askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Did you know that silicon is sensitive to cold?

Did you know that silicon is sensitive to cold?

Slowly, we are moving towards winter. The days are getting shorter and temperatures are starting to drop. Periods of warm sunshine alternate with frost at night. As long as it is dry, you won't hear horse owners complaining about these kinds of days! It will require some adjustments, but above all it will take some time to be careful with supplements. Because not all supplements like being cold, especially silicon is sensitive to this.

Silicon

6 November '24 • 1 min reading time

Silicon Prefers a Stable Temperature

Hydrolyzed silicon is a product where a silicon molecule is bonded to two water molecules. The benefit of this is that the silicon is very well absorbed by the horse, making it fully usable. However, to keep this bond stable, it’s essential to maintain a stable temperature. High temperatures aren’t ideal, but cold is even worse. For best results, store the silicon at a temperature between 5 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Prevent Silicon Crystallization!

At excessively high or especially low temperatures, silicon can start to crystallize. This means the bond between the water molecules and the silicon molecules breaks apart. As a result, the silicon molecules clump together and separate from the water, which is known as crystallization. In a bottle of silicon, you can even see this separation. Unfortunately, this separation/crystallization is permanent and cannot be reversed. Once separated, the silicon molecules are tightly bound together, forming actual crystals, and feel somewhat gel-like. At this point, the silicon loses its absorbability (and thus its effectiveness).

So Watch Out for Cold!

Does the temperature drop below 5 degrees? Then take care with your bottle of silicon! Store it in a place where the temperature stays above 5 degrees. Also, watch out for drafts, which can significantly lower the temperature, causing the silicon to react even if the ambient temperature is higher. You might want to wrap the bottle in a blanket, place it in a warmer cabinet, or keep the silicon at home. Be sure not to store the silicon bottle in your car during winter!

We Don’t Ship Silicon During Extended Frost Periods

During prolonged frost periods, we don’t ship silicon to avoid any risk of crystallization. In our facility, during transport to the shipping depot, and in the shipper's depot, there is little to no risk, but we are concerned about the actual delivery day, especially if permission has been given to leave the package outside. As a precaution, we only resume shipping silicon when temperatures rise.

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Silicon stimulates the body's own production of glucosamine in horses

Joint problems such as arthritis are common in horses. As a result of aging, but also due to intensive use. Especially the joints in the legs are vulnerable, fetlock and hock injuries are common problems. Many people feed a glucosamine supplement to make their horse more flexible. But research shows that giving silicon is a much better way to help your horse get moving again. What's the reason behind this?. In human medicine, glucosamine, with or without chondroitin, is viewed with some skepticism. There are no conclusive studies showing an effect of glucosamine supplements in people with arthritis. It probably only has a small anti-inflammatory effect, which you mainly see in the beginning. Many doctors see the use of these supplements at most as a form of 'if it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt'. When you add glucosamine to your horse's feed, only a very small portion is absorbed by the intestines....

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Crumbling hooves, or actually crumbled hooves, are common in the summer. Regular trimming can already be a good solution, but did you know that the mineral silicon can also contribute? One of the properties of this mineral is that it is the building material for hooves. Want to know how the mineral silicon can contribute to crumbling hooves? Then keep reading!

What the mineral silicon does for crumbling hooves

Crumbling hooves, or actually crumbled hooves, are common in the summer. Regular trimming can already be a good solution, but did you know that the mineral silicon can also contribute? One of the properties of this mineral is that it is the building material for hooves. Want to know how the mineral silicon can contribute to crumbling hooves? Then keep reading!. Cause of crumbling hooves in summer We always call it crumbling hooves when pieces of hoof wall break off due to drought. But actually, this is a incorrect way of naming it. In the summer, during drought, it is more like crumbled hooves. Pieces of the hoof break off due to drought/ standing on uneven ground, etc. The causes of crumbling hooves in the summer are: Period of drought Mineral deficiency Lack of movement Shortage of building materials for the hoof Lack of moisture in the hooves Harder...

Silicon

Silicon is a mineral that is becoming increasingly well-known. It is essential for maintaining collagen and for bone formation, among other things. Silicon also helps prevent eating sand. Unfortunately, not all forms of silicon are easily absorbed by horses. There is a difference in absorbability between orthosilicic acid, diatomaceous earth, and hydrolyzed silicon. The most effective form of silicon for horses is in hydrolyzed form: liquid and with tiny molecules. Only very small molecules can pass through the intestinal wall.

Which form of silicon is the best choice: hydrolyzed, orthosilicic acid, or diatomaceous earth?

Silicon is a mineral that is becoming increasingly well-known. It is essential for maintaining collagen and for bone formation, among other things. Silicon also helps prevent eating sand. Unfortunately, not all forms of silicon are easily absorbed by horses. There is a difference in absorbability between orthosilicic acid, diatomaceous earth, and hydrolyzed silicon. The most effective form of silicon for horses is in hydrolyzed form: liquid and with tiny molecules. Only very small molecules can pass through the intestinal wall.. Almost all naturally occurring silicon in nature is 'locked' in very stable mineral compounds such as silicates and silicon oxide (sand). These minerals are so stable that they can hardly dissolve into a form that is absorbable in the digestive system of mammals. The silicon in these minerals is therefore not available as a supplement for humans and animals. Before it can be absorbed, the molecule must first be detached from these compounds. Difficult to obtain There are few minerals or metals t...

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