Having horses you just want the best for your animal. The best stable, the best training but also the best food. So, one could question, if purchasing something for healthier joints, coats, hooves, teeth and bones is really necessary for your horse. After all, there are no 'supplements' in nature, or is there? Browsing the net, or just walking in a tack shop you notice there are many supplements on the market, for just about everything. But to make it easy you can mainly divide them into two types. Those that aid in the prevention of a defiency (minerals, vitamins and electrolytes) and those that improve performance (joint, muscle, blood tonic, calming agents). Many supplements are valuable compounds that are proven, produced by reputable manufacturers, and supported by science. But what to choose? The best thing you can do is to look for a supplement that meets the specific needs of your horse and consult with your veterinarian on supplement choice. The first step is to realise what your horse is getting already. Starting from that knowledge you can look for the supplements you need. Basically you could say; Look at the nutritional information on the feedbag. Know the nutrients in the pasture and always feed quality hay. After you look at the horse’s diet, and you find a defiency than look for the correct supplement. Talking about the joint supplements we need to be clear and honest. They can be beneficial for horses with arthritis, horses with a busy training schedule or horses that stress the joints. Looking at the different equine disciplines Jumpers, Reiners, Barrel Racers and Cutters seem to benefit the most from joint supplements. Nevertheless these supplements might as well help your horses to un-stress... it is always a trial and error. A process that needs to start with the knowledge what your horse already has, and what it needs. Calming Supplements and Hoof Supplements do not have a huge success rate at this time. Nothing replaces riding horses consistently, receiving good training, and not feeding high energy feeds. Thus it is important to look at labels, read ingredients, and consult with your veterinarian. Know the supplement that is right for your horse at that time and remember, don’t over do it. Don’t get stuck in the same supplement routine. Winter needs are different than summer needs. If your horse does need a supplement, adjust accordingly. And stop supplements when your horse doesn’t need them anymore or if you don’t see results (try supplement for 60 days and catalog the results).
