Supplement nightmare!

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Victorialouiseg

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Wondering what supplements I should/could be feeding my horse. 6 year old 16.3hh ISH - German warmblood x reg ID, good doer.
Quite laid back attitude to life, can be spooky and be a bit marish/silly when she’s coming into season. Ready to go out this summer. Thinking about preventative supplements, joints etc. There’s so much on the market it’s hard to choose nowadays and I worry I’ll waste my money buying a load of stuff that makes little difference.
Maybe something to enhance coat (palomino.)
 
You really need a better idea of what you are trying to supplement and why - otherwise as you say you'll be wasting money.

If you feed the recommended amount of a compound feed you should get all the basis vits & mins etc. If you are feeding straights you need to look at your feed analysis or use a basic broad spectrum one.

It doesn't sound like you are doing enough at a sufficient level to be worrying about a 6 year old's joints. Do you have a reason for this? Is there a conformation issue or similar? If not I actually wouldn't worry about joint supplements for a decade or so.

Linseed is great for coat condition - and very good value. The colour of coat isn't relevant.
 
It honestly sounds as if you just want to feed a supplement because you have been taken in by the marketing. Start from what your horse *needs*, which is probably very little by way of supplements. Just make sure that you are feeding a good quality fibre-based diet, as above, linseed is good for coats and general health. Horses usually like it and it is not expensive.
 
Thank you! Yes I’ve used Linseed in the past.

Been on a few Palomino forums and it’s been mentioned Tumeric for their coats? Might just be an old wives tale.

Never bothered with supplements before, so totally new for me! Thank you for your advice. Will continue what I’m do currently feeding with added Linseed :)
 
Turmeric can also be bad for their stomachs too.

I feed all my horses a joint supplement from as early as possible with the reasoning that the chance it could help prolong my horse's comfort and working life is a chance worth taking. GWF's joint aid is aimed to help prevent wear and tear and also has the active ingredient of turmeric in without the damaging parts of it so could suit you if you're interested in turmeric?

https://www.viovet.co.uk/GWF-Nutrit...no0MB-YNootRyBUSjicEY2Jad86ryR3BoCRiEQAvD_BwE

ETA: I would also advise against feeding a supplement unless you have a clear reason of why you need to feed it.
 
I had my grass tested a few years ago and now balance the minerals using this brilliant website http://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/. I've found that Progressive Earth's Pro-Mineral is a good base and I add calcium (from Equimins) and biotin. When my youngster was growing fast I also added lysine. She is nearly five now and has been on this supplement since she was six months old. She has a lovely coat and has the best feet (they look like the mustang pictures you see and they rarely need any attention) which I think is a good recommendation for this method.
 
Don't get sucked into the marketing!

A balancer is a misnomer... if you're feeding a decent compound feed (as mentioned above) adding a "balancer" will just put it out of balance. The key is to think "what am I trying to balance?"...

Best to use straights if you want to use a balancer. Best places are prog earth or forageplus, I like equimins as well.

I have never heard turmeric enhances a palomino coat :D:D if it's dull, consider a copper imbalance and perhaps too much iron...

For shine, micronised linseed or BOSS I've seen work wonders myself. However, I've also seen horses that are good doers have a shine just being on good grass and a good balance of vits n mins. I saw a pony at a show once positively blooming and I asked the owner and she just said he's on nothing but good grass and hay, all hers were. Goes to show that you don't always need to interfere with nature.
 
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