FortiGo · For horse people

Horses might be the hardest-working athletes there are

FortiGo is the horse range from LactiGo, the same company behind the carnosine gel I use myself. It’s a topical gel containing carnosine and magnesium that you massage in by hand.

There’s nothing to mix into feed and nothing for your horse to swallow or inject.

Why I’m sharing this

I’m not an equine specialist and I won’t pretend to be one. But so many of the people in my life are horse people.

I was already using the carnosine gel myself, and when I discovered there was an equine range, down another rabbit hole I went.

So this page is for my horsey friends, and for anyone else in the equine world who has heard the word carnosine and wondered what it’s all about.

Why it might earn a place in your horse’s routine

• Nothing to feed

  No mixing it through a feed bin, no fussy eaters picking around it, no syringes. It goes on by hand.

• It fits the time you already spend with them

  Grooming, tacking up, a rub down after work, a bodywork day. It slots into the hands-on care you’re already doing.

• Carnosine isn’t a stranger to horses

  Carnosine is a naturally occurring compound made from two amino acids. It’s already found in the muscle tissue of both people and horses.

• Carnosine has been researched for decades

  Carnosine itself isn’t new. PubMed, the research database run by the US National Library of Medicine, lists more than 3,500 papers on it, and it has been taken as an oral supplement for years.

  What’s different is the way FortiGo is used...on the skin, in a gel form, instead of being swallowed.

  One study in Thoroughbred racehorses looked at topical carnosine gel, and the researchers took small muscle samples to measure carnosine in the muscle. That’s not something most of us would put our hands up for. I’d encourage you to read it yourself and see what you think.

• One horse or a whole stable

  It comes in two sizes. The 237 ml is a good place to start, and the large 946 ml container suits people caring for several horses or using it regularly.

Whether you care for one much-loved older horse or a stable full of equine athletes...

Who it’s for

Horse people of every kind are looking at FortiGo, including owners and carers of:

• Competition horses
• Horses in regular training
• Horses coming back into work
• Trail and pleasure horses
• Older horses
• Horses travelling to events
• Horses that have regular bodywork

FortiGo is designed to sit alongside the care your horse already has...good training, nutrition, water, rest, veterinary care and professional bodywork. Because it goes on by hand, it’s easy to introduce into the routine you and your horse already know.

How it’s used

People commonly apply it over the back, neck, shoulders, hindquarters and lower limbs, or wherever their equine professional suggests.

1. Make sure the area is clean and dry.
2. Apply the amount shown in the directions.
3. Massage it gently and thoroughly into the skin.
4. Let it absorb.

The first time, try a small test area and check the skin before using it more widely. Always follow the directions that come with the product for amount, timing and how often, and don’t apply it to broken, irritated or damaged skin.

Is it allowed when my horse competes?

This is the first thing most horse people ask me. The answer depends on which code you’re in, and the rules are set by each governing body, so here is where to look.

• Racing and harness racing

  Under the Australian Rules of Racing, anything given to a horse counts as medication, and that includes things rubbed onto the skin. Nothing can be given on race day without the stewards’ permission. Each state’s racing body also publishes its own race-day guide, like this one from Racing Victoria.

• Dressage, eventing, show jumping, endurance and Pony Club

  Equestrian Australia and Pony Club Australia both follow the FEI prohibited substances list, which is updated every year. Pony Club can test at any club, zone, state or national event. Equestrian Australia’s medication control page is a good place to start.

• Everything else

  Campdrafting, rodeo, polo and showing each have their own associations and rules. Check with yours.

In every code, the rider or trainer is responsible for everything fed, given or applied to their horse. So talk to your vet, and your stewards or governing body, before using anything new close to competition.

Ordering from Australia right now

FortiGo is currently ordered through LactiGo’s international shop, so prices show in US dollars. Your bank converts the payment into Australian dollars and may add a foreign transaction fee.

If you’re weighing up the larger size, work out the full cost in Australian dollars, including the exchange rate, delivery and any bank fees.

If you work with horses professionally

LactiGo also run an Animal Health wholesale program. Vets, equine practitioners, breeders, trainers and livestock owners can apply to receive a wholesale discount on bulk purchases, and you can retail this product inside your business. Ask me and I’ll connect you and get the ball rolling.

Wholesale enquiry

Jockeys are athletes too

Jockeys are professional athletes in their own right, and I know plenty of you are reading this page as well.

The carnosine gel for people was made for athletes in the first place. You can read about it, and my own experience with it, on my Carnosine Gel page.

Riders have their own substance rules under the Australian Rules of Racing, so check with your stewards before using anything new, the same as you would for your horse.

Curious?

If you’d like to talk it through, or you’re part of a club, stable or equine community that would find this conversation interesting, I’d love to hear from you.