Horse Supplements...
Providing a nutritionally balanced diet is the basis to keeping a happy and healthy horse, however some horses may require additional support for a number of reasons. A sufficient diet will provide your horse with enough energy, carbohydrates, fibre, protein, oils and fats as well as the vitamins and minerals they need.
A supplement is anything that is fed to your horse on top of their normal diet of forage in order to support health and performance or to meet specific nutritional requirements. These are known as complementary feed.
There are a large variety of supplements available and choosing suitable products for your horse can seem a little daunting. Each horse will have individual needs and different dietary requirements depending on their age, weight, workload and condition.
Performance horses and those in hard work will often need additional support due to the extra strains on their body, these horses can often experience a more rapid depletion of their nutrient stores. Equines with certain health problems can also benefit from additional nutrients to try and support their comfort and wellbeing.
Whilst supplements can be very beneficial for horses they must not be used as an alternative to good health and welfare management or seeking veterinary advice. It is important to understand the needs of your horse as an individual, as well as the nutritional content of the feeds and products you are providing to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding certain ingredients.
If you are at all unsure about your horse’s dietary needs, please feel free to contact our Science and Nutrition Department who would be delighted to help. You can call freephone 0800 585525 or email [email protected].
What types of supplements are available?
There are a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements available to suit various types of horses including those in work, those who are on restricted diets and also mares and youngstock.
Joint supplements and muscle supplements can help the mobility of many horses from youngsters to veterans. These have varying levels of ingredients, from basic joint maintenance to high specification support for the optimum performance, comfort and joint health.
Digestive supplements can offer great support to encourage gastric health and aid optimal hind gut digestion.
Many horses may need a little something extra to help reduce spookiness and keep them more focused, this is where a calmer may come in very handy for those stressful situations.
Have you got a moody mare? Why not try a supplement to maintain a natural oestrus cycle and balance those hormones!
Weather conditions and dietary deficiencies can greatly affect the quality and growth rate of hooves as well as impacting the condition of the skin and hair. If your horse suffers from cracking hooves or dry and itchy skin, additional nutrients can be very beneficial.
Keeping your horse in tip top condition is what every owner strives for, whether it be helping them to put on weight or keeping them topped up with electrolytes. Our Health and Vitality supplements will keep you covered.
Some horses need a little extra help when it comes to certain health issues, this may be due to problems such as Cushing's, Laminitis, respiratory issues or lymphatic problems. Have a look at our supplements for additional
Did you know that we also offer a selection of straight herbs to aid your horse’s health and well-being? These traditional, appetising herbal supplements have various benefits.
Sometimes you may only need to feed specific single ingredients to provide a maintenance level of support. Our Essentials range has a variety of high-quality straights for you to choose from, which is often a very cost-effective option.