No Products in the Cart
Written by: Jessica Konopinski
Published on: 05/25/2023
With all the new research, marketing, and technology these days it seems like we are constantly being faced with new supplements as horse owners. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing and in fact, it’s incredible that we can provide our horses with some extra support if they need it with just a single product. However, things can begin to get confusing when you start prioritizing supplementation over a good quality nutritional diet. Not sure exactly where you stand on the supplements scale? We’ll walk you through exactly how to determine whether or not your horse could benefit from more (or less) supplementation.
When it comes to horses, forage comes first… always. Since horses require between 1-2% of their body weight in forage daily, it’s important to know that the forage you are purchasing and feeding your horse is meeting their nutritional needs. So, how do we determine this?
If your horse’s forage intake consists primarily of hay you want to confirm that where you’re purchasing your hay from is a reputable distributor. To ensure the quality of the hay, you can send in a sample for a hay analysis. A hay analysis will provide you with a report of all the nutrients present in the hay. Some of these nutrients include crude protein, structural carbohydrates (fibers), non-structural carbohydrates (starch, sugars, etc.), digestible energy, vitamins, and minerals. [3]
If your horse lives primarily on pasture, it would be a good idea to look into a soil analysis. Sending a soil sample will help analyze what nutrients are present or not present along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels which are the main contributors for growth. It is recommended to get your soil tested every three years. From there, you will receive your analysis report which will allow you to determine if you need to make any adjustments to your pasture including which fertilizer would be best suitable to balance out the nutrient levels [4].
Now that you’ve determined what vitamins and minerals are present (or not present) in your forage, you can begin the process of supplementation if needed. The first step is assessing if your horse is getting these vitamins and minerals through their current feeding program. Always read the label and be sure to reach out to the company or consult with an equine professional for clarification if needed.
If your horse is not currently fed anything other than forage, you can now consider adding in grain, a ration balancer, or specific supplements and blends depending on your horse's individual needs. This part can be confusing and quite honestly, a little overwhelming. As long as you put your horse’s age, activity level, health history, and consult with your veterinarian before making any drastic changes, you’ll be more than prepared.
Supplements can make a world of a difference especially for a horse who has been showing signs of struggle in one particular area including coat health, hoof health, recovery and more. Before adding supplements to your horse’s diet it’s important to always consult with your veterinarian and consider the following things [1]:
Pay attention to the ingredients. You want to avoid accidentally overfeeding certain ingredients to your horse and risk toxicity. If you show frequently, be sure that none of the ingredients are in violation.
Determine if the supplement brand is reputable.
Always feed at the recommended dosage.
Consider how much of the desired nutrient is present in each dose. You want enough to make a positive change in your horse, but not too much that you risk toxicity.
The most critical part of introducing your horse to supplements is allowing enough time for them to work. It is recommended to give a new supplement a month (at minimum) before determining if it is making a difference in your horse. Some supplements may recommend their own timeline before making a final decision so be sure to read the instructions before beginning your horse on a new product. As long as you adhere to the product recommendations, keep the considerations in mind, consult with your veterinarian and remain consistent, you’ll be setting your horse up for success!
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
Jessica is a brand consultant who brings awareness and intention to equestrian and pet platforms. As a former collegiate equestrian athlete and animal lover, Jessica leads with passion and experience through her writing and brand work for companies who advocate for creating a difference in their space. When she's not riding her horse or walking her dog (with iced coffee in hand), you can find her sharing her love for health and wellness with others and integrating these practices in her everyday work.
