What does silicon do for the tendons of a horse? The advice and information platform for all horse and dog enthusiasts.

What is silicon?

Silicon is a trace element that has always been very underrated. However, we have known better for a number of years now. It is a mineral that is involved in a huge number of processes in the body and has a much greater influence than was thought. Silicon is found in very limited quantities in the feed of horses, and often in a form that is not easily absorbed. That is the extremely tricky thing about silicon, almost no form is easily absorbable for horses. Sand, for example, is also a major source of silicon, but the horse cannot absorb silicon from it. And there are more forms of silicon that the horse cannot utilize. Silicon should always be given in a hydrolyzed form, meaning that it is linked to water. The particles should also be very small so that they can pass through the intestinal wall. This is the only form of silicon that is fully absorbable. An additional advantage of this form of silicon is that the pH is above 10. This means that it also works alkalizing in the body and does not disrupt the body's acidity.

Silicon important for connective tissue

But what does silicon have to do with tendons? Tendons are made up of tendon tissue. These are fibers that run in the longitudinal direction and form bundles. In a tendon injury, these fibers are damaged, creating a "gap" in the tendon. Tendon tissue is poorly vascularized, making it difficult for nutrients to be supplied and waste products to be removed. Tendons are therefore difficult to reach and recovery is slow.

A damaged tendon needs to heal, but it does not do so with the same tendon tissue. The body produces a kind of connective tissue to replace the tendon tissue, and over time, fibers that slowly lie in the longitudinal direction also appear in this tissue. Silicon is an important building material for connective tissue. This is why silicon is so important to use in a tendon injury. It will help build up the connective tissue.

Additionally, tendons contain collagen, which keeps the tendon tissue together. And silicon plays an important role in collagen production!

Tendon injury? Start with silicon as soon as possible!

So if your horse has a tendon injury, start giving silicon as soon as possible! This can be started simultaneously with treatments from a veterinarian, cooling, etc. Silicon unfortunately does not work from day 1, but the sooner the body receives the building material, the faster it can utilize it.

If the tendon is also warm, start giving black cumin, this substance has anti-inflammatory properties and works quickly for acute injuries.

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