Vitamins & Minerals: What Does Your Horse Need?

Vitamins and minerals may only be needed in small amounts, but they play a big role in keeping your horse happy and healthy.

These essential nutrients are involved in almost every aspect of your horse’s well-being, from energy metabolism, antioxidant protection and maintaining strong bones. It is also important to consider your horse’s age, workload, and environment to ensure your horse is getting exactly what it needs.

What is the difference between vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins are produced by plants, animals and microorganisms.
Minerals naturally occur in the soil, plants and water. Unlike vitamins, your horse cannot make essential minerals themselves, so they must come from their diet.

Vitamins

Forage provides many of the vitamins your horse needs, but the amount available can vary considerably. Understanding these factors is key to assessing whether your horse’s diet is providing an adequate supply of vitamins:

What factors can influence the levels of vitamins my horse gets?

Forage quality
Pasture access
Age
Workload
Individual health history

Unlike carbohydrates, protein and fat, vitamins do not provide energy themselves. Instead, they help your horse’s body use and process other nutrients properly.

What are the different types of vitamins?

Fat soluble (A, D, E, K)

These vitamins can be stored in the body. They are typically found in fresh green forage, although levels can decrease as forage is stored

Water soluble vitamins (B, C)

These vitamins are not stored in large amounts in the same way as fat-soluble vitamins
B vitamins are particularly important for energy metabolism and other essential body functions.
B vitamins are found in forage and feeds, while some are also produced by micro-organisms in your horse’s hindgut
Vitamin C is produced by an enzyme in the liver that converts glucose to vitamin C and is an important antioxidant that neutralises free radicals.

What is the difference between all the vitamins?

Vitamin	What is the function?	What is the main dietary source?
A	Supports healthy vision, particularly in low light and helps maintain healthy mucus membranes.	Fresh green forage and good quality pasture which provide beta-carotene which horses can convert to Vitamin A
D	Helps the body absorb and regulate calcium and phosphorous, making it important for healthy bones It also supports normal muscle function	Mainly produced in the skin following sunlight exposure Small amounts can come from forage
E	A major antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage	Fresh green pasture
B- complex	A group of vitamins involved in energy metabolism, nervous system function, red blood cell production and normal cell function	Forage, pasture, production from the hindgut
C	Acts as an antioxidant and supports collagen production, connective tissues and the immune system.	Healthy adult horses can usually produce enough themselves, primarily in the liver. It is also present in fresh forage and some feeds

Minerals

Minerals may only be needed in small amounts, but their role in your horse’s health is anything but small.

They are involved in everything from maintaining strong bones and healthy hooves to supporting muscles, nerves, fluid balance and energy production.

As horses cannot make essential minerals themselves, they need to obtain them from their diet. This is why providing a balanced supply of minerals is so important.

What are the different types of minerals?

Minerals are generally divided into two groups:

Macro-minerals

Minerals that are required in large quantities by your horse

Micro- Minerals

Minerals that are required in small quantities by your horse

Mineral	Function	Macro or Micro Mineral?
Calcium	Helps maintain strong bones and teeth and is important for muscle contraction, nerve signals and normal cell function	Macro-mineral
Phosphorous	Works alongside calcium to support bones and teeth. It is also involved in cell structure and energy production.	Macro-mineral
Sodium	An important electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and supports normal nerve and muscle function	Macro-mineral
Magnesium	Supports normal muscle contraction and relaxation, nerve function and healthy bones.	Macro-mineral
Sulphur	Important for healthy skin, hair and hooves and is a component of several essential compounds in the body.	Macro-mineral
Chlorine	Works with sodium to help maintain fluid balance and is also part of stomach acid, which is important for digestion	Macro-mineral
Iron	Needed to help transport oxygen around the body in the blood	Micro-mineral
Copper	Supports healthy connective tissue and is involved in the formation of red blood cells and normal pigmentation	Micro-mineral
Zinc	Important for healthy bones, cartilage, skin, hair and strong hooves.	Micro-mineral
Manganease	Supports normal bone and cartilage development and is involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism	Micro-mineral
Selenium	Part of an antioxidant that works closely with Vitamin E to protect cells from free-radical damage while supporting muscle and immune health. It is also essential for glutathione peroxidase enzymes, which help protect against oxidative stress and increase in response to exercise. Adequate dietary selenium is therefore important to support their production and function.	Micro-mineral
Cobolt	Required by your horse’s hindgut microorganisms to produce vitamin B12	Micro-mineral
Iodine	Component of thyroid hormones	Micro-mineral
Chromium	Involved in insulin signalling, enhances glucose uptake in insulin responsive tissues	Micro-mineral

What are the common signs my horse has a vitamin and mineral deficiency?

Poor coat quality
Weak or brittle hooves
Abnormal growth
Fatigue
Muscle tightness
Changes in performance and behaviour
Weight loss

It is important to consider that different mineral deficiencies cause different clinical signs. For example, Sodium deficiency can contribute to dehydration and reduced energy, particularly when your horse is losing electrolytes through sweating.

A balanced vitamin and mineral intake gives you peace of mind. If you notice a change in your horse, you can be confident they’re getting the vitamins and minerals they need, allowing you and your vet to explore other possible causes.

Can my horse have too many vitamins and minerals?

Yes. When it comes to vitamins and minerals, more isn’t always better.

Although these nutrients are essential, providing excessive amounts of some vitamins or minerals may be harmful or interfere with absorption or use of another.

For example, excessive Vitamin D can disrupt calcium and phosphorus balance, which can have consequences for bone health.

The aim should always be to provide a balanced diet to meet your horse’s individual requirements rather than simply adding more nutrients.

Conclusion

Vitamins and minerals may be required in small amounts, but they have a big job to do! From supporting healthy bones, muscles, hooves and skin to helping with energy metabolism, immunity and antioxidant protection, they are essential to your horse’s overall health and wellbeing.

Every horse is different, so their requirements will depend on factors such as their forage, age, environment and workload. Providing a balanced diet that meets your horse’s individual needs is essential while also considering factors such as forage quality, workload, age and environment. Understanding the role of vitamins and minerals can help you make informed feeding decisions and ability to recognise when your horse may require additional nutritional support.

Why Does My Horse Need Vitamins and Minerals? | Equine Science Matters