Suppliments

[Kelly1982]

I have a 4yo Han x TB and i dont feed her any suppliments (apart from electrolites if she sweats up) but my old horse used to get Vit E & Selenium & soya oil because he had problems with his muscles.

I was just wondering if you think that horses should be fed suppliments regardless of whether there is an actual problem or not??

I dont have no problems with my mare (touch wood) so dont see the point but was wondering if this was wrong??

 

[Stasha22]

I would only feed a supplement if my horse required it, ie my mare has poor feet so she has a hoof supplement.

I think too many people feed supplements for the sake of it and waste their money!

 

[Kelly1982]

Thats what i was thinking but then reading another post got me wondering.

 

[Stasha22]

Being nosy now... wich post?

 

[threeponies]

If people take vitamins and stuff they don't need it can do damage so I'd imagine horses are the same. Seems like a waste of money to me.

 

[Kelly1982]

It was a post in the vet i think about Cortaflex made by lzt.

She was just asking peoples opinions on whether she should fed it to her horse who is 10yo as a precautionary measure and there was quite a bit of mixed response so i wondered if people felt the same about other suppliments.

 

[Stasha22]

Ahh, joint supplements are a funny one as some people do like to feed them as a precaution. I still don't think I would though unless advised by my vet that it would be beneficial or if she had a joint problem.

But on the other hand by feeding one you could prevent a problem occuring in the future!

Tricky one!

 

[puddicat]

No you are not wrong you are talking what I imagined would be common sense to everybody!

Have a look at this recent post on supplements for some more interesting views!

 

[Tempi]

I wouldnt feed suppliments if i didnt need to, Bloss unfortunatly needs hers......

 

[Governor]

No I don't think its worth it unless there is a particular problem - appart from maybe a feed balancer or multivitamin.

I feed glucosamine and MSM to my 6 year old as a precaution - but I did notice an improvement in his general movement (he was starting to get a little clicky after a growth spurt) so I guess it is serving a purpose too.

I also give him a hormone balancer. I'll admit to being a sceptic and taking him off the supplements at various points but once i'm convinced they have a positive effect he's always gone straight back on them. Trust me I wouldn't feed him anything unless he needed it - it costs me more than my livery bill each month most probably.

 

[katiejaye]

I don't usually feed supplements if there is not a problem. Louis went for years without. He now needs breatheasy supplements for his respiratory problems and he has selenium E and soya oil as he dropped a lot of condition and weight when he was unwell. I have continued with the soya oil as his coat looks fantastic and his condition has really improved on it.

I had my last horse 5 years and he was never on supplements.

 

[Kelly1982]

I must admit when my old horse went onto soya oil for his muscle problems his coat was lovely and i got quite a few comments too.

 

[madabout2]

I'm going to feed mud gard as Tommi had mud fever last year and then when his coat changes I am going to give him oil. He is on blue chip original.
Tomis by the way is a poor doer and part arab so I am on to a loser anyway!

 

[helenandshadow]

I feed my mare farriers formula which she needs because she has very poor feet, and garlic which she doesn't really need but i find it helps with the flies.

 

[eekmon]

Yes I do feed a balancer but this has only been in the last 3 years! And I have had my horse 24 years! (hes now 29 and fighting fit!

) I know this is probably stupid thing to post, but the oldest horse in the world (Guinness book of records) was 62!

and died in 1822! He would not have had suppliments, dentists, vaccinations ect ect. It has made me wonder about all the stuff we do with our horses ( Im guilty as the next!) Are we doing more and more to cosset them and eventually make them weaker?

 

[Prudence]

IMO a horse only needs a supplement if it needs it.

My mare gets supplements, but only those that she needs. Like Selenavite E & oil (for sane weight gain), biotin (she has a coronary injury growing out and the farrier recommended helping her along), glucosamine (as recommended by her oesteopath), brewer's yeast (cheaper than Marmite) and a vit & min supplement (due to previously poor grazzing).

 

[vicijp]

Do you realise that Selenavite E contains biotin and very good levels of general vitamins and minerals?

 

[Prudence]

Yep - you should see the whole in her foot! Plus she's nursing! Thanks though.

 

[Frazer]

I only feed supplments if i have too, my tb mare needs loads of them soo she has a lot. I only feed a little bit of garlic and oil in the winter to keep them in condition.

 

[so03]

I have to feed a specific breathing supplement to my boy.

My view is:

You don't need a general supplement
If you are feeding hard feed to the recommended amounts as per bag then your horse will be getting the correct level of vit/min.

You do need to need a general supplement:
If you are not feeding the recommended amounts of hard feed.

If your horse is on good grazing they may not be getting the correct level of vit/min as grazing now doesn't have everything the horse needs naturally.

I suppose horse are like humans in that some can live quite happily with very few vits/mins and some need a full dose.