December 1, 2017
CapitalPress.com
9
Horse supplements a family business
For the Capital Press
REDMOND, Ore. —
Growing up, Del Johnson
thought he would make his
living as a rodeo cowboy.
When he realized that profes-
sion was “too skinny” finan-
cially, he decided to pursue
a master’s degree in animal
nutrition instead.
At the time, Oregon State
University was researching
selenium deficiency in cattle
— giving Johnson an idea for
a business venture.
“I saw an opportunity to
make a product for horses that
had selenium in it. I made that
and with zero business knowl-
edge, I packaged and labeled
gallon jugs of liquid supple-
ment,” Johnson said.
Selenium is a nutrient that
is incorporated in making
proteins called antioxidant
enzymes, which help prevent
cellular damage in animals.
Although essential to good
health, it is required only in
small amounts.
While plant foods are the
major source of selenium, the
level is determined by the ge-
ography of the soil, and many
regions in the world are se-
lenium deficient, including
much of Oregon and Califor-
nia.
“These places are farmed
for years and important nutri-
ents aren’t being brought back
into the soil,” Johnson said.
“All the trace minerals are
taken out of the soil and the
selenium is depleted more and
more.”
In 1978 Johnson licensed
Horse Guard, and began to
date Lori, who is now his
wife. Her father was John-
son’s first customer. The two
married in 1984, and Lori
Johnson became the chief fi-
nancial officer.
Having worked for Purina
in the past, she already had a
background in business. At that
point they were selling enough
for them to support themselves.
“Back when the company
started, research indicated a
selenium deficiency in the
Northwest,” Lori Johnson
said. “Del said, ‘Why isn’t
there a feed supplement that
you don’t have to buy through
a vet with a prescription?’”
One of the challenges the
business had to overcome was
misconceptions about seleni-
um.
Then studies revealed
the nutrient’s importance to
health.
“Selenium was known to
be toxic before it was known
to be essential,” said Kelsey
Nonella, who has a Ph.D. in
equine nutrition and is Del
and Lori’s daughter.
Nonella and her sister, Ty
Johnson, grew up with the
business and returned to it af-
ter college. Ty Johnson now
works in sales and market-
ing, while Nonella works as
Aliya Hall/For the Capital Press
Lori Johnson, left, Ty Johnson, Kelsey Nonella and Del Johnson run
the company Horse Guard, which produces nutritional supplements
for horses. Next year the company celebrates its 40th anniversary.
a nutritionist and educational
blogger. The sisters also host
educational seminars around
the country.
“I always knew I’d come
back to Horse Guard,” Nonel-
la said. “I shared that passion,
that’s what I went to school
for. I always loved Central
Oregon, and I saw the joys
and opportunities that Horse
Guard allowed us as a family
growing up. I wanted to have
that for my family.”
Lori Johnson said they
were thrilled their daughters
came back to work with them,
and explained that the busi-
ness works because everyone
“wears a different hat.”
“To have our girls come to
work with us, we get to see
them grow every day,” she
said. “To watch your kids and
work with your husband in
the same harness working to-
wards a common goal” is the
most rewarding aspect.
Horse Guard has enjoyed
its share of firsts in the animal
supplement industry.
In 1978 the company was
the first to provide selenium in
a supplement, in 1984 it was
the first to develop a weight
gain product, in 1991 it was
the first do add biotin — also
All
4 STANDARD SIZES
ALL OF THEM ATTACH
TO TRACTOR WITH
3-POINT HITCH FOR
QUICK, EASY HOOK-UP.
known as vitamin H, in 2003
it was the first to include 100
percent organic selenium, and
in 2005 it was the first to com-
bine hoof health, joint health
and probiotics in one product.
“It’s exciting for us,” Del
Johnson said. “For us, that
was a big deal to include sele-
nium. You can’t buy a supple-
ment now without it. We did
it first because of legitimate
nutritional needs. It’s just so
important to horse health.”
Horse Guard’s latest prod-
uct is an organic flax seed
treatment called Flix, which
is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
“We’re not only horse
owners, we’re competitors,”
Nonella said. “We don’t just
do it because they’re our com-
panions and we love them,
but they need to perform at
the highest level possible.
We have confidence that’s the
product we have.”
Products
Have ONLY 100%
Organic Selenium
COMPLETE GROUND PREPARATION IN ONE PASS!
AVAILABLE PULL
TONGUE OPTION
FOR THOSE
WITHOUT
3-POINT HITCH
HOOK-UP.
Call Now For Pricing & Availability
Visit
www.arenagroomer.net for more info
www.horseguard.com
(208) 722-5116
www.parmacompany.com
This year in the NW 5 horses died of Selenium Deficiency.
Make sure your your horse is getting the best version of Selenium.
When 100% Organic Selenium is Not On The Label
Check the list of ingredients. If either sodium selenite
or sodium selenate are included, the product is not
100% Organic Selenium (Selenium Yeast)
L17-1/109
By ALIYA HALL
L17-3/108
1-800-553-4246