Should I give my horse supplements?

AmieeT

AmieeT

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I have had my 19yo 14.2 Welshie on full loan for 18months. He's my first horse and my introduction to everything horsey (riding and caring)

He's been on Healthy Hooves since I got him, and has conditioning cubes through the winter. He's a very good doer, and was very overweight when I first had him, the vet told me that he's now in great condition. I don't plan to feed him through the summer unlesshis workload is increased, as he's in a rather large field with very rich grass.

I went to my local mill today to get more food and a Mollichaff rep was there- after talking to her for a while she was very taken aback that I don't give him any supplements. (She mentioned a free but the names escaped me in the moment of blind 'I'm a terrible horsey mum' panic).

It didn't occur to me that he might need anything... He's only ever had the vet out for vaccinations (in the 15 yrs the owners have owned him!) spare one incident where he caught his leg in a fence and cut it (about 12yrs ago). He shows no signs of stiffness- quite the opposite in fact and his poo isn't ever loose etc.

Would the vet have mentioned him needing anything when she came to vaccinate- or would she literally just vaccinate and go?

Part of me thinks the rep was trying to get me to buy into her products (but then she did mention other brands) and the other part of me is worrying that I'm failing my horse.

Ax
 
What supplements was she on about? Tbh I would of thought she wouldn't try to push supplements but her feed if anything. Mollichaff is awful stuff anyway.
I would carry on with a handful of healthy hooves over summer with a balancer or vit/min supplement, grass can lack terrible but supple plenty of calaries if its anything like mine
 
Even at his age I wouldn't bother feeding anything apart from Low Cal Balancer ( Bailey's) If you find he's getting stiff, try some micronized linseed.

My 23 year old just gets a bit of unmolassed beet and linseed.

Don't worry, the main thing is not to let him have too much spring/summer grass so he gets fat again, you don't want him coming down with laminitis; Section off some of the field before the grass really gets growing.
 
She was mentioning the different Mollichaff products and on to mention a few others (Pink powder was one- one that helped his gut, one for his immune system?!?), just seeing if I'd fed/heard of them I guess. I think she was trying to be helpful (she seemed nice enough) but she only sent me into panic mode.

He's being ridden a lot more now, so the weight has come off really well (he was practically a field ornament when the previous loaner had him) but I'm unable to section off the field as it's one big field for 7 horses (field is probably 8/9 acres- but I have been leaving him in when the grass is frosty and the YO has out him out a bit later for me (I can't because of work). He's never been seperate to the others, I'm not sure he'd stay the other side of the paddock!

I've also cut out conditioning cubes now (ran out 2 weeks ago and haven't bothered to get any more) and cut his feed down by half and will be putting it down to a handful in a couple of weeks.

Have spoke to his owner since my post, he said if they felt he needed anything they'd let me know (they've been excellent- keeping out unless I'm clearly struggling or ask for help- they live at the yard so are always about).

Thank you both :)
Ax
 
You are not a terrible mum. Only 15 or so years ago the majority of horses and ponies didn't get any supplements.

If they were lucky some got a mineral salt block. This is all mine get now as I don't believe in hard feeding when there is grass around unless the horse or pony truly needs it. Eg is in hard work or is underweight.
 
If he's not having digestive problems and hasn't been ill in 15 years, I doubt he needs anything to help his gut or immune system! A lot of people feed a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement these days, myself included, and it may be a good idea for yours to get some of the nutrients that may be missing from the grass he's eating. If he's well, I wouldn't bother with anything else! Spend your money on something more worthwhile!
 
Silmarillion said:
If he's not having digestive problems and hasn't been ill in 15 years, I doubt he needs anything to help his gut or immune system! A lot of people feed a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement these days, myself included, and it may be a good idea for yours to get some of the nutrients that may be missing from the grass he's eating. If he's well, I wouldn't bother with anything else! Spend your money on something more worthwhile!
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Agree with this. If he's on good quality hay/grass which is fairly well balanced for vits and mins all he should need is a plain salt lick.
 
Thanks everyone.

I may sound even more or a twit now- but what is it about salt licks that are good for them? He does have a Himilayan one hanging in the stable, bu lt it's the same size now as it was 6 months ago.

He only touches it when he gets impatient and wants to make lots of noise... lol!

Ax
 
Mine only gets two scoops of garlic per feed for immune system, a glug of veg oil for coat, teaspoon of marmite for sweet itch and tomorrow will have 25ml of km ultimate oil for sweet itch as well (fingers crossed). This combo seems to be very effective so far for her itching (woohoo compared to last year!!!) but unless you have something to target with help of a supplement, I would leave them out. I ran out of garlic once and the next day she had a very bad cold. Just shows how reliant their bodies become on supplements. I only choose ones that can be safely given for a prolonged amount of time.
 
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