There aren’t too many foods you and your horse can share, but you’d be surprised to learn one of them is quite tasty: Jell-O.
Of course, Jell-O is the registered trademark for the sugary, wiggly, fruity tasting dessert we associate with summer. Jell-O is made of gelatin, which is the common, generic term for the substance derived from the processing of animal collagen. When flavoring is added to sugar and granulated gelatin, the delicious, versatile dessert can then be made.
Oddly enough, it’s also an equine supplement used to strengthen hoof and hair growth. As weird as that sounds, owners have been using it for a long time. Should you give it a try? Let’s find out.
What exactly is Jell-O?
The origins of Jell-O don’t sound appetizing, but you can’t deny its connection to the animal world. Produced from collagen – a type of protein – gelatin is extracted from boiled bones, connective tissues and other animal products containing 18 amino acids. Before you wonder – you don’t have to worry about hoof and mouth disease as it doesn’t come from the feet or horns of animals. It’s fibrous in nature, connecting and supporting other body tissues, including skin, bone, tendons, muscles and cartilage. It’s tasteless and in its basic form is found beige or yellow.
It’s also older than you think – it has been a component of food since the 15th century. It was popularized during the Victorian era during the mid-to-late 1800s. Strange as it sounds, gelatin was sold in sheets and had to be purified, which made that process time-consuming and mostly accessible to the rich. Powdered gelatin came along in 1845, then was trademarked in 1897 as Jell-O. Of course, it’s now a mainstream product with several flavors and variations.
How can it help your horse?
Poor quality protein is a topic horse owners often talk about because it commonly affects horses in training. Those horses are usually fed an oaten chaff with oats which don’t offer the protein they need. As a result, many owners like to use gelatin as an add-on. They use it primarily for hoof health, much in the same way we safely eat gelatin capsules for strengthening bones, joins and even fingernails. Some use it for other reasons, such as to promote hair growth, or treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Somewhere along the line, horse owners discovered that adding Jell-O granules on horse feed is a relatively inexpensive supplement. Of course, there are other supplements for hoof health, such as biotin and flax seed, but some owners like its inexpensive nature and accessibility from any nearby grocery.
While it’s true the biotin-added supplement costs a bit more than ordinary Jell-O, some find it beneficial. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin, also called vitamin B, which is involved in metabolizing fats and carbohydrates, influences cell growth and affects amino acids involved in protein synthesis. As such, it helps horses to absorb and best use the amino acids found in gelatin. One nice plus about the biotin supplement is that most of them don’t contain fat or tryptophan.
But is there scientific backing?
There really isn’t full-proof, irrefutable evidence on the benefits of gelatin, but at the same time there’s no identified health risks. Although there are no known drug or nutrient interactions connected with gelatin, some people are allergic to bovine (cow) gelatin.
Recently, a group of European scientists conducted a study that showed gelatin provides building blocks of cartilage. In their work, they fed 12 horses a regular diet of hay and in another group added gelatin. After six days, the gelatin-fed horses showed higher levels of glycine and proline – proving that gelatin’s amino acids were quickly absorbed. Some owners contend they notice hoof improvement in 30 days. Earlier studies in the 1990s have proven gelatin’s effectiveness related to hip and knee osteoarthritis and joint health.
Do horses like it?
Most horses will eat gelatin, or Jell-O, right up when added to their feed. And it doesn’t really matter the flavor or style (e.g., sugar free) – regular Jell-O works just fine. About 1-2 ounces daily added to feed seems to be the right amount. Some add as much as 1/4-cup in the morning and again at night. If you don’t see a difference in the horse condition after six months or so, perhaps it’s try to move on and try something else. Overall, the important thing to note is that horses will eat Jell-O without any problem.
Is it worth it?
Let’s face it, Jell-O is a relatively inexpensive proposition, especially when you consider all the expensive horse supplements on the market. Remember, what works for one horse may not work for another. Reponses to things like gelatin can be dependent on overall health, breed and genes. But again, it’s worth a try. Some people who use gelatin capsules for their own bodies swear by their amazing nails, hair and skin that gives them a youthful appearance.
Given the cost, accessibility and ease-of-use, perhaps it’s time you give a box of Jell-O a try.
