Is Carnosine The Best Supplement For Performance Horses?

Table of Contents

Is Carnosine The Best Supplement For Performance Horses?

Table of Contents

RA-Maxime Livio rides Api du Libaire during the Cross Country. 2023 NED-Military Boekelo CCIO4* | FEI Nations Cup Eventing – Netherlands. Saturday 7 October 2023. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography

As a devoted horse owners, your animal’s health and well-being are undoubtedly at the forefront of your concerns. You invest immeasurable time and effort in exercise routines, specialized training programs, and meticulous care to ensure your horse is in peak physical condition.

When it comes to performance horses, the stakes are even higher. These equine athletes are subjected to the rigorous demands of competitions. It require them to sprint faster, jump higher, and endure longer. Naturally, you’d want to arm them with every possible advantage to meet and exceed these challenges.

Would you like to give your horse that extra edge for peak performance?

Now you can with Carnosine. 

In this article, we’ll discuss what carnosine is, how it works and why it’s arguably the best supplement you can give your performance horse.

What Is Carnosine?

Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide (or protein) formed in the body by the amino acids beta-alanine and L-histidine. In short, it helps buffer lactic acid during high-intensity exercise. In standard equine diets, beta-alanine is not usually present in large quantities. So, you may need to enhance carnosine levels in the horse’s muscles through supplementation.

Interestingly, studies have shown that horses have a 6-10 times higher concentration of carnosine in their muscles than humans. These elevated concentrations, particularly in key muscle groups, enable horses to run and jump with greater speed and endurance.

Why Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers Matter

Carnosine is mainly found in fast-twitch muscle fibers, and this is not by chance. When horses engage in high-intensity activities, these fast-twitch fibers are heavily utilized, generating lactic acid in the process. The presence of carnosine counterbalances this acidity, allowing the muscles to sustain their performance during short bursts of intense activity.

Benefits of Carnosine Supplementation For Performance Horses:

  • Fights muscle acidosis & delays muscle fatigue
  • Provides antioxidant support
  • Improves tendon, ligament and joint health
  • Neuroprotective effects help to prevent damage to brain cells from oxidative stress and inflammation
  • Helps to regulate the activity of immune cells and improve immune function
  • Improved blood flow & helps protect against heart disease

A Closer Look At How Carnsosine Fights Muscle Fatigue

When horses engage in intense activities like fast running or jumping, their muscles produce more lactic acid. This lactic acid then begins to accumulate and lower the PH levels of muscles. This increased acidity can make muscles tired and less effective at generating energy.

Carnosine, a natural component found in muscle, helps to counteract this acidity and maintain a stable pH level in the muscles. This allows a performance horse to perform better for longer periods. Efficient buffering of these hydrogen ions is especially important for maintaining speed and strength during training, races, or competitions.

Supplementing with beta-alanine has also been shown to speed up muscle healing following strenuous workouts. By boosting carnosine levels in the muscles, it minimizes the harm caused by exercise-related oxidative stress. This results in quicker recovery periods and less muscle discomfort, enabling the horse to get back to training or competing in less time.

CarnoGel – A Targeted Solution

While it’s possible to elevate carnosine levels through dietary changes and oral supplements, the most impactful method is direct topical application to a horse’s muscles, tendons, and joints.

Using a moderate amount—roughly the size of a small palmful—of a well-researched and proven equine gel such as Carnogel can significantly strengthen and maintain the health of the horse’s suspensory ligaments. This targeted application ensures that the active ingredients are delivered precisely where they are needed most, offering a more immediate and effective benefit.

In addition, CarnoGel has been approved for use by all sports federations, regardless of the difficulty level and type of competition, as a doping-free product.

Conclusion

Although there are a myriad of vitamin and mineral supplements on the market today, Carnosine is truly a multifaceted product. It is a remarkable dipeptide that goes beyond mere performance enhancement; it is a guardian for your horse’s muscle and joint health. 

Carnosine helps buffer the muscle acidity that comes with high-intensity activities, delaying fatigue and allowing your horse to maintain its speed and power for extended periods.

But the benefits don’t end there. Carnosine also serves as a natural antioxidant, offering your horse an added layer of protection against inflammation and oxidative stress-wo significant factors that can otherwise take a toll on your horse’s long-term health and performance capabilities.

In summary, carnosine is more than just a performance booster; it’s a holistic health supplement. It helps horse owners give their horse the extra edge needed to excel in competitions while simultaneously fortifying its body against the adverse effects of physical stress and inflammation.

So, if you’re looking to elevate your horse’s performance while ensuring its well-being, CarnoGel  is the game-changer you’ve been searching for.

References:1 – Carnosine concentrations in the muscles of thoroughbred horses and its implications in exercise performance.