virus, once infected, can become latent. Latency enables the virus to avoid the host’s immune system. Then at an opportune time (i.e., levels of high stress) the virus emerges and can be silently shed, infecting other horses that come into contact with the ‘silent shedder. ’” says Dr.  Kerry A. Rood, Utah Extension Veterinarian and Dr. L. Earl Rogers, Utah State Veterinarian.

According to the US Dept of Agriculture, it is important to realize that EHV-1 can be spread indirectly through contact with physical objects contaminated with infectious virus. Examples of such objects include tack, wipe rags or other grooming equipment, feed and water buckets, and people’s hands or clothing.

Given this information it is, therefore, imperative to practice sound preventative principles which include cleaning and disinfecting your barn, horse trailer, blankets, etc.

FROM JUDY SINNER "Vaccination has been cited as a risk factor for development of EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy in one (unpublished) paper* written to report on an outbreak in 1984 involving many horses on at least five premises in Southern California. To my knowledge there have been no documented cases of EHV-1 in horses that have NOT EVER been vaccinated for rhino. An article** on the recent outbreak states that ‘all the affected horses had been vaccinated.’ This is a good thing to consider before you or anyone you care about runs out and vaccinates to try to prevent this, and actually ends up setting the horse up for problems instead, as the immune system is at an all-time low for 30 days following any vaccination. My recommendation if you are traveling and/or merely concerned is in addition to the Dynamite Basic Program†:

1. BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
• Do a 10-day blast of SOD to boost up your horse’s immune system.
• Put the horse on Hiscorbadyne® or Ox E Mega and leave them on it through the season.
• Solace Colloidal Silver may be beneficial as a natural ‘antibiotic’ for a horse that is already manifesting active signs of the virus, used for 10 days.

2. HOMEOPATHIC NOSODES
This is also the type of acute situation in which homeopathic nosodes can be beneficial. If a horse does get sick it is good to have them already on hand. You can get them from a holistic vet. Some people do use them as a preventative.

3. KEEP IT CLEAN
If you have been in contact with other horses ALWAYS wash down everything. This includes your barn, trailer, tack, grooming equipment and blankets. Dynamite Blanket and Barn Wash will disinfect as it cleans."

*  http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/ehv1_vaccination.cfm
** www.facebook.com/notes/animal-health-options/understanding-and-managing-the-neurologic-form-of-rhino/10150183254518562 and www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/ehv1_vaccination.cfm
†  The Dynamite Basic Programs includes Dynamite®, Dynamite Plus™ or TNT; Dyna Pro® and all 4 Free Choice Minerals.

Dynamite Testimonial—Vogue, A Message of Hope

Following is a letter we received a few years ago. We wanted to post it here to share with all horse lovers. 

Dear Dynamite, 

I fell in love with a wonderful grey mare at a very reputable breeding operation after months of searching and consideration. When I returned to the barn to purchase that mare, an elegant four-year-old chestnut filly chose me–I kid you not. Sensing she knew better than me, Rob and I coughed up the additional monies and proceeded to load her for her maiden trailer voyage. We arrived home, settled in and the first five weeks were divine. I was “Dancin’ on the Ceiling;” the world was mine. 

Almost to the day after five beautiful weeks, Vogue began a descent into hell. There is no other fitting metaphor. Weight loss due to diarrhea and anorexia, severe edema, hives, light and sound sensitivity, blisters, head shaking and on and on. The insects were attempting to eat her alive, and doing a fine job of doing so. Her pasture friend, my beloved mare Blondie wore a bell so Vogue could locate her when her eyes were swollen completely closed. When she could see she had to be let out of the barn only at dusk or on overcast days and then with a mask so that light and/or reflection off of the snow would not further irritate her. She lost over 350 pounds and had oozing sores everywhere; under the eyelids, her udder, on the tail bone, the vulva, inside her ears, the nasal cavity, the mouth. The thousands of sores would ooze serum that could literally be heard as they ‘plopped’ to the ground. Three times my vets said to let her go. And then the seizures began. She would convulse, then heavy full body tremors and then go crashing to the ground–always to her right. Terrifying, as one can imagine. This would happen daily at the least, and during any stress or very cold weather, multiple times to even hourly. She was exhausted. The sores had to be sponge bathed two to three times a day, the wind chill often below zero. A hot water heater and a warm area were installed so that she would not freeze, literally, during the process before we could get the blow dryers on her. 

Rob and I never left her, checking her numerous times throughout the nights. On the rare occasions I had to leave to gather groceries, supplies and run to the feed store, my husband would sit outside with her, both all bundled up. I was terrified he might miss the signs of a severe seizure and she would die in her stall. This was our life for 25 months and 11 days. Every test imaginable had been done. I heard “allergies to an unknown source” so many times I dreaded picking up the phone when the vets called with lab results. Buckets of money spent and the consensus was she did not have another winter in her. She was six years old and I needed to put her down. In September of 2007, my equine chiropractor came once again from California hoping to make her a bit more comfortable after another series of seizures. He made the comment that I should call a man he had taken a seminar from and plead my case. Plead is a nice term. Actually I begged, groveled, cried (you know the kind–your nose runs, you hiccup, you look like a truck has hit you?), and I prayed he would consider on such short notice helping my Vogue. 

“Rock of Ages” is now playing. Pixie Murphy (Bronze Director) got me into the clinic and onto the list for Dr. Regan Golob (Gold Director) to look her over. While I waited, the days crawled by, but Pixie suggested that I begin Dynamite Miracle Clay, Dyna Pro, TNT and Release. I discovered that if I sprayed her sheets and blankets with Release it curtailed the static that was making life even more miserable. When I carefully removed her blanket, if it was dark, I could literally witness a ‘sheet lightning’ show that frightened her to no end. She did improve considerably on the very basic Dynamite program. Finally, we load her up knowing the four hour trip may be all that she has in her, and she wasn’t as bad as she was going to be in a couple of weeks when winter hit our basin with its vengeance. Summer and early autumn were more kind to her. The final ‘amen’ was imminent and we knew it. 

They tell me Regan and Judy Sinner (Gold Director) actually lectured all that morning. I wouldn’t know, all I could hear was Vogue screaming in her stall that was below us. Finally it was time for these two gifted and knowledgeable people to meet my mare. After moments of observing, gently touching (she wouldn’t flinch, she’d buckle to the ground), reassuring her (and me) and muscle testing, her new theme “Stayin’ Alive” began, for the both of us. I was told she had Vaccinosis and Herpes. 

With a nutritional plan, a long list of products that then seemed foreign and mystical, in hand and hope in my heart for the first time in over two years we came home. We were warned there would be detoxing and that it would take two to three years for optimal health to be her norm. The music progressed to “Chariots of Fire.” Life was improving. 

We followed, absolutely to the letter, every piece of advice we were given and the ‘music’ changed once again, “Rocky” was our motto! She wasn’t just ‘existing’ she was fighting. She has consumed a UPS truckload of products and enough SOD and Miracle Clay that Vogue’s picture needs to be on the containers. Still, my Dynamite costs do not hold a candle to her previous treatment bills. All of the findings have been confirmed by an European Hair Analysis Lab this September. Just two weeks ago we went back to Glide, Oregon for Regan and Judy to see Vogue. There were many tears from those that met this dear creature only one year ago. There are not words to convey the trust, gratitude and wonder that I could ever pen so deep is my appreciation. Vogue just turned seven years old and Regan and Judy concur that I may start riding her! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Regan, Judy, Pixie and Dynamite. You have taught me “not to hope for a miracle but to expect one.” 

For the love of Vogue, 

Linda M. Bogatay Klamath Falls, OR


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.

Equine Feeding Basics - Avoiding Common Mistakes Part 1 of 3

Boo-Boo #1  Failure to provide appropriate & adequate forage, either hay or pasture

By Judy Sinner, Dynamite Gold Director

 “Common Feeding Boo-Boo’s” has become an important part of the seminars and trainings that Dr. Golob and I present. The horse world is rife with traditional and often misguided feeding practices that diminish health and performance. Unless we get the basics of solid horse husbandry down first, all the supplements in the world are not going to give us optimum results. In the interest of allowing our awesome Dynamite products to work as intended, let’s review some of the common mistakes! As you sell and share and feed your own animals, make sure the basics are covered.

 -Judy Sinner, Gold Director, Washington

Being grazing animals, horses are programmed to nibble constantly. Stomach acid is secreted continually and an empty stomach is an invitation to ulcers and colic. Chewing produces saliva, which buffers the acid and roughage in the stomach and protects the lining from the acid as well. Please provide your horses with free-choice hay or pasture at all times. As a general rule, horses need to consume about 2 percent of their body weight in feed daily, with most or all of that coming from forage. This equates to 20 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse. Some of you will screech about the horses over-eating and there are options to prevent just that: grazing muzzles if pastured and slow feeders or even double hay nets if confined. Both options mimic natural habitat, allowing just a few sprigs of grass or hay with each bite. The level of contentment when horses have constant access to feed is just amazing; cribbing, pacing, weaving, chewing, pawing and other vices simply disappear. Eating in this manner also avoids the blood sugar spikes which happen with two or three meals a day and even with big bites of food, so it is ideal for horses with metabolic issues such as insulin resistance. Also remember that horses eat to satisfy mineral cravings and when their minerals are balanced, they are not so ravenous. 

It goes without saying that hay should be a top quality grass or grass mix, mold-free and weed-free and of the appropriate type and nutrient content for each class of horse. Broodmares, foals and hard-working horses need a little more protein and may benefit from a small amount of alfalfa included with their grass hay. But feed only about 10 percent of the total hay ration as alfalfa. Alfalfa fed in excess is implicated in a host of problems, including belligerent attitude, tight muscles due to suppression of magnesium, imbalanced Calcium:Phosphorus ratio, tying up, kidney problems, scratches, enteroliths, OCD, colic and more. Aim for an overall protein percentage of about 10-12 percent in the total diet; the top limit would be as much as 15 percent protein. 

Sugars, starches and fructans (together called Non-Structural Carbohydrates or NSC in older hay tests) in hay should ideally be tested and should be 10 percent or lower for horses with metabolic issues such as insulin resistance or a tendency toward laminitis. Newer tests will show ESC (Ethanol Soluble Carbs, which include sugar and some fructans) rather than NSC. Starch is listed separately. Hard working, nursing and growing horses can generally tolerate hay that is a bit higher in NSC/ESC. As a general rule, the lower NSC/ESC hays are timothy, orchard grass, timothy/alfalfa and orchard/alfalfa. Teff is a newer variety of hay that can be good, too. Bermuda or Coastal is higher in NSC/ESC and the grain hays such as oat hay, barley hay or wheat hay are bad choices, because they are very high in starches. Most types of fescue and perennial ryegrass, are also not good choices, being quite high in carbs and sugars. These are general rules and time of year, time of day of cutting or grazing will also affect sugar and starch content of forage. Cold, sunny weather will produce high sugar hay, making spring or fall cuttings and pastures more dangerous. Short, overgrazed pastures are higher in sugars, which store in the bottom three inches of the stems, so keep pastures longer, ideally at about six inches of growth. Early morning grazing is safer than later in the day if the sugars/starches are an issue. If you have no choice but to feed a high ESC/NSC hay, you can soak it in water for a few hours then drain and feed. This will siphon off a lot of the sugar.

First cutting is generally a little more stemmy and weedy; second cutting is more ideal for horses, especially babies and oldsters that require a finer stemmed hay. A great test is to take a small bunch of hay and twist it between your hands in a wringing motion. It should break in about three to five good turns. If it breaks more quickly it is too dry and shattery, usually from being over-fertilized with nitrogen. If it does not break after five turns, it is likely too stemmy, fibrous and low in protein, or too moist and likely to mold. 

The hay discussion could go on and on. Suffice it to say that the single most important part of your horse’s diet is his hay or pasture. Do not skimp on quality or quantity. You can feed all the Dynamite products in the line and still not have optimum health unless your hay is prime. Analyze your hay for minerals, nitrates and sugars/starches if you have more than a several month supply on hand so that you can compensate for imbalances if necessary. Optimally, interest your hay grower in Humi-Zyme™ or Prescription Treatment fertilization.
Make sure you check out Boo-Boo #2 here

Equine Feeding Basics - Avoiding Common Mistakes Part 2 of 3

Boo- Boo #2  Excess grain, especially sweet feeds

By Judy Sinner, Dynamite Gold Director 
 

 Photo courtesy Emily Keene

Grains become sugar in the body and horses are not high sugar eaters. Carbs are for energy for work and unless a horse is working hard or nursing or growing fast, grain is not usually even necessary. Sweet feeds high in molasses are particularly detrimental, causing a “sugar rush” that affects attitude, tightening muscles thereby reducing stride and flexibility and causing blood sugar spikes that can lead to insulin resistance, laminitis and bone cell disruption in youngsters. Feed-grade molasses contains mold inhibitors and preservatives and is high in fluoride, which suppresses the iodine needed for proper thyroid function. Sweet feeds are technology from the cattle industry, designed for fattening steers for slaughter or for increasing milk production in dairy cows. Molasses is also a convenient way for unethical feed mills to disguise moldy, inferior and broken grains and even to cover up dust, hulls and other contaminants.

Some horses have gluten allergies, or react negatively to the avenin in oats. Avenin is a central nervous system stimulant. I know of a few horses who get wacky if they eat even a few bites of oats, so observe your horse’s response to grain or to excess grain. One barn worker I know admitted to burying half the sweet feed the owners wanted the horses to get, in the manure pile! She said, “If I feed all that grain, I get bucked off!” If you see attitude problems, try eliminating the grain, or just feeding rolled barley and a little cracked corn and eliminating the oats.


If you feed grain at all, a mere cup or two of Pelleted Grain Ration is plenty for even working horses or growing foals and nursing mares. Race or endurance competition might require a little more, but you will find they need much less than you think of this super-concentrated, top quality ration. If more calories, fat and protein are needed, H.E.S.™ pellets are the perfect solution. Low in carbs, high in protein and fat from Dynamite’s proprietary whole extruded soybeans and other nutrients, H.E.S. has been dubbed “topline in a bag” by happy distributors and customers who find a cup or two a day works wonders. The bottom line is, feed either no grain at all, or as little as possible and you and your horse will both be happier!

Make sure to read Boo-Boo #3 here

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.

Dynamite Testimonial: Dynamite Helps Suspensory Ligament

My mare tore suspensory ligament last year and I started her on Dynamite Plus™ for Horses at that time. My vet was amazed at her recovery on her first recheck visit just six weeks after her injury. The tear was totally repaired! He also noted that her coat had a deep shine and she started to put more weight on, which had been a problem. I had not reordered the vitamins when they ran out. She had been off of them for five months and she tore another suspensory ligament on opposite side as I was getting ready to ride her again. She has very low heels and is cow horse bred so she loves to slide and spin on her own in the field. I immediately started her back on the Dynamite Plus for Horses and am happy to say she is healed again. I also added the hoof supplement this time since she will need wedge shoes forever now. She has never been shod before and I want to make sure hoof quality best it can be. My vet is very impressed with the vitamins, said he has never seen a horse recover so quickly from this type of injury. The first tear was pretty big in size and he really didn’t think she would recover, let alone so quickly. I will keep my horses on these vitamins forever, they saved my girl. 
—Sue Tysinger Dynamite Customer

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.

Parasite Control vs. Deworming

By Judy Sinner, Gold Director  

This article is for support only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease.


This article has morphed fairly dramatically in the last 4 years, since it first was published. As more info has become available on the parasite resistance to all wormer classes, and even mainstream vets are now advocating alternatives of building the immune system and worming only upon high fecal counts, these natural methods are more important to the health of our equine friends than ever before.

I personally have 10 horses, ranging in age from 4 to 26. The four year old has never had a chemical dewormer, and he is spectacular, he is Generation 4 bred and raised on DYNAMITE®. His 13 year old dam has had perhaps 3 doses of paste dewormer in her whole life. The others are all late teens and up, and endured my well-meaning frequent doses of wormers in their early years, and thankfully have done far better the last 15 years on just an occasional spring dose of Safeguard or maybe Strongid P. They get Herbal Tonic™ for 28 days spring and fall, and daily Excel™ at 1 tsp a day the rest of the time. I have also noted that Miracle Clay™ seems to repel worms...it has a strong paramagnetic charge, while parasites are diamagnetic in nature. S.O.D. will even sometimes be the natural parasite control of choice. Dapples and toplines are spectacular, weight is awesome on TNT™ and no grain for most, a cup or two of our Pelleted Grain Ration™ for the upper 20’s geldings, grass hay free choice. Note that I consider them spectacularly healthy, and that it might take up to 2 years of chemical free feed, optimum minerals, detox work and holistic methods to get the conventionally-fed, oft-dewormed and vaccinated horses “up to speed” where their bodies can effectively deal with parasite challenges.

The parasite issue for our horses, dogs and other animals is one of the most charged subjects in animal management. Positions range from “I must administer a dewormer either daily, monthly or semi-monthly or my animals are at great risk” to the opposite paradigm, “I am not going to give my animals a toxic chemical, I will just use herbs or other natural substances”. I would like to address the subject of BALANCE and offer information that will assist animal caretakers to make informed decisions. Remember that many animals are alive and healthy today because chemical wormers came on the scene, while many horses and dogs do better on herbal products, and that “wholistic” treatment can mean all-encompassing, using both allopathic methods and complementary methods when appropriate.

Consider that a chemical dewormer is by nature and design a toxic substance, designed to kill or disable parasites, and hopefully not cause too much damage to the host animal in the process. The trick is to find the dose and frequency that works in each situation, and that may or may not be a “one size fits all” prescription. Worming more often than necessary can contribute to liver toxicity which stresses the animal unnecessarily, actually weakening the body and making it more of a target for parasite infestation. Remember, after all, parasites, insects and disease are “Nature’s Garbage Collectors”, designed by the Grand Scheme of Things to stress and eliminate the weak and unhealthy animal or plant, recycle it back to the earth and start over, thus sparing resources for the healthy and viable. Consider the possibility that animals have parasite overloads because they are unhealthy, not that the worms are the first cause of the health problem!

Donna Starita Mehan, DVM says, “Chemical wormers are accumulated and processed in the liver. When the liver becomes overwhelmed, it moves out of first stage storage and detox and into second stage, the byproducts of which are metabolites which are toxic to the cells. Now the animal is coping with the parasite, the toxic effects of the wormer, the health issues which precipitated the original health crisis which allowed the parasite to overgrow in the first place, plus the second stage liver metabolites.The overall result is a progressively downward spiral into increased toxicity, increased numbers of parasites, and increasingly more serious health problems. (EPM?).”

Anecdotally, we have seen many horses over the years crash with “EPM-like” ataxia and CNS problems following deworming. Some of the popular deworming drugs are neurotransmitter inhibitors, and seem to affect some horses’ coordination with repeated use. When an animal has a toxic liver for any reason, the production of cholinesterase, an enzyme necessary for transmission of nerve signals to the muscles, is impaired. In dogs, this same liver toxicity problem manifested in an experience that Sr. Director Ray Brinlee had with clients who run racing Greyhounds. The animals were winning consistently on Showdown®, and then each month when they got their heartworm medication (required by the track) they would pathetically lose their races that week, before regaining performance. So Ray had them give the dogs our human S.O.D. supplement to support the liver and the immune system just before and for 3 days after the worming, and the performance dip stopped - they just won right on thru the month!

In my own horses, I have noted one family in particular, descended from a wonderful old Arab/Saddlebred mare, who would “just go to Hell in a handcart” when they got a dose of a popular deworming product. Weight loss, hair coats dulling and growing long even in the summer, colic episodes, just general decline. So many years ago (15!) I quit using that particular dewormer on her descendants and all my horses, and they do just fine. Pay attention to your animals, they will tell you.

This quote from The Rest of the Story About Agriculture Today expresses an eloquent viewpoint: “Just as good health and vigor protects plants from their pests and diseases, so also are animals (and humans) protected from parasites and diseases. Are infectious diseases caused by germs? Well, yes, but... we are surrounded by disease germs daily, but as long as we are in good health - get plenty of sleep and eat a good diet - we don’t get sick. Usually, it is only when an animal is under stress– in poor health–that disease pathogens can get a foothold. Healthy animals have various defenses against parasites and diseases, including antibodies and white blood cells. It is well known among animal breeders and geneticists that the offspring of certain crossings are resistant to insects and diseases. (J. Blakely & D.H. Blade, The Science of Animal Husbandry, 1976, p. 129.)

“Organic farmers often report that their livestock are not bothered by flies. Veterinarian Dr. John Whittaker, writing in Acres U. S. A., (Dec. 1975, March & April 1975), states that B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and other nutritional factors play an important role in protecting animals from parasites and diseases; for example, an imbalance of dietary calcium and phosphorus or a magnesium deficiency increases parasitic worm infestations, while a high carbohydrate diet increases the infection of Balantidium, a protozoan intestinal parasite.
He notes that too much soluble nitrogen (non-protein nitrogen) or urea in feed causes high blood urea or ammonia levels, leading to reduced resistance to bacterial infections. Resistance to parasites and diseases can also be lowered by vaccinations and antibiotics (these can kill rumen microbes, leading to toxic mold infections), worming medicines, moldy feeds (through mold-produced toxins, including aflatoxin), and stresses (weather, noise, moving, and diet changes).

“The basic approach of the experts to weeds, insects and diseases is to identify the pest involved and zap it with the recommended poison. But actually, pest attack is a symptom of plant and animal deficiencies and malnutrition, not the cause of the illness,” Donna Starita, DVM, echoes a similar sentiment. She states that she sees more cases of colic and verminous arteritis in her practice in horses that are wormed daily or semi-monthly than in horses that are not wormed as frequently. Research veterinarian L. Phillips Brown speaks of the coming of “functional medicine”, where treatments and dosages are based on individual needs. Wholesale worming by the calendar may not be the answer for many animals.

Parasite resistance to all the modern wormer classes is now being reported. Director Penny Jones in WA, says, “Thought you would be most interested in this article in the Veterinary Record, the most prestigious research magazine for vets. OK....are they now saying what you and Regan and DYNAMITE® have been saying for years??!! Now maybe we can’t be shot if WE suggest horses should be wormed only if infested to the degree the horse is harmed or infecting other. I believe there will be more on this. If nothing else, we can quote Dr. Ray Kaplan and friends.”

To summarize the article, on 44 horse properties with 24 or more horses, all had benzimidazole resistance, and 48 percent had pyrantel resistance. The latter is presumed to be due to the use of daily wormer. “Development of an effective immune response is important to ameliorating disease.” states the article. They agreed that fecal egg counts were the most useful guide to the need for treatment. The figure of 200 eggs per gram was given as the threshold to begin treatment with deworming drugs. This treatment should be based on the egg counts of individual horses, not on regular periodic dosing. It was suggested that horses with fewer than 50 eggs per gram be ignored as sources of potential contamination. The study concluded that regular use of moxidectin (Quest) increased the risk of resistance to this class of drugs, and that it’s use should be limited. The conclusion: “It is vital for horse health to maintain the efficacy of anthelmintics, particularly the macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, abamectin and moxidectin). To do this will require a major change in thinking about the way anthelmintics are used - from preplanned treatments to treating only those horses that require treatment and reserving larvicidal drugs for those animals where large numbers of larvae are likely to be present in the mucosa.”

The clinker here is that resistance to the ivermectin-type wormers is also being reported. Horse Journal in November 2003 states, “The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assn reports the failure of ivermectin to eliminate roundworm infestation in 20 out of 37 foals treated with ivermectin. In some foals, the counts kept increasing between the time of treatment and a recheck 12 to 13 days later…the ivermectin failures occurred mostly in foals that had been born on the farm and were regularly dewormed with ivermectin since birth, both suggesting the emergence of an ivermectin-resistant roundworm on this farm... intensive use of ivermectin puts considerable pressure on the parasites to evolve to a resistant form.” (And I might add, continual deworming that does not clear the parasite load most likely just stresses the horse unnecessarily, making them even more of a target for the parasites to overgrow.)

One suggestion the article makes is to deworm only high risk horses or those with high egg counts, and skip the other horses so that there are parasites present to interbreed with the resistant strains, thus lowering the possibility of totally resistant parasites. So...the concensus still appears to be to stop using dewormers at regular intervals, to rotate classes or wormers, and to deworm only on an as-needed basis. So how do we know “how much is too much” or when to deworm or how to control the parasite load at an acceptable level? Fecal samples, muscle testing, parasite point reflex testing, general observation and consideration of exposure to reinfestation all can be reliable indicators. 

The observation of many old time cattlemen and horsemen who recognized parasite infested animals by the “fading” of the coat color intensity, which is another sign of copper deficiency (in people as well!). Bays and chestnuts will be “washy” and lighter-colored than normal, and the blacks will have a definite reddish cast. Angus cattle will look redder, and Herefords will be yellowish. Usually the hair will “fishhook” as well, sort of curling up at the ends and looking fluffy rather than laying flat. Dogs will show similar coat fading, especially noticeable in breeds like Dobies and Rotts. To follow this a little further, dog handlers who insist on ignoring our caution to not feed Dyna-Coat™ all the time have complained of a reddish cast to the coat after months on the product, which is high in zinc and would of course suppress copper over a period of time. Some dog handlers have discovered that feeding the human S.O.D. product to dogs for 10 days or so before a show will darken up coat and mouth pigment, since S.O.D. is high in copper. (Since I am already digressing furiously, I might as well keep on going.) An Acres USA article stated that animals with darker coat pigment require more copper than animals with lighter hair coat color! A great incentive to make sure that your horses have free choice access to 2 to 1 and 1 to 1, both of which contain chelated copper with the other nutrients. Users have noticed the horses increasing consumption of these products at times of stress, weather changes, parasite challenges, etc. They know what they need! Darker coated horses and greys may need a quarterly 10 day regimen of our S.O.D. for Horses to boost the copper levels. 

Copper is also a major nutrient support for blood vessel strength and integrity, along with Vitamin C. So does it follow that animals deficient in these nutrients might be more at risk for parasite-induced aneurysm? Which comes first, the deficient animal or the parasite damage to the tissues? My fervent hope is that parasitologists will become more interested in studying the effect that the immune system and diet plays in parasite infestation or resistance. “Why does the animal become infested?” might be a more appropriate question than “How do we kill the worms?” 

So, what to do? There is a plethora of products on the market for which anti-parasite properties are claimed: diatomaceous earth, garlic, black walnut hulls, MSM, clays, etc. In my experience and observation, these herbal assists have their place in parasite control in a healthy animal with a healthy immune system, or as an adjunct to chemicals in an animal who is currently not healthy enough to withstand a chemical deworming. There are times when a chemical dewormer is needed, when the parasites have overgrown to a dangerous level or the herbal approach is not working. It is sheer folly to keep using herbal products when the horse is obviously in need of a good deworming. To me, that is just as unbalanced an approach as is the other extreme of blasting the whole barn with chemical dewormer just because it is June 1st, or daily worming just because “everyone else is doing it.” I feel that many allopathic veterinarians fail to even consider complementary methods because they have seen animals in real trouble when a misguided owner fails to wake up and smell the Cappucino, and acknowledge that the “natural” approach may need a chemical assist in some cases. Here are some thought to help you formulate your own game plan:
Horses who are on an optimal program of mineral support and balanced diet (sane protein, preservative free, low sugars) and in great health probably do not need to be dewormed frequently. Do fecal checks at random and frequently, consider exposure, get input from your practitioner. These are horses that can benefit from herbal support for parasite control, and chemical deworming perhaps concentrated in the spring and early summer when parasite infestation is at a peak. Dogs likewise. 

If you choose to use chemical dewormers, do not use them in conjunction with other stresses, such as vaccinations or teeth floating especially with tranquilization, within a week before or after hauling or competing, don’t ride that day, or subject to any other type of emotional or physical stress. Obviously, you would not deworm an animal running a fever or exhibiting acute problem, until the crisis is over. Likewise horses with underlying problems like laminitis, hives or heaves, or other chronic health problems are not good candidates for chemical deworming. Support after chemical deworming with a probiotic like Dyna-Pro™ for several days to help re-establish the beneficial gut bacteria, and consider using a product like Excel™ for a few days (use 1 tsp a day for 30 days if the horse appears to lose weight after worming) as a pH balancer and detoxifier. 

Sometimes boarding stable or kennel rules or insurance companies dictate frequent worming, so these are some things you can do to support the horse in more quickly throwing off the toxic effects. If you choose to use daily wormer, consider giving the horse a break from the product during the winter months when parasite activity and reinfestation chance is lower. Think carefully before deworming a particularly debilitated horse or dog. Many rescue cases go bad because of the rescuer’s frenzy to immediately deworm and vaccinate an animal that is already on its lips. A crisis may be avoided by waiting a few weeks until the animal has started to rally with proper diet and supplement support. 

If you are on a daily or semi-monthly deworming program and are seeing any of these side effects of liver toxicity, you may wish to back off on the chemicals and work on building up the animal: 
1. Recurrent colics (especially right after deworming) or digestive distress, loose stools. 
2. Weight loss, topline loss or muscle wasting. 
3. Hypothyroidism as evidenced by weight loss or gain, crumbling hooves, laminitis, dry hair coat, frizzed hair coat, reproductive problems. 
4. Hoof abcesses or white line disease. 
5. Crabby attitude or lack of desire to work or play. 
6. Muscle soreness, tying up or white, foamy sweat. Any deworming or parasite control works best on a full moon! If you choose to do 28 days of Herbal Tonic or Excel, you will automatically cover this. If you chemically deworm, do it at the full moon when the fluid pressure in the cells is at a peak, and you will get a better kill. 

According to an article in Horse Journal, August 2001, “Deworming Drugs Are Safe But Not Foolproof”, deworming risks break down into Toxicity from the drug itself, and Reactions to the worm die-off. Recommendations are to use caution when deworming horses with exceptionally high or low body fat (since fat stores toxins), on other drugs, with liver problems, on tranquilizers or other drugs that affect the CNS, on other dewormers, on drugs affecting the intestinal tract, or on eye drops that affect the pupil. 

With the modern day wormers, the most common side-effects are neurological. Reactions to the worms dying off in large numbers include decreased appetite and depression, diarrhea, colic, laminitis, shock, clotting abnormalities, and even death. These reactions are tied to how heavily the horse was parasitized. Foals, weanlings and yearlings are always considered at high risk for deworming. The article states, “Effective parasite control requires a healthy, fully-functioning local immune response in the gut, which is not well developed in younger horses”.