Deer Velvet for Horses

Deer Velvet and Racehorses

Deer velvet is widely used in the racing yards in the Southern Hemisphere. Deer velvet is a unique balance of minerals, amino acids, natural hormones and anti-inflammatories. It is completely natural and a legal performance enhancer. As with human athletes deer velvet has been scientifically proven to –

• Increase athletic performance and strength
• Improve muscle recovery after exercise
• Strengthen the immune system
• Increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
• Increase the efficiency of lactic acid removal.
• Have an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Speed up recovery from injury.

Improve muscle recovery after exercise
Research has shown that velvet helps in the reduction of soreness associated with heavy training. In Calgary scientific trials have shown that the elevated performance levels of horses taking deer velvet is due to the increase in the ability of muscle tissue to recover from physical or biochemical stress following exertion. Combined with the anti-inflammatory action and reported
lactic acid removal efficiency, Deer velvet helps to enhance muscle composition endurance and recovery time.

Strengthen the Immune System
When a horse is in full work the immune system can become depleted. This can particularly be the case at race meetings when the horse is stressed, tired, his immune system is low and he is mixing with other horses with germs that he has not built up an immunity to. This obviously leaves the horse open to the ‘dreaded’ virus. Deer velvet has been scientifically proven to stimulate monocytes, which are the highly protective white blood cells essential for the production of antibodies. These are absolutely necessary for a strong immune system.

Increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
Research has shown that after taking velvet seven to ten days, red blood cells (RBC) begin to multiply. The haemoglobin transports this increased oxygen throughout the body causing a noticeable increase in energy output.

Increase the efficiency of lactic acid removal.
Lactic acid is produced as a result of heavy exercise, generally when the horse’s heartbeat is over 200 beats per minute. With a lactic acid build up the horses muscles become stiff and painful normally leading to the horse pulling up, or worse falling. Velvet has been found to allow for more physical exertion before this happens, therefore the horse that was presumed to be a two miler may actually be able to get three miles.

Have an anti-inflammatory effect Deer velvet contains prostaglandins. The prostaglandins in deer velvet plays a role in the reduction of swelling associated with tendon injury, arthritis, infection, and pain, and in suppressing unwanted mineralisation.

Speed up recovery from injury.
Sportsmen have reported miraculous recoveries from injuries after taking velvet. This is down to the fact that as well as increasing the blood flow to the injured area velvet is richly endowed with chondroitin sulphate and growth factors that turbo boost the creation of the carbohydrate polymers forming connective tissue. Velvet even has the ability to work its healing powers on old injuries. This unique activity has incredible benefits for the older horse.

Dosage for Horses
1 gram per 100 kgs body weight. 1 heaped teaspoon = approximately 5 grams.
Administered once daily with other food. Mix with molasses, glucose or soaked sugar beet.

For Further information on Horse Fitness please visit:
www.equinefitness.co.uk