How do you feed Necessity?
Necessity is molasses based and very palatable to the horse. If a horse is rather finicky, we recommend starting the horse with small dosages and gradually increasing to a larger dosage. For instance, split the daily dosage in half and feed 1 oz. in the morning and 1 oz. at night. For extremely finicky horses feed only 1/2 oz. per feeding for three days then increase to 1 oz. per feeding for one week and finally increase to 2 oz. Also, make sure that Necessity is mixed well into the grain or oat based product.
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How long will it be before I see results?
Owners have seen improvements in their horse(s) within the first 3 to 5 days on Necessity products. Results will vary depending on the age, work out schedule, background and previous feed program of the horse. Typically, a horse owner will see a difference in their horse in two to three weeks. The first improvements will be a shinier coat, decreased anxiety and improved performance. Other benefits like improved hoof growth, increased stamina, improved muscle tone, boosted immune system, etc. will be seen in three to four weeks.
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Is Necessity safe for pregnant and lactating mares?
Necessity is safe to feed to pregnant and lactating mares. In fact, Necessity was formulated specifically to meet the nutritional requirements of pregnant and lactating mares as they require higher levels of nutrients than any other type of equine. It is highly recommended that you feed trace minerals, vitamins and amino acids to a pregnant mare in her final 3 months of pregnancy. Providing these nutrients during pregnancy ensures that the foal has an adequate supply at birth.
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Necessity has an extremely high level of Lysine. What is Lysine and how will it benefit my horse?
Lysine is an essential amino acid required for healthy growth, tissue repair, and strengthening immunity. It is the amino acid that horse diets most often lack. The production of new proteins may be prevented if the diet is Lysine deficient. Lysine, along with Methionine, are vital components of a foal's protein requirements. Lysine is regarded as a first-limiting amino acid for growth meaning an inadequate supply could retard growth and development. Necessity contains 3,750 mg of Lysine per two ounces! Compared to other leading supplements Necessity's amino acid levels are superior.
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How did you get all of those ingredients into a liquid supplement?
Unlike most supplement companies, International Horse Vets (IHV) produces Necessity in its own state of the art manufacturing facility. The patent techniques used to formulate Necessity comes from its parent company Cattleman's Choice Loomix (CCL). Over the past 50 years, CCL has developed the technology to suspend and blend multiple ingredients into a liquid formula. IHV uses these proven standards and precise blending techniques when manufacturing Necessity.
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What makes Necessity different from other equine supplements?
There are several things that make the Necessity product line different from other supplements. One of the most important differences is that the Necessity products are available in a liquid form (available in dry form as well). Liquid products are much more digestible and absorbed than dry products. Another difference is that Necessity products are all-in-one supplements. When using any of the Necessity products, you can go from 3, 4 or 5 daily supplements to just one. Necessity contains 20 essential vitamins, trace minerals and amino acids as it helps improve hair coat, muscle tone and hoof condition, enhances nutrient utilization, and protects body tissue from damage, to just name a few. Necessity is perfect for young horses that do not need the joint support. Necessity with Glucosamine has the same ingredients and benefits as Necessity in addition to glucosamine. This product is great for those horses that need the joint support. Necessity with Glucosamine & MSM contains all of the benefits and ingredients of Necessity with Glucosamine in addition to the benefits of MSM. This product includes it all. 21 vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, glucosamine and MSM in one product. Unlike most equine supplements, the Necessity product line provides balanced nutrition to enhance the condition of broodmares, stallions, growing horses, older horses and performance horses.
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How will I save money by using Necessity?
Most horse owners have to feed several different daily supplements to enhance or improve the condition and performance of their horse. By feeding any of the Necessity products, you eliminate the need to feed 2, 3 or even 4 different daily supplements. Feeding any of the Necessity products is cost effective because it reduces the amount of feed a horse will need to consume to stay healthy and productive.
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How long will Necessity last and how cost effective is it?
Since the Necessity products are highly concentrated supplements, when feeding with a typical feed program, the recommended daily dosage is 2 ounces. At 2 ounces a day, a one-gallon bottle will last one horse 64 days. At this rate, it would cost you less then $0.78 a day to supplement with Necessity. It would cost you just $1.22 a day to supplement with Necessity with Glucosamine (20 vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids and glucosamine). At a cost of just $1.53 a day you can feed Necessity with Glucosamine & MSM and provide your horse with 21 vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, glucosamine and MSM.
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Why is supplementing important?
Equine nutritionists agree that the supplementation of trace minerals, vitamins, and amino acids is needed in most situations. The levels of essential nutrients in natural forages and grains tend to vary. Soil conditions, harvesting, storage, and environment can all affect the amount of nutrients found in hays and grains. Providing these essential nutrients in a supplement ensures the horse is meeting daily nutritional requirements. According to the Fifth Revised Addition of Nutrient Requirements of Horses published by the National Research Council (NRC), it is difficult for a horse to consume sufficient roughage to meet nutritional requirements; therefore, supplements are required to meet the horse's dietary needs.
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What are the benefits of a liquid supplement?
Liquids are effectively and quickly absorbed into the body's system. Liquids will not settle or separate at the bottom of the feeder. A liquid supplement is more palatable to a horse and will not be pushed aside by finicky eaters. Feeding a liquid supplement avoids micro nutrient segregation, alleviates dust, and allows for flexibility in application for the purpose of adding to grain or hay. Necessity's palatability encourages horses to stay on feed.
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Why are the amino acids important to the horse?
Leading equine nutritionists agree that there are several amino acids that are considered to be the most limiting in the horse's diet, because these essential amino acids are not found in natural forages or grains. According to the NRC, lysine is crucial to the proper growth and development of young horses, and it is the first most limiting amino acid in the diet of growing foals. Inadequate intake amounts of lysine by mature horses may result in body tissue loss, reduced food intake, poor hair coat, and reduced hoof growth. Moderate excesses of amino acids were reported as having no detrimental effect on horses.
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Why is biotin important to the horse?
Improving the integrity of the hoof in horses requires the precise combination of biotin, methionine and zinc. Hooves are often prone to crumble at lower edges with poor conformation and damage to the walls or soles. Methionine, in particular, has attracted some attention because it's an essential amino acid (meaning the horse's body can't produce it on its own). Preliminary research suggests that deficiencies of methionine in the diet might contribute to poor hoof quality, as well as tendon and ligament disorders and poor adaptation to exercise. Another nutrient that has been implicated in hoof quality is zinc. This trace mineral is involved in the health and integrity of hair, skin, and hooves (as well as immune function), and some nutritionists suspect that the majority of equine diets are deficient. Zinc is present in most horse feeds as well as in hay, but at levels too low to meet the recommended levels for good health; only wheat bran seems to have an adequate supply.
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What about calcium and phosphorus?
Calcium and phosphorus comprise about 70% of the mineral content of the body and from 30 to 50% of the minerals in milk. These two minerals play a critical role in numerous body functions. To meet the horse's nutritional requirements, the amount of nutrients in the diet needs to be balanced. An imbalance in nutrients can affect the horse's ability to absorb and utilize them. Excess dietary phosphorus binds calcium, preventing its absorption. The calcium/phosphorus balance is critical in preventing lameness, tendonitis, and stress-induced factures. Necessity does not contain calcium or phosphorus because it has been designed as strictly a supplement. The amount of calcium and phosphorus that would need to be added to any given diet can and will vary considerably depending on the feeds being consumed by the horse. Calcium and phosphorus are best supplemented separately to insure the horse is getting the proper amounts without over or underfeeding either. A typical feed program of hay and grain will meet the calcium:phosphorus ratio. An ideal ratio is 1:1 to 2:1. Speak with your veterinarian to find out if you are meeting the calcium:phosphorus requirements of your horse.
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Why is supplementing important for growing horses?
According to the NRC, the nutrients provided to the young growing horse must be adequate to promote proper growth and development and to ensure structural soundness at maturity. The most critical concept in feeding young horses is feeding a balanced diet, which means sufficient amounts of essential nutrients must be provided proportionately to each other. Nutritional imbalances can cause a variety of developmental orthopedic diseases in young horses. Necessity is formulated to provide a balanced nutritional diet, so you can be assured your horses are not receiving an excessive amount of vitamins, minerals, or amino acids that would be harmful to their health.
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Is Necessity a protein supplement?
No, Necessity is a vitamin, trace mineral, and amino acid supplement. Necessity provides the most limiting amino acids, but it is not considered a protein supplement. It is recommended the equine athlete's protein content be between 10 and 16% of the total dry matter diet, thus meeting but not exceeding the nutritional need. An excessive amount of protein in the performance horse's diet is disadvantageous. Protein utilization for energy contributes to excess body heat, increased sweat-loss-induced water and electrolyte deficits during exercise, and increased water and electrolyte losses in the urine. In one study, heart rate, respiratory rate, and sweating were higher in horses receiving a high-protein diet and performing long-duration activities. In another study, blood glucose concentration fell more and over a longer period in horses fed a high-protein diet than in horses fed either a high-fat or high-carbohydrate diet.
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Why is supplementing important for the performance horse?
The increased amount of energy production and utilization during exercise increases the performance horse's requirement for vitamins A, E, B1 and folic acid. Increasing the amount of vitamin E and selenium in the performance horse's diet is critical in the prevention of tissue damage caused by the increased oxidation needed for increased energy production. Vitamins, trace minerals, and amino acids that are needed and beneficial to the equine athlete are best provided by a balanced vitamin supplement.
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Can overfeeding supplements cause harm to the horse?
Yes. The old saying "If a little is good than a lot is better" definitely has the potential to cause problems. When comparing Necessity products to other supplements, it's important to understand that all of the Necessity products has been formulated by leading equine nutritionists. The levels of trace mineral, vitamins and other essential nutrients have been designed to meet the horse's optimum needs. Overfeeding or underfeeding selected trace minerals and/or vitamins can actually bind, or "tie up", other trace minerals. Proper balance of all trace minerals and vitamins are essential for optimum performance.
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Necessity on Demand - how does this program work?
We strongly encourage to get as many of our customers on Necessity on Demand as possible. The program is simple. Necessity on Demand is an automatic re-order program. The benefits for the customer are:
      - they don't have to call or email us every time they need to place an order
      - they will never run out of product
      - they will stay on a consistent feed program which is extremely important
      - they will receive a discount on every order
If someone signs up for Necessity on Demand, they get a 10% discount on all orders. If someone signs up for 3 gallons or more for every 30 days, they receive a 20% discount. We strongly prefer to have the customer pay by credit card for Necessity on Demand.
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How does someone become an IHV Dealer or carry the product in a store?
Contact International Horse Vets, LLC toll-free at 1-877-788-4448. We have individual dealer positions open in most parts of the United States so feel free to contact us and we will explain to you how a dealership works.  As for stores, we are now accepting applications to have Necessity carried in stores.  Simply contact us by phone or email (equineinfo@ihvets.com) and we will get you setup as an Official IHV Distributor.   
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