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Keeping Horses Healthy: Top Researched Supplements

Keeping horses healthy can be a challenge for some owners. Animals bred for racing don’t always have the most robust immune systems. With that said, there are plenty of ways to keep them healthy through the use of supplements. But which should you be supplying them with? This guide aims to answer that question. It looks at various supplement categories, what they offer, and how you can find them. 

Joint Supplements 
Joint supplements are valuable for all kinds of horses, including those that race, and those that work. These support their cartilage and reduce their inflammation, improving mobility and allowing them to continue being useful into older ages. 

You’ll want to check out your local ShoppersSupply to see what’s on offer, but supplements like chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine are great options for keeping them limber. You can also use these supplements for horses with arthritis or those with heavy workloads, combining them with HA for added effects. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Just like people, horses also need omega-3 fatty acids to be at their best. These promote improved coat and skin health, helping horses look shiny all over, especially during their prime when they have a natural gloss. 
The main ingredients of these supplements are DHA and EPA, which are the two basic forms of omega-3 their bodies require. These can be more challenging to get from other foods, so adding them to your horses’ diet is often highly beneficial. 
If you go for flaxseed, that’s an option too. Flax is cheap and you don’t have to add much to horse meal for them to get enough of it into their bodies. 

Probiotics
You also want to supplement with probiotics, especially if your animals are prone to developing gut and indigestion issues. These provide them with the natural bacteria they need to break down things like grass and their regular chow. 
Live yeast cultures are the most common options for horses. These are handy for ulcers and those on high-grain diets. If you can pair regular chow with grass and other low-calorie options, that can often aid horse digestion and keep them feeling comfortable throughout the seasons. 

Biotin
Biotin is another critical horse supplement that’s great for hoof health. Hooves can become damaged and infected over time without proper care so nutritional supplements are often seen as a preventative measure. These usually contain biotin, zinc, and copper, which helps horses with slow hoof growth and allows them to recover their hoof growing abilities faster. The downside, of course, is that it takes a while for this supplement to show results. Usually, you’re waiting six months to a year to see the effects. 

Vitamin E + Selenium
Finally, you might consider supplementing your animal with vitamin E and selenium in small quantities. While horses will often forage, these nutrients are usually in short supply in their bodies, so they need tiny amounts of them. Be careful with how much selenium you offer them, though. This mineral can be highly toxic to their cells if you provide them with too much.