Best supplements for horses

Do you give your horse supplements?  

Horse supplements can be a great way to provide preventative and reactive care for your horse. Whether your horses are competition thoroughbreds or rescue ponies, supplements help your horses to stay happy and healthy.  

But what are the best products for your animal?  

And which should you be buying to support the overall equine health of your horse? 

Whether you’re new to horse supplements, or your horse has recently been diagnosed with a health condition, we are here to help.  

 If your horse is healthy and has a high-quality forage or balanced feed diet, there’s no need for supplements. All the nutrients they need will already be in their food. 

However, you should consider supplements if:

• Your horse is fed low-quality forage and needs added nutrients
• Your horse’s breed has a higher risk of certain health conditions, such as laminitis or joint issues
• You want to prevent recurring health problems in your horse, such as hoof issues
• You have a working or competition horse. Working or competition horses demand more from their food. Additional nutrients given through supplements can help them keep in top condition.
• Your horse is still growing, or senior. Both age groups can benefit from additional nutrients from supplements.

Before adding supplements to your horse’s diet, always check with your vet or an equine nutritionist to see what they believe would be suitable. They will be able to assess your animal and their health history, letting you know the specific products they would recommend for your animal, if any.  

If you give supplements to your horse without thorough knowledge, the health effects can be detrimental. 

Horses put a lot of pressure through their joints, particularly if they are working or competitive.  

Joint supplements can be both reactive and proactive, helping existing issues to be more manageable, but also prevent joint issues from occurring in the first place. For example, joint supplements such as YuMOVE Joint Care PLUS Supplement for Horses can help ease stiffness in horses with joint problems, but also can be used to maintain cartilage and support mobility in younger animals, particularly if they race.  

Look out for supplements containing ingredients such as Glucosamine, key in building cartilage to protect your horse’s joints. 

Maintaining your horse’s long term gut health is vital when it comes to their wellness and energy levels.  

Products like Protexin Equine Gut Balancer containing probiotics or digestive aids can help support the gut of your animal. They also improve their nutrient consumption, so they can get the most out of their diet.  

Need short-term digestive help? There are also short-term products that can be very useful if your horse is travelling or in competition. These are a paste given directly to the horse and are peppermint flavoured to help make it palatable

Sometimes, horses struggle to deal with stressful situations. Stressors include things like travelling, being in box rest, competitions, or noise-sensitive situations.  

Products like Zylkene Equine Stress Relief Powder can be added to their feed to help with their stress levels. This helps calm the animal, helping it to deal with more challenging situations with ease.   

We always want our horses to have their hooves and coats in top condition.  

But seasonal changes can have a big impact on your horse’s coat, and many horses also struggle with itching and irritation.  

Hoof and coat supplements are great for these issues. Look out for supplements containing fatty acids such as Omega 3. These will help reduce skin inflammation and improve overall health condition.  

If your horse has suffered from recurrent airway obstruction issues, respiratory supplements are a great way of improving lung health and reducing airway inflammation.  

These same supplements also help support the immune system, keeping your horse happy and healthy. We recommend products like Equistro Secreta Pro Max 800g containing over 20 beneficial herbs as well as vitamins A, C and E. 

Every horse is different! 

The most important supplement for your horse will depend on your horse’s specific needs. 

Work with your vet or equine nutritionist to find the most important supplement for your animal, if indeed they should take any in the first place.  

As we mentioned before, for some horses, the most important supplement will be just their normal feed and water.  

There is definitely such a thing as too many supplements! 

Always ensure you follow the right dosage for your horse.  

Taking too much of any supplement will do more your horse more harm than good.  

Consult your vet or equine nutritionist before giving your horse multiple supplements.  

While giving your horse multiple supplements may be okay, some supplements can have overlapping ingredients. This means that, when combined, you may end up giving your horse too much of certain nutrients, such as Omega 3, leading to larger health problems.  

Your vet or equine nutritionist will be able to advise on if they think multiple supplements are necessary and, if so, recommend products that will complement one another, with limited overlapping ingredients.

There are many great preventative and reactive health reasons to give your horse supplements, from helping with joint care to easing anxiety. 

However, supplements are never a one size fits all response. What works for one horse may not have the same impact on another. 

Always talk to your vet or equine nutritionist and find the product that works best for you and your animal, keeping them cantering for many years to come.