Do Supplements Really Need to be Added for Horses?
One of the most important aspects to be aware about when dealing with horses’ food habits is the diet they consume. I have observed that many horse owners aren’t aware that they feed animals rather than an instrument!
Horses require minerals and vitamins like humans do. In fact certain horses might require them more than others, based on their level of activity and genetics.
One of the things that you could do is give your horse regular feed of grass or hay throughout the day. Because different horses aren’t alike it is necessary to make sure that we are filling nutritional gaps by giving supplements.
However, not all horses require supplements. There are reports that horse-owners inject mineral supplementation into their animals. This can cause severe harm and possibly fatally ill-health. Furthermore certain horse owners injecting the horses of their pets with Ace they obtain from friends.
It is not recommended to use injectable supplements without speaking with your doctor first. Your veterinarian is the best person to advise you in this area. To find out if your horse is in need of supplements, think about the feed it is fed and your individual horse’s nutritional needs.
Generally speaking, a horse’s supplements and feed requirements will depend on the horse’s age and level of activities. Horses with a longer lifespan may require extra supplements to maintain their health as their digestive system may not be as efficient as it used to be. Broodmares might require supplements to cope with the additional stress of having a baby and lactation.
Remember that there are no two horses that are alike. The amount of feed additives or supplements which keep one horse healthy and fit might not be enough for a different horse.
Each horse has its own nutrition requirements even if it is doing the same amount of work like other horses. In fact, there’s an estimated difference of between 20 and 30 percent in the amount of energy required by horses.
Consider an example from endurance horse. They are fit and healthy by grazing on grass and pasture Others may require 6-12% of their grain and supplements in their hay and grass in order to keep their level of fitness.
What are the most important nutrients for horses?
All horses require a healthy daily diet that includes six components that include water, carbohydrates oils, proteins as well as vitamins and minerals. It is crucial for horses to receive enough nutrients.
If they’re not eating enough nutrients, it could cause serious health issues.
Proteins and carbohydrates
Horses are able to convert hay and grass into protein in order to build massive muscles. To do this, they need to consume a large amount of food. Even at a moderate intensity of work horses need to consume about 1.5 to 2 percent in their total bodyweight forage.
Therefore, a 1,000 pounds. horse would require 20 pounds. of forage daily. This 20 pounds. could come from a variety of sources such as hay, grass or legumes, as well as fodder. In the event that your horse happens to be the process of training, it is likely to eat more calories as well as increase the amount of protein it consumes; one method to achieve this is by using an supplement.
Fats
Horses are not getting much calories from their food sources. Consult your veterinarian about supplementing your diet with flaxseed oil, vegetable oils as well as other options for omega-essential fat acids. Older horses are likely to require fat supplements more frequently than younger horses.
You should generally eat half one cup of flaxseed to 400 pounds. of body weight daily. If you opt for a commercial supplement, choose one that contains calcium to correct the inverted calcium-to-phosphorus ratio found in flaxseeds.
About horse multivitamin
Horses also require minerals and vitamins as well, and deficiency in these can cause various health issues, ranging from lameness to colic. A dose of a horse’s multivitamin every day can prevent these problems. Your veterinarian can inform you about your horse’s specific vitamin requirements.
You could also supply your animal with a vitamin supplement or offer the mineral supplement that is according to its diet. For instance, if your horse follows grass-hay-only diet, then its vitamin and mineral requirements are different from those who eat both grass and legumes.
Here are some essential vitamins your horse may need in the case of grass-hay-only diet.
Vitamin E Horses require one IU or Vitamin E per pound body weight. If you weigh 1100 pounds. horse, this is equivalent to 1,100IU vitamin E.
Beta carotene: Add to your daily diet a dosage of 72 mg of beta carotene for each kg of body weight, or 30 mg of Vitamin A. Avoid feeding this supplement to horses who are on alfalfa diets.
Biotin helps to keep the tail and hooves, as well as the hair sturdy. It also encourages shiny coats.
Vitamins B and Vitamin C Horses typically do not require them separately unless sick or are anemic.
Vitamin D When it is in excess, it may cause calcification of bruises. Consult your veterinarian prior to taking supplements.
Psyllium supplement
If your horse has a habit of grazing in a field you can find it eating sand and dirt along with grass. This isn’t a problem since it may help the teeth and supply them with iron. However, the sand could accumulate in the animal’s intestines as time passes, which can cause colic.
To lessen the amount of sand that builds up in the hindgut of your horse, feed the supplement with psyllium once each week or every day for a few consecutive days, at minimum, once per month. This may aid in digestion and improve intestinal motility.
Probiotic and Prebiotic supplements
Supplements for horses help maintain digestive health, and improve the horse’s immunity. They also aid in healing the horse’s gut, increase the micro-flora to assist the horse to get the most benefit from the food it eats.
The types of supplements available for horses.
The most popular kinds of supplements for horses include:
Supplements for horses: These dietary products offer nutrients and minerals that your horse needs to keep their well-being.
Digestive supplements: These may contain probiotics, yeast and prebiotics. These can help the bacteria that live in the horses’ hindgut to function better and aid digestion.
Supplements for calm horses Supplements for calm can be useful in relieving tension and anxiety. This is particularly beneficial for horses who are anxious when they travel.
Supplements for joints: These products can provide relief by reducing inflammation that is associated with degenerative joint disorders such as arthritis. This allows you to lead an active life without suffering.
Supplements for Coat and Hoof Supplements with vitamins and minerals to maintain hoof health and promotes shiny and healthy skin as well as shiny coats.
Supplements for weight gain Certain horses are having difficulties maintaining muscle mass and weight and may require a weight gain supplement. There are numerous types available to assist, and most of them have high levels of amino acids, fats as well as vitamins, minerals as well as other nutrients.
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