Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can I feed CONNEXION® along with a Joint Supplement?

Yes you can! If you are feeding a joint supplement, then you are clearly wishing to support your horse’s joints. Horse joint supplements typically target the joint capsule of articular joints (i.e., where one or more bones meet). However, the joint capsule is not the only part of the joint, as it also comprises the cartilage of the ends of the bones that are meeting, to allow the bones to slide smoothly; the bones themselves; the supporting ligaments that stabilize the joint; and the tendons that connect the muscle to the bone and which help move the joint. CONNEXION® targets all these additional joint related structures, so can complement your efforts alongside your joint supplement of choice, or instead of according to your individual preference.

What makes the dietary Silicon source in CONNEXION® so special?

We have partnered with Spanish based Silicium Laboratories to include their patented ingredient, OGRONO® LIVING SILICA® into CONNEXION®.

Read below what Silicium Laboratories themselves have to say:

ORGONO® LIVING SILICA® have scientifically demonstrated continued effectiveness; carefully developing exclusive formulations to achieve the most effective nutraceutical supplements available in the marketplace, offering an unprecedented bioavailability.

The Silicium Laboratories research, innovations, and technologies were developed in collaboration with partners from the University of Barcelona, Technological Center for Nutrition and Health, AINIA; innovative technological solutions and ENANTIA, chemistry experts for pharma and biotech laboratories.

ORGONO® LIVING SILICA® has been clinically tested for a wide range of tissue functions, from improving skin health to boosting recovery, and offering joint and tendon support.

The effectiveness of silica depends on its bioavailability. ORGONO® LIVING SILICA® uses a unique form of silica that is backed by research to have an absorption rate of 64%, which is 3.75 times higher than other types of silica. Remember, that if a body cannot absorb a nutrient, it cannot use it! ORGONO® LIVING SILICA® is more effective in replenishing silica levels in the body than other silica supplement which makes it highly efficient in performing its strengthening and recuperative roles in the body.

[Silicium Laboratories, 2020]

I see CONNEXION® provides a source of dietary Silicon, what is dietary Silicon?

Silicon is a naturally occurring mineral (be careful of the spelling though as Silicone is something totally different!). The essentiality of silicon to health is supported by a growing body of evidence and there are natural dietary sources in common foods for humans. The natural dietary source for horses is grass, however, modern farming methods mean that this has been leached out of the soil and is no longer available in the levels present in times gone by. To the extent that significant agricultural research is being carried out in the EU to establish Silicon based fertilizers to try and address this issue. This means that our horse’s grass, hay and haylages are all considered to be low in dietary Silicon.

Silicon is a vital nutrient that helps trigger the body to make collagen. Collagen is the most abundant bodily protein and the “glue” that helps bind the body together. Silica comes from Silicon and is present in the body in the form of silicic acid, but the gastrointestinal absorption of silica decreases with age, so supplementation becomes necessary.

"When silica boosts collagen production, the collagen that is produced helps regenerate various connective tissues." [Silicium Laboratories, 2020].

What else should I do alongside feeding CONNEXION®?

Providing your horse is sound, or on a veterinary prescribed rehabilitation program, then TURN OUT and EXERCISE appropriate to your horse's individual needs is important. Research supports a more beneficial outcome when a combined approach of dietary silicon intake and movement/exercise is taken.

What are connective tissues?

Connective tissue is found throughout the body: in hair, skin, arterial walls, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and the skeleton. Connective tissues perform important jobs such as helping to provide structure, communicate information, transport nutrients, and remove toxins, among other essential functions. Please check out our blog for a more in-depth look at equine connective tissues: click here.

What does the research say on Dietary Silicon (Si) supplementation in horses?

• An umbrella view of Si supplementation research across multiple animal species (rodents, chicks, turkeys, pigs, calves and horses) from 1991 to date confirms that "it appears that Si supplementation consistently positively influences bone and mineral metabolism when fed around/above 139mg Si/kg BW/d (Body Weight per day)" [Pritchard & Nielsen, 2024].

  The higher feed rate of CONNEXION® provides 150mg Si/kg BW/d!

• "While Si deficiency proves harmful, supplementation may be beneficial. Si supplementation in the form of Sodium Zeolite A (SZA) has increased distances accumulated during training before bony or soft-tissue injury in horses, possibly due to reduced resorption during periods of disuse or other alterations in bone turnover" [Pritchard & Nielsen, 2024].

  The CONNEXION® Si source is both safer (due to absence of Aluminum association) and more bioavailable for the body to use than the source used in the study being referenced here!

• Supplementation with a dietary Si source "tended to increase Si retention and apparent digestibility, when compared with control horses, and increased plasma Si from day 0 to 13 of the trial." [O'Connor et al, 2007].

  The CONNEXION® Si source is more bioavailable for the body to use than the source used in the study being referenced here!

• Supplemental dietary Si (Sodium Aluminum Silicate, SA) maintained "plasma Si concentrations as opposed to the control animals which showed a trend for decreased concentrations from the start to the completion of the study." [O'Connor et al, 2007].

  The CONNEXION® Si source is both safer (due to absence of Aluminum association) and more bioavailable for the body to use than the source used in the study being referenced here!

• "Boron retention and digestibility was increased" with dietary Si supplementation. [O'Connor et al, 2007].

  Boron is involved in bone and joint health, metabolism of certain nutrients and inflammation reduction.

• "Increased markers of bone formation" and "Decreased markers of bone resorption" when mature horses were fed a dietary Si source. [Lang et al, 2007].

  The CONNEXION® Si source is significantly more bioavailable than the source used in this study!

• "Supplemental silicon increases plasma and milk silicon concentrations in horses" [Lang et al, 2001]

  CONNEXION® provides supplemental silicon.

• "Increased plasma Si concentrations and faster average race times, increased distance and training/racing cycles prior to injury for the [higher Si supplementation groups]" for young horses in race training [Nielsen et al, 1993].

  The higher feed rate of CONNEXION® of 150mg Si/kg BW/d is in line with the level provided in the higher Si supplementation group in this study!

My horse is a fussy feeder, will this be a problem?

CONNEXION® has proven to be highly palatable, according to fussy feeders to date, so there shouldn't be concerns in this area for you.

Can I feed CONNEXION® to my horse during box rest?

Yes. In fact, during box rest your horse's bones are at risk of demineralization and you will want to support them because of this to try and set your horse's bones, ligaments and tendons up for success as you move into the rehabilitation and back-to-work period to follow.

CONNEXION® also contains Essential Amino Acids, why are they important?

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the horse's body so must be supplied via the diet. The essential amino acids in CONNEXION® are also commonly in short supply in UK and Irish forages so there is a high likelihood that they need additional supplementation for other non-forage sources. In addition, the essential amino acids present in CONNEXION® are also "limiting" amino acids, which means they are reliant on the presence of each other to function appropriately, hence the use of the ratios provided in the CONNEXION® formulation.

Have you any other publications of interest to reference?

"Evidence, which has come from human, animal, and in vitro studies performed by several laboratories, indicate that silicon in nutritional and supra nutritional amounts promotes bone and connective tissue health, may have a modulating effect on the immune or inflammatory response, and has been associated with mental health." [Nielsen, 2014]

"Accumulating evidence over the last 30 years strongly suggest that dietary silicon is beneficial to bone and connective tissue health and we recently reported strong positive associations between dietary Si intake and bone mineral density in US and UK cohorts." [Jugdaohsingh, 2007]