Horses can suffer from health challenges like coat and hoof problems, gut and digestive issues, joint-related problems, and more. Equine health supplements can help alleviate pain and discomfort and prevent the occurrence and progression of some of these health problems.
Though there are many equine health supplements, it is important to understand your horses’ unique dietary needs to pick the right supplement.
This guide will discuss common horse health issues, how equine supplements can help them, and what to look for in a good horse health supplement.
Let's get into it.
According to the original definition given by Steven Defilice–the founder and chairman of the foundation for innovative medicine–a supplement is “any food or food product used to provide health benefits including preventative and/or treatment of disease.”
Horse supplements—also referred to as nutraceuticals— are often added to a horse’s daily regimen for several reasons:
In an ideal situation, your horse should get all their nutritional needs from their feed. Unfortunately, that is not always achievable for several reasons, which we will look at shortly.
Unlike modern-day equines, horses in the past would graze in huge open fields. These pastures had different kinds of grasses, soil, herbs, and shrubs that horses would graze on all day, meeting complete dietary needs for their bodies.
Horses kept in barns or grazing over limited pastures may need supplements to bridge the nutritional gap. Your horse can also benefit from supplements if they are:
According to research on equine supplements for hindgut health, most modern-day horse feeds contain more starch-based concentrates than in the past. Starch-based concentrates were introduced in horse feeds as a source of high energy for horses under heavy workloads and strenuous activities.
Recent findings show that though starch concentrates make feed palatable for horses, they raise insulin levels and increase valeric acid production. The effect disrupts the gut's normal functioning, causing gastrointestinal disorders like colic.
Secondly, some feeds may lack critical trace minerals. This can be due to deficiencies in the soil formulation of the region where the forage is growing—like is typical of coastal regions. Therefore, there is a need to supplement these minerals in the horse's diet if the horse lives in that region.
Thirdly, climate changes—especially extremes of heat and cold—demand more specific nutrients from a horse’s feed. Learning how to care for and feed your horse in the winter is important. This is because several things happen in winter:
If you are not sure whether your horse feed is meeting the required standards, there are several steps you can take:
Horse feed is considered balanced when it consists of the following essential things:
But before purchasing supplements for your horse to ensure they get all of the above in their diet, it’s important to check in with your veterinarian. The table below outlines the various types of horse supplements.
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Supplement Type |
Importance |
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Joint supplements |
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Digestive/gut supportive supplements |
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Skin, coat, and hoof supplements |
|
|
Performance supplements |
|
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Behavior management |
|
Other supplements given to horses are vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Amino acids are essential because they help in protein synthesis and mineral utilization. Mineral utilization is vital as it impacts bone and soft tissue health.
Aside from feed and supplements, water is one of the most vital parts of a horse's diet. It is critical in maintaining blood pressure, acts as a coolant, supports multiple chemical reactions, and aids digestion to avoid colic. So encourage your horse to drink more water by ensuring the water is clean, accessible, and between 7-24 degrees celsius to encourage consumption.
To provide the right supplements for your horse, it is essential to note that your horse is unique and so are its dietary needs. In the same way you wouldn't take your friends’ vitamins or pills, your horse should not share health supplements with any other equine without vet approval.
For supplements to be effective, you must consider several factors concerning your horse:
Equine health supplements come in different formulations, including pellets, injectables, powders, liquids, granules, pastes, and pills.
Horse health supplements have several benefits to a horse's overall well-being. Let's look at some of these key benefits.
For performance horses or horses under strenuous workload/activities, a boost of good quality equine health supplements can be a major distinguishing factor between an okay-performing horse and a sterling. Due to the nature of their activities, performance horses are exposed to many injuries and muscle aches.
Supplements can aid in quick recovery and help speed up the healing process. In addition, they can be great for stimulating energy and replacing lost electrolytes from the body. For example, you can promote your sport horse injury prevention and recovery by introducing joint health supplements.
A major benefit of incorporating horse health supplements into your equine's diet is preventative care. Joint health supplements and digestive supplements are great examples of preventive care effects. They can significantly reduce the occurrence of conditions like arthritis and colic, respectively. For example, TRI-ACTA H.A for equine is a great preventative joint supplement. It contains an equine-specific formula that enhances the protective response of horse joint tissue.
Unfortunately, some horses can develop chronic ailments even with a balanced diet. If your horse has developed a chronic condition, health supplements are a great way to help them deal with it. For example, supplements can help insulin resistance, which often leads to laminitis in horses.
Nutraceuticals like joint horse supplements provide your horse with anti-inflammatory effects. Though inflammation is the body’s natural response to infections, unchecked inflammation can be problematic for your horse. Supplement ingredients like MSM work great at promoting a natural response to inflammation.
Horse muscles produce harmful chemicals called oxidants—reactive chemical species—when they are subjected to strenuous activity or when there is an increased demand and use of energy. When these toxins accumulate in the muscles, they cause oxidative stress, which damages tissue and causes inflammation.
Dietary supplements such as vitamin C, E, and B carotene have been shown to provide antioxidation effects by improving horse muscle cell antioxidant activities.
Other additional benefits of these supplements include reducing oxidative stress, improving health metabolism, and promoting healthier intestinal microbiota.
Equines are prone to sickness and health challenges just like humans are. That means even with the best care and nutrition, your horse will run into health problems in their lifetime. The good news is you can use supplements to help prevent and manage some common equine health conditions including:
Horses are unique, and each can exhibit different symptoms when sick. However, some symptoms apply to most horses and are often signs of an underlying health problem. Some common symptoms to look out for include:
While the above list is a sample of common ill health indicators, you know your horse best. Trust your gut feeling and call your veterinarian if you are concerned about your horse's health.
If you have tried shopping for equine health supplements and felt overwhelmed by the multitude of products on the shelf, we understand. The equine supplement market is saturated with products, and the list is growing yearly.
Before delving into the purchase of a supplement, remember these important points:
Though the ACCLAIM system of evaluating horse supplements is fairly effective, we like to keep things simple. Three things are key to identifying a good supplement for your equine.
We believe that quality ingredients, product efficacy, and the percentage of active ingredients are the main aspects that determine the quality of a good supplement. Here are some tips on how to read a supplement label:
We are tooting our own horn here. But it is because we believe our equine joint supplements for horses are that good. Consisting of 100% pure active ingredients and zero fillers, TRI-ACTA and TRI-ACTA H.A. pack great therapeutic value for equine joint health.
Use our extra strength formula for older horses and those recovering from injuries and surgery.
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*Price starts at CAD $129.99 as of January 2023
Purica Recovery from Purica ticks our boxes regarding equine supplements. The label documents all ingredients. We like that the ingredients are pure and free from artificial fillers and allergens.
Though Purica Recovery is a good supplement, it is missing the all-important Chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine is most effective when combined with Chondroitin sulfate to support joint health. Chondroitin sulfate supports the regeneration of cartilage as well as slows down cartilage degeneration in horses with conditions like arthritis.
*Price starts at CAD $87.97 as of January 2023.
Mad Barn is a Canadian brand known for their signature packing and quality equine products. Their Optimum Probiotic gut supplement is a good product for promoting digestive health. It contains pure ingredients and a blend of five probiotics to help your equine absorb nutrients, balance intestinal PH, prevent colic and diarrhea, and improve digestion.
Positioned as a filler-free product, this Optimum Probiotic offers excellent value for its price point.
*Price starts at CAD $26.92 as of January 2023.
Platinum Performance is designed for horses of all breeds, ages, and activity levels. This supplement is specially formulated to support performance and recovery for athletic equines.
Though Platinum Performance supplement is filler-free and packs many therapeutic ingredients, it incorporates sugarcane molasses. These can be problematic for horses with stomach ulcers and those susceptible to Laminitis due to the sugar content. In addition, the price point is significantly higher than other similar products in the market.
*Price starts at CAD $255.56 as of January 2023.
Another Mad Barn product makes our list with this coat and hoof supplement. Mad Barn Biotin is filler-free and contains high-level concentrations of Biotin to promote a healthy and strong hoof structure.
The downside to the product is the presence of distiller grains which can harbor mycotoxins, especially if the grains are derived from corn.
*Price starts at CAD $60.51 as of January 2023.
Basic Equine is another Canadian brand that manufactures equine nutrition and health supplements. This particular product, Calmex, is designed to keep horses calm and moderate behavior for high-performing horses or horses susceptible to anxiety and stress.
We like that it is filler-free and induced with live yeast cultures. Yeast cultures support digestion, reducing acidity, and overall supporting hindgut health.
*Price starts at CAD $63.50 as of January 2023.
Equines at all stages of life are susceptible to some nutritional deficiencies. And the best way to cater to these nutritional gaps is by using a high-quality health supplement.
Your ultimate goal as a horse owner, and ours, is a healthier, happier horse. So remember to supplement in measure, with the guidance of your veterinarian/nutritionist, of course. And give supplements following the manufacturers’ instructions. In addition, keep your horse active and well-exercised.
Check out our blog for information about other equine resources and more about our products.