Lucy Payton 
Horses are one of the most valuable animals to keep. If you own one, you’d want to keep them healthy and well fed. The first port of call is to give them all-around nutrient-rich foods in the required ratios.
But even so, horses typically grow to massive sizes, and the nutrients they extract from traditional foods may not be sufficient. For this reason, it may be best to reinforce their standard feeds with supplements, supplying the minerals and nutrients necessary to support their growth and performance. This article covers all you need to know about horse supplements:
Digestive Supplements
A sound digestive system is one of the vital signs of a healthy horse. Your horse might need help digesting the food it takes. Depending on the season and quality of feed your horses take, it may become hard to digest the food properly. The best thing about horses is that you can tell from some signs that they’re not okay. However, as the horse owner, you must be on the lookout for common stereotypies in horses. Loose droppings may indicate digestive system problems, but that may not always be the case.
Digestive supplements contain probiotics and prebiotics that can help sustain your horse’s digestive system. They can also provide them with nutrients for a healthy and balanced gut.
Joint Supplements
If you notice any discomfort in your horse, it could indicate that it needs help with its joints. As horses age, they require more joint supplements to keep them in shape. In addition, your sporting horse needs supplements to soothe its joints after rigorous exercises. While taking joint supplements doesn’t treat joint-related diseases, such supplements can help make their joints flexible.
Regularly giving your horse joint supplements can help ensure they remain fit throughout the racing season and continue running without undue discomfort. Generally, such a supplement contains glucosamine and Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which are essential nutrients for managing overall joint health.
Hoof Supplements
Besides the genetic makeup, your horse’s diet can significantly influence the hooves’ condition. Hooves are the most exposed part of your horse, and their quality may be affected by climatic conditions. In dry weather, the hoof has to brave the rough earth as it moves around. As a result, it could lead to cracks and splits on the hooves. For that reason, it’d be best to look into your horse’s diet to grow a strong hoof.
In addition, you may also want to give your horse hoof supplements to recondition them. Aside from these, you’ll also need to use external health care products in the grooming routine.
Horse Skin Supplements
Experienced horse keepers can tell your horse’s health by looking at the skin. For instance, some tell-tale signs of infected skin can be bumpy and flaky skin. To maintain a shiny and healthy horse coat, you must ensure you give the horse skin care supplements.
Although brushing and bathing your horse is excellent for maintaining your horse’s skin, you must also provide it with skin supplements. The supplements contain omega 3 and 6, essential nutrients for glowing skin. They help grow healthy skin that protects the horse from the scorching sun, skin conditions, and fleas.
Horse Calmers
Once in a while, you may notice your horse is stressed. You’ll need to calm your horse down if you detect agitation and nervousness. Abnormal sweating or the horse looking tired can also be signs of stress. It’s often in newly acquired horses trying to adjust to a different environment. In such cases, giving them calming supplements can be helpful.
Generally, they can help keep your horses settled and happy. They’re typically rich in magnesium, which helps reduce anxiety. They also contain tryptophan, which helps in building serotonin that helps lower stress levels.
Performance Supplements
Naturally, horses are built strongly due to the activities they’re involved in. Thus, they require a constant energy supply to sustain metabolic activities. Aside from feeding them nutrient-rich diets, you can give them performance supplements such as those containing creatine to enhance their strength and endurance.
For athletic horses, it is essential to give them performance supplements regularly. Doing so can help them maintain the strong bones needed to compete. It can also reduce the chances of them getting tired quickly. Furthermore, performance supplements can help nourish energy levels and boost natural recovery when they’re injured.
Conclusion
Horse supplements are essential to boost their health and performance. However, it is always best to talk to your nutritionist and veterinarian if you intend to supplement your horse’s diet. They can guide you on the type of feeds and supplements suitable for your horses and how often you should give them. They can also identify what your horses need so you can supply them with those specific nutrients.
Furthermore, it’d help if you also choose a reputable supplement brand for your horses. It can guarantee that they will get the desired nutrients without risking their health.
