The Importance of Horse Supplements - Why, What & How?
Published by Connor Bainton,
Every horse owner whats his equine friends to have a good quality for life and part of that is their diet which needs to match the needs of each horse. This is why there is a lot of different horse supplement that provides the necessary nutrition but they are not meant to be used as food substitutes. There's a supplement for every situation and knowing what each one offers can help you find what's best for your equine friend.
Skin & Coat
If your horse has a dabbled or patchy coat it definitely is in a need of a supplement filled with ingredients like zinc, biotin, vitamin E, yeast, flax & chia seeds, rice bran and amino acids. This type of supplement for horses also helps address digestive issues and iron levels which also play a major role in the condition of the skin and coat. A shiny coat is a healthy appearance and a good sign of a healthy horse too.
Nutraceutical
These types of supplements contain sterols, chondroitin sulphates, gamma oryzanol, vitamins, minerals and other herbal components. This type of supplement for horses should be given to equines that feed mostly on fresh grass or hay and get no commercial concentrates - hay loses supplemental vitamins during storage time and hay curing. Make sure you don't overfeed as some of these vitamins and minerals can cause toxicity.
Joint
Both younger and senior horses can have issues with their joints which is usually to do with osteoarthritis when it comes to senior horses and the providing of joint protection for the younger more active horses. There are a lot of formulations to choose from with this type of supplement so make sure to stick to one for at least 30 days before you check for improvements. The usual ingredients with these supplements are hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, yucca,chondroitin sulphate, vitamin C, collagen, devil's claw, silica, ester C and others.
Hoof Care
One of the more important parts of equine health are the hooves and supplements that contain lysine, zinc, copper, cobalt, threonine, biotin, methionine, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are the best solutions since they make up for dietary deficiencies that lead to poor feet in the first place. Horses with brittle and shelly feet that chip easily and tend to lose shoes will benefit greatly but you should use the solution for 6 to 12 months in order to let the hoof grow out and then check for noticeable improvements.
Digestive
A digestive support supplement is meant for horses that are prone to colic , which as with ulcers also management changes like increasing turnout, limiting stress and forage availability are their first line of defence when battling colic. A digestive supplement for horses often includes ingredients such as oligosaccharides or yeast and a combination of other probiotics that increase the growth of digestive enzymes and healthy gut bacteria.
Gastric (Ulcers)
As we said the first line of defence of digestive support elements is the same as the one of gastric support supplements which are meant to help prevent gastric ulcers - a very common health problem in domesticated equines. Gastric supplements include licorice, collagen, sea buckthorn, soluble fibre, L-glutamine, antacids and aloe.
Weight Gain
If your horse is fed with plenty of quality forage and ti still has the same skinny physique then it's best that you introduce it to weight gain supplements, of course, make sure to have its health checked by a vet beforehand. If everything is clean then your equine friend is ready to increase its fat and calorie intake since these supplements include rice bran, flax meal, vegetable fats and amino acids.
Temperament
Some horses can get spooked easily by creaky doors, leaves blowing in the breeze and even shadows despite getting enough exercise throughout the day you might want to consider getting calming supplements involved in its diet. This type of supplement for horses contains ingredients that positively affect the nervous system such as magnesium, L-tryptophan, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and herbal remedies like hops, chamomile and valerian.
What to Look For
The first you need to look for is how the supplements and other feed additives have been processed as this can affect the way your horse will digest the nutrients. A quality supplement is going to be processed in a way that will make it easy to partially break down proteins and gelatinize starches which provide increased hydration.
The lifespan of a supplement will also help you choose the best solution in the case with joint and hoof care supplements. Make sure the lifespan, especially of these two types of supplements, is going to last through the period in which you will feed your animal.
The third and probably the most important consideration of all is the nutritional quality of the supplement, meaning having the right ingredients in the right dosage. While some can address specific needs others can address basic one but no matter the type of supplement makes sure it always boost the overall health of each horse. This is done with a rich supply of minerals, vitamins, proteins and other nutrients which sometimes are not received through natural grazing.