Vitamin & mineral supplements - which is best?

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Sandylou

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I'm looking to get a broad spectrum vitamin & mineral supplement for my 7yo, 15hh cob x appy gelding who is currently resting.

He is looking great on a forage only diet but has recently been seen chewing wood and concrete and also itching quite a bit. I have treated him with Coopers fly repellent as advised by my vet and it stopped the itching for a while but he's started to itch again over the past week or so.

Someone has suggested that he may be lacking in nutrients so I would like to try him on a supplement. Should I try a balancer, a powder supplement or a lick? And what composition should I look for?

Here's an example of an analysis I found:-
Protein 10.1%
Fat 4.0%
Ash 28.6%
Crude Fibre 14.0%
Sodium 7870 mg/kg
Calcium 61600 mg/kg
Phosphorous 48200 mg/kg

Vitamins:
Biotin 30 mg
Calcium-D-pantothenate 500 mg
Choline chloride 6000 mg
Folic acid 150 mg
Nicotinic acid 440 mg
Vitamin A 300000 I.U.
Vitamin B1 250 mg
Vitamin B12 5 mg
Vitamin B2 250 mg
Vitamin B6 200 mg
Vitamin D3 10000 I.U.
Vitamin E 1200 mg

Additives (per kg) : Trace Elements
Basic cobaltous carbonate,
monohydrate 50 mg Cobalt
Calcium iodate, anhydrous 30 mg Iodine
Cupric sulphate, pentahydrate 150 mg Copper
Ferrous sulphate,
monohydrate 6000 mg Iron
Manganous oxide 2000 mg Manganese
Sodium selenite 4 mg Selenium
Zinc oxide 6000 mg Zinc
Vitamin K 400mg

I've also posted a similar thread in the Tack Room so apologies if you've read that one too.

Any advice/suggestions are much appreciated :)
 
First of all don't forget they are in the process of changing coats which is a very itchy process, it doesn't actually mean they have 'visitors' every time.
Is his worming up to date too as that can have an effect?

Personally I would be thinking about brewers yeast alongside micronised linseed. Both of these are great digestion aids (BY is the backbone of Pink Powder without the equine price tag!) which also have the benefits of improving coat and hoof condition. You can get both from Charnwood in bulk and it does all keep well providing you wrap it up securely so the air can't get at it; I still have some BY left from two years ago which is as good as ever. I scoop some out into a small plastic tub for daily use then roll up the big bag well and keep it in a dustbin out of light and damp. You can get some in smaller tubs from your feed merchant but it's very expensive by comparison although worth trying first so that you can tell he'll eat it (just use a pinch of BY first for him to get used to the taste and take it slowly getting to the full dose.
http://www.charnwoodmilling.co.uk/mail-order/Horse_Food.html
 
I am told that chewing wood is a sign of selenium deficiency. I have already posted for 'best prices' on this forum.

I am interested because my CB stallion 'camps' when ridden. I found a thread on a US forum which described the same behaviour - apparently the horse had selenium deficiency.

My stallion eats wood bark and apparently we do have low levels in this region of France.
 
i posted about my little sec A a couple of weeks ago -he was eating poo -well he also chewed any wood he could find . i put him on brewers yeast and yea sac and for the last week hes looked and sniffed at the poo but not eaten it!! and hasnt chewed any wood at all. :D
also hes got a mineral and salt lick in the stable now(2.99 in tack shop)
 
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