Peek in Our Paks: Ian M. & Georgie

Ever wish you could take a sneak peek inside our horses’ SmartPaks? Now you can! Check out the supplements we love, for the horses we adore.

Get to Know Georgie

• SmartPaker: Ian M.
• Department: Marketing
• Horse: Georgie, 9yo Dutch Harness Horse
• Discipline: Driving

In 2019, Georgie came into my life via an impromptu trip to a driving horse auction in Indiana. She was a scrawny 2-year old Dutch Harness Horse who waltzed into the arena with a fantastic walk and not a care in the world. She came home with me that afternoon and has never left.

Temperament and training-wise, she has been the absolute best, she never put a foot out of line and always wants to do something with her humans. She is quirky, smart, and an overall character. However, she didn’t have the best upbringing before she joined the family. She was very underweight and had been that way for her entire first two years. We knew down the line this might lead to some metabolic issues. She's was kept her in a muzzle her entire summer with us, and we monitored her extra closely when she started to develop a cresty neck at just four years old. Our veterinarian determined all her blood levels were in the normal range, so we proceeded this way, with a summer muzzle and a watchful eye, for a few years with no issues.

This year we decided to breed Georgie, as she was enamored with our first foal Hugo from his arrival in 2024. We had already pulled her off of grass and moved her into a dry lot, but due to heavy rains followed by a drought, the little grass she had access to was stressed. She came up foot sore one day, so we took another blood test just to be certain. The tests revealed nothing out of the ordinary, so we followed our veterinarian's instructions to soak her hay, continue to limit her grass (only in a grazing muzzle), and we talked about additional nutritional support, too.

(To note, my veterinarian has reviewed all of my horses' supplement routines, and we partner together very closely on our breeding mares especially! I always recommend working with your veterinarian when it comes to any kind of diet or nutritional change for your breeding stock.)

Get to Know Georgie's Supplements

SmartDigest® Ultra Powder

I have all my horses enrolled in the ColiCare program, and Georgie has been SmartDigest Ultra Powder since 2020. She always had some digestive upset when new hay would come, even if it was from the same source, so adding a research-backed digestive supplement was a no-brainer for me. It contains pre and postbiotics to support her digestion every day. The added $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement through ColiCare helps me sleep soundly through the night. (It also comes in pellets for horses who prefer that!)

SmartMetabo-Lean® Pellets

Having some metabolic issues and working with my veterinarian, I added SmartMetabo-Lean to Georgie’s SmartPak in March of this year. I really like that the added chromium and magnesium help support proper insulin function, and the cinnamon and bitter melon can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Although this isn’t a cure, it is a crucial part of my routine to help Georgie stay healthy. I also soak all of her hay, which is Teff or Timothy, keep her muzzled on her limited grass, and feed only a ration balancer. This way she has stayed comfortable and can keep doing all the things she loves doing (which includes clicker training, piaffing in a halter, splashing in the water trough, and playing “soccer” with her giant ball horse toy).

SmartOmega 3 & E™ Ultra

Georgie has been on SmartOmega3 & E Ultra since 2022 when we moved from our home base in New Jersey down to our current location in Aiken, South Carolina. Our veterinarian at the time in New Jersey recommended this specifically since the grass here is not as rich in vitamin E as what our horses would ideally have access to. Having balanced omegas is also very important for horses with metabolic issues and overall wellness. The natural vitamin E helps support muscles and a strong immune system, which is also important during pregnancy. My vet here in South Carolina had recommended an omega supplement after her pregnancy was confirmed, and I was very happy to report Georgie was already on one! (An added benefit to this supplement is the extra shiny coat it gives her!)