Every major equine performance challenge—ranging from muscle fatigue to immune activation to behavioral reactivity—is influenced by the redox balance inside the cell.

Horses experience oxidative stress from:

• Transport
• Confinement
• High-intensity training
• Competition
• Heat and environmental toxins
• Gastrointestinal challenges
• Social stress

Key pathways involved:

• Nrf2/ARE signaling – supports antioxidant enzyme expression
• NF-κB – governs inflammatory mediator transcription
• iNOS – influences nitric oxide overproduction
• ROS/RNS accumulation – impacts mitochondrial efficiency and cellular signaling

Valadin’s forage extracts contain avenanthramides, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, quercetin glycosides, chlorogenic compounds, flavones, and beta-glucans—all shown to modulate oxidative stress signaling and support normal redox balance.

Representative references:

• Andrews et al., J Anim Sci, 2019.
• Michalak et al., Nutrients, 2021.
• Pascoe & Hitchens, Vet Clin Equine, 2020.
• Popov et al., Free Radic Biol Med, 2018.
  

Performance horses depend on proper microvascular function for oxygen delivery, waste removal, heat dissipation, GI mucosal health, and normal tissue recovery.

Forage bioactives—particularly avenanthramides, and triterpenoid saponins—support:

• Normal endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity
• Balanced vasoreactivity
• Normal adhesion molecule expression (VCAM-1, ICAM-1)
• Microvascular integrity under environmental stress

These mechanisms promote efficient vascular responses without pharmacological interference.

Representative references:

Larson et al., J Vet Intern Med, 2020.
Choi et al., Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2016.
Duarte et al., Front Physiol, 2019.

Modern feeding patterns—concentrates, limited turnout, intermittent meals—can stress the equine GI tract.

Valadin’s extracts support:

• Tight junction integrity
• Healthy mucin expression
• Normal epithelial turnover
• Balanced COX-2 signaling
• Normal gastric pH fluctuations
• Modulation of oxidative stress in mucosal cells

References:

• Merritt, Vet Clin North Am Equine, 2018.
• Varaday et al., J Equine Vet Sci, 2022.
• Kim et al., Nutrients, 2020.
  

Horses evolved consuming grasses and legumes rich in:

• Melatonin precursors
• Amino acids influencing neurotransmitter production
• Magnesium complexes
• B-vitamins
• Plant phenolics that modulate normal HPA-axis signaling

Valadin’s extracts concentrate these endogenous compounds while remaining forage-aligned and competition compliant.

Forage-derived compounds support:

• Normal catecholamine turnover
• Balanced HPA feedback loops
• Healthy autonomic recovery following training

References:

• Hiebaum et al., Domest Anim Endocrinol, 2021.
• Ferlazzo et al., Animals, 2022.
• Sánchez et al., Nutr Neurosci, 2020.
  

Bioactive phenolics and flavonoids support:

• AMPK activation
• Mitochondrial biogenesis signals (PGC-1α)
• Healthy electron transport function
• Reduced oxidative leakage

This underpins consistent, efficient physical output in working horses.

References:

• Cappelli et al., Equine Vet J, 2020.
• Yan et al., Mol Nutr Food Res, 2021.
  

Because:

• Horses evolved to rely on forage as their primary signaling input.
• Bioactives in oats, timothy, clover, alfalfa, and related grasses are already part of the equine genome’s pattern-recognition blueprint.
• These compounds modulate cellular functions gently and coherently—not pharmacologically.

Valadin concentrates these forage signals into highly standardized, predictable formulations that are:

• Competition compliant
• Naturally aligned with equine physiology
• Designed for short- and long-term support
• Based on molecular logic, not folklore