There is an increasing amount of choice for horse owners when they are considering supplements for their horse - not just in the brands producing them, but also in the types available.
It can be difficult, therefore, to really be sure which supplements to feed and which are unnecessary for your horse's specific needs.
When considering what supplements your horse needs, it's important to note that a horse who is eating a balanced diet, and is happy and healthy, is unlikely to need a supplement. However, to provide a balanced diet your horse will need more than just forage - so mostly you will require a hard feed or a vitamin and mineral supplement to achieve this balance.
Supplements are used to give a dietary ingredient, or ingredients, above what is usually required, beyond what they are able to get from their diet, or to improve performance and manage issues.
Some feed supplements as a preventative to avoid problems occurring in the first place, so while they are not necessarily a need, they can be a very good choice. Joint supplements are a good example of this, as they maintain comfort in a horse's joints over time and many do not need to be used purely when there is an issue.
To establish what supplements to feed your horse, ask yourself if your horse is missing out on any key dietary elements, whether they have any conditions that need addressing, or whether they are at a lifestage or activity level that requires support. In this article, we will break these considerations down in more detail.
The elements a horse needs in their diet
Just like us, horses have requirements for certain elements in their diet, in given quantities, in order for their body to perform its day to day functions. Generally, they require:
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Carbohydrates
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Protein
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Fats
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Vitamins
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Minerals
They also need a certain amount of calories (energy) each day in order to maintain their bodily functions and a consistent weight.
If your horse is not getting each of these elements, or if an additional source of them is likely to have benefits for managing issues or supporting health and well-being, then you may want to address this by adding to their diet. Sometimes, supplements are the best way to do this.
How to establish what supplements to feed your horse
Supplements should be added with a purpose in mind, even if that purpose is preventative.
Here are the things to think about to establish a supplement shopping list that is specific to your horse and their needs.
Consider what forage your horse eats
Whatever their workload or individual requirements, forage should form the foundation of your horse's diet. However, the amount of nutrients provided by forage diets can vary with the seasons and by the type of forage used. Forage-only diets are therefore unlikely to be able to provide balanced amounts of the vitamin and minerals that your horse requires.
For example, there are differences in the omega-3 levels found in fresh pastures versus dried forage such as hay or haylage, and therefore some like to use a supplement containing this important fatty acid if access to grass is not possible over a given season.
It's common for some minerals, such as zinc, copper and selenium, to be lacking in forage. In an ideal world, these deficiencies would be identified through regular nutritional analysis, so if this is something you are able to do then it can be an important step for figuring out which supplements might be added to balance their nutritional intake. Hay and haylage are also poor sources of vitamins and the process required to make preserved forage leads to very low levels of vitamins being available to the horse.
Forage and pasture analysis is not always practical or affordable, in which case feeding a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement may be a good choice. This ensures that your horse will get the required amount of each vitamin and mineral consistently, to balance the varying ratios found in pasture and forage.
If you have questions about feeding forage, whether they are related to amount, type or something else, do get in touch with our Registered Nutritionist who will be able to provide advice tailored to you and your horse.
Think about your horse's age, weight and level of exercise
There are many cases where supplementation may contribute to increased health, comfort or performance based on your horse's age, weight and activity levels, so take this into account when considering whether to feed a supplement.
For example, older horses or ponies usually benefit from support for the musculoskeletal system to maintain comfort and support mobility in their later years. Likewise for pregnant mares, a supplement to provide specific nutrients to support the final part of pregnancy and lactation is often a good idea. If your horse is young, old, pregnant, or breeding, you will want to consider their specific nutritional requirements and how supplements can help to meet them.
Your horse's weight, if out of an ordinary range, may also play a part in deciding to feed a supplement. For instance, your horse may be on a restricted diet if they are overweight. In this situation, a balancer which ensures that they are still getting the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids can help you to keep their diet nutritionally complete, without compromising their slimming regime.
Finally, the degree and level of exercise undertaken by your horse may make certain supplements a good idea. A competition horse, or one who is undertaking regular intensive exercise, will require more targeted nutrition to maintain optimal fitness, as well as to safeguard against future problems.
Training can often increase wear and tear on the joints, for example, so joint supplements are used to maintain suppleness and reduce the risk of joint injuries. Likewise, the muscles of horses in hard work will benefit from additional antioxidants to help with repair and maintain muscle health, which are often best delivered via supplementation.
Support any issues or conditions
Another consideration when choosing supplements is whether your horse has any existing conditions that a supplement may help to manage.
Of course, you should always seek veterinary advice where there is a concern, and diet is not a substitution for adequate medical treatment. That said, many horses with common and not-so-common ailments can be supported via nutrition, and often supplements are a useful and targeted way to go about this. They can be used to assist with the management of an array of conditions, from respiratory issues to the likes of sarcoids.
It's important, particularly when looking to supplement as a way to manage a condition, to be an informed buyer. This is why our next consideration is important...
Speak to an equine nutritionist
If you are feeling uncertain, the best thing you can do is speak to an expert.
It is good advice to speak to an equine nutritionist before introducing any supplement. Not only does it allow you to talk it over with someone who knows what they are talking about and has your horse's best interests in mind, it also sets you up to feel confident in your choice of supplement.
At Feedmark, we are proud to have our Registered Nutritionist on hand to advise on all things equine nutrition. With over ten years' experience in the industry and an expert knowledge of equine science, she is well placed to support horse owners with their questions and always keeps the benefits to your horse as her focus.
Pay attention to combinations
If you have considered all of the elements listed above and this has resulted in a list of multiple supplements, make sure to consider how the ingredients within each of them interact with one another. Not only are there certain ingredients that it is unwise to feed too much of, where doubling up on supplements that contain the same ingredient will cause you to feed over the recommended amount. Not only is it possible to over supplement a horse, there are also situations where ingredients compete with each other for absorption or interact negatively.
If you are uncertain, the best thing to do is ask. A Registered Nutritionist will be able to flag any combinations that are cause for concern and talk you through some alternatives.
You can also explore our Bespoke All-In-One™ supplement which is designed to prevent you having to buy too many individual tubs by combining ingredients according to your horse's individual needs.
There's not one single answer to which supplements to feed, but being as much of an educated buyer as possible is key to making the decision on what is right for your horse. Remember that just because a friend or a social media account that you may follow uses a given product, does not mean that your horse requires it too; look to identify actual nutritional needs and then address them in your supplement regime, and you won't go far wrong.