Feed supplements are a powerful way to boost your horse’s health from the inside out. Even with plenty of grazing and high-quality feed, there are some nutrients that can be missing from your horse’s diet. If your horse is athletic, a senior, or suffers from a chronic condition, you can use supplements to support their unique needs.
Talk to your veterinarian before adding a feed supplement to your horse’s diet, especially if they are showing symptoms that may be indicative of an undiagnosed health issue.
How Can Feed Supplements Help My Horse?
If you are feeding a premium feed, you may not need to give your horse any supplements, though they may still benefit from one. Most complete feeds contain all of the vitamins and minerals the average horse needs. Before starting a supplement, make sure to check the ingredients and nutrient profile against your horse’s existing diet to avoid redundancy.
Horses with specific health needs can often benefit from a dietary supplement. If your horse is prone to colic, a digestive support supplement can provide probiotics that help break down food in the hindgut. Explore digestive health options in the PetMeds Horse Digestive Supplements category.
Just about any horse can benefit from a supplement that provides omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids boost immunity, strengthen hooves, and help relieve many types of inflammation, including inflammation due to injury, asthma, itchy skin, and coat dryness. In foals and yearlings, omega-3s can also support mental development for a fast learning horse that is easier to train.
You can browse skin and coat nutritional support in the Horse Skin and Coat Supplements category.
For young, healthy horses, products like Grizzly Omega Aid and Missing Link Wellblend Skin and Coat Formula are popular options.
Athletic horses and senior horses can benefit from a joint supplement to help relieve inflammation and stiffness, whether it is from arthritis, injury, or repetitive movement. Learn more about available options in the Horse Joint Supplements category.
A joint support supplement may contain omega-3 fatty acids and or glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. You can use multiple joint formulas or use a single product that contains multiple joint support ingredients. If using multiple products, make sure to slowly introduce them to your horse’s diet rather than all at once to avoid adverse effects such as gastric upset.
How To Give Your Horse a Feed Supplement
Feed supplements usually come as a powder, pellet, or liquid that you can add to grain feed or give directly. Giving supplements during meals also makes it easier to remember to make them part of your daily horse care routine.
When you first give your horse a new feed supplement, you may want to provide just half of the recommended serving for two to three weeks. This approach can help your horse’s digestive system adjust to the new ingredients.
However, some supplements are meant to be fed in a higher amount during the initial period. Follow the guidelines on the container or talk to your veterinarian before proceeding. Watch your horse closely for any signs of gastric upset, allergic reaction, or side effects.
Consult your veterinarian if you need help choosing a supplement, need to use multiple supplements with a prescription medication, or if your horse does not show signs of improvement.
