Equine Supplements For A Healthy Horse

Any veteran horse owner can attest that raising a
horse for show, work, or leisure requires
significant energy, square footage, and
know-how. Like humans and all other animals,
horses thrive on a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
based on the species' specific needs. With so
much information being published and updated
each day, determining those needs can seem
complicated.

Consider the controversy regarding vitamin
supplements for humans: many people believe
taking high doses of vitamins can prevent and
even cure terminal illnesses while others would
swear this might kill a person. The fact is that
humans can achieve optimum nutrition simply by
eating an adequate amount of the right foods.
Domesticated horses, however, cannot control
their nutrient levels and thus, depend upon
humans to achieve a nutritional balance.

The key to a healthy, energized horse is
high-quality, nutrient-rich forage, such as hay.
Hay should never be moldy or dusty. As natural
herbivores, hay-fed horses will benefit from the
addition of fruits and vegetables into their
diet. Like humans, horses reap significant
health benefits from the essential vitamins and
nutrients found in the produce aisle of the
local market. Among other plants, horses can
safely munch apples, carrots, squash, beets,
strawberries, bananas, corn, raisins, sweet
potatoes and turnips. The key is variety so that
the horse receives a wide range of nutrients
promoting health and longevity. Be sure to
remove pits and rinds.

Horses should keep away avocados, onions,
potatoes, persimmons, rhubarb, peppers,
tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower. These foods
are harmful to horses and can cause serious
physical damage if ingested.

Most horse feed is low in sodium and chloride,
which are essential to horse care. All animals
need salt in their diet and wild animals obtain
it from natural sources. Domestic horses often
require a salt supplement in the form of a salt
block or loose NTM (natural trace mineral) salt.
Linseed oil, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty
acids, can be added to a horse's daily feed to
improve equine joint flexibility. Molasses, a
crowd favourite among horses, can be added to
medications or dry food to make them more
appealing to a hesitant horse.

Products marketed as "Equine Supplements" may
contain a few or many of the essential vitamins
and minerals that are vital to a balanced diet.
These products are often less cost-effective
than buying fresh produce to achieve the same
effect. Remember that horses, like humans, can
garner optimum nutrition through food sources
alone. However, if an owner cannot regularly
feed her horse a fresh, varied diet, a
supplemental product is a viable option.

Owners can speak with their veterinarian to
discuss a particular horse's dietary needs.
Pregnant, sick, and young horses have special
dietary requirements that can be prescribed by a
professional. It is best to err on the side of
caution when deciding what to feed a domestic
animal. All food items should be fresh and
high-quality. A well-fed horse is a happy,
healthy horse.

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Horse care requires a correct nutritional diet,
this may need addittional nutritional additions
to their diet. resourced from
http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com

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