Should I feed Vit E

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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I've been going down too many rabbit holes on the internet and on this forum, reading stuff saying that horses on sparse pasture and hay are likely to be vitamin E defiicient. The grass in my horses' fields is pretty thin at the moment, and they are only turned out for about six hours a day.

They both look fine and are acting normally.

Should I supplement with Vit E?
 
yes, if they dont have access to green, growing grass then I always supplement. 2000ius a day of natural vitamin e works out about a tenner a month from memory.
 
I use a balancer anyway, but added in extra Vit E about 8 weeks ago after reading some posts on here. Mine have very, very limited grazing over winter. I've seen a real difference with my young mare in that I've been struggling to be on top of her mud fever for months and seen it almost disappear after starting the Vit E. I don't want to speak too soon but I also think she's grown a little in front, she's been resolutely bum high for ages. Had a stick on her today and she appears to have crept up half an inch or so on the wither. I've just upgraded to the Forage Plus natural Vit E which is pricey but apparently more bio-available.
 
I supplement all year round but more in winter. Whilst there is vit E in grass in spring/summer etc many horses have their grass restricted, sometimes very severely. due to EMS/cushings/lami risks.
 
I have to supplement in eyewateringly high quantities and cost due to very poor grass and even if the grass did come through, isn't very good quality. Mine is EPM so should be on high IUs for Vit E anyways. The good news is you will find out very quickly whether it is worth the cost or not - usually can see it work in about 2 weeks.

I will add that doing a blood test isn't always useful. I know of a horse that showed in normal range but was displaying some odd stuff (a bit like mine did). She started supplementing with natural vit E and had her happy horse back.
 
Mine looks like he doesn't want to live anymore 😭 he stops interacting with anything around him and he's a snuggly horse, he loses the ability to hold himself even just standing (he will 'slouch') loses what very little muscle he has and can't put any on, loses weight, and loses any sort of spark in his eye. He looks very, very, very sad and out of it.
 
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Reading with interest. Where is the best place to get it? Will human vit e supplements do the job or?
 
I started to use vit e a few months ago after I saw a decline in my old horse. I was wondering if his time had come . He was a bit down and spending more time on his own and also when laying down he was taking more time than normal to get up. I started him on 4,000 he is back to his normal self. Could be a coincidence but I’m
Sticking with it as don’t want to jinx anything.
 
Following up this thread…

My horses have been on 2000iu of vit E since I started it. Both going well. As of yesterday, they’ve changed to overnight turnout with plenty of grass. They are only in, eating hay, 6-8 hours per day. Do I need to keep feeding vit E?
 
Interesting I’m also debating whether to stop during the summer months also.
Would be good for any feedback
 
I think it depends on the grazing and your horse tbh. Some may be able to go off completely during the summer while others still may need low amounts. You don't seem to need to feed too much to get a positive result so I would be tempted to give it a go.
 
Caol Ila said:
Following up this thread…

My horses have been on 2000iu of vit E since I started it. Both going well. As of yesterday, they’ve changed to overnight turnout with plenty of grass. They are only in, eating hay, 6-8 hours per day. Do I need to keep feeding vit E?
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Not unless they have a vitamin E myopathy. There's plenty in fresh grass.
.
 
paddy555 said:
it depends on your grazing. If the horse is on a track with little grass and a lot of hay or a restricted laminitis paddock then no. Out at grass all the time then yes.
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Thankyou
out 24/7 on grass so when I have finished off this bag I will drop off until winter time.
 
I have been advised to feed extra natural vit e in deep winter for a fit conpeting horse at 2000iu when they are mostly on hay but run out of steam quickly. I have also been advised to increase upto 3x normal so 6000iu for a pony with asthma and various allergies to pick up immune system. Advised by independent nutionist.
 
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