Nutrients: Vitamins / Minerals / Protein / Supplements

When we think of a horse as a hard keeper, it typically means that the horse has a hard time gaining weight or keeping weight on. Horses can be hard keepers in other nutritional areas too.

Both Vermont Blend and Vermont Blend Pro provide the same level of minerals and amino acids. The main differences between the two is the addition or Probiotics in Vermont Blend Pro and the serving size.

How much salt does your horse need?  Will your salt block provide enough?

Protein Rich Feedstuff Options

Typically when iron is this high it is caused by surface contamination. Here are a few examples on how this may occur...

Do probiotics survive a horse's gastrointestinal tract?

A study summary: The outcomes of the present study suggested that Ashwagandha root extract has potential hemopoietic, anti-stress, antioxidant, adaptogenic, and immunostimulant properties.

Selenium is a mineral to embrace, not be scared of.  Deficiencies can cause your horse harm as well as toxicity.  Toxic range is 20mg per day.  Optimum levels for your horse can range from 3-5mg per day.  Sometimes more!

Save your money! Don't buy minerals your forage is already providing.

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that can not be synthesized by the horse, therefore must be supplemented in the diet.

To Supplement or Not?

Whether you care for a pasture pet or a performance horse, Vitamin E is an essential nutrient in your horses diet. The key word here is “essential”, meaning it is required for the body to work properly. 

Between clever marketing and promises, well intentioned horse owners spend hundreds in supplements they hope will help their horse.  Then you look at the ingredients of this miracle powder and see: Proprietary Blend, a guaranteed analysis in ppm’s and percentages you can’t decipher, or worse yet…no guaranteed analysis at all.  What’s a horse owner to do??

Seeing a jug of vegetable oil in a feed room is pretty common.  Reasons may be for a shinny coat, weight gain or extra energy.  Here are some important highlights about feeding your horse oil.

How does your horse utilize protein and does he need protein or amino acids added to his diet?

When horse owners think about joint supplements, one popular ingredient they look for is HA (Hyaluronic Acid).  Unfortunately, finding the best product for your horse is not as cut and dry as seeing Hyaluronic Acid listed in the ingredients.

 

Trace minerals; the amount a horse needs to consume is so minimal it’s hard to imagine they have any effect over such a large animal.  Yet deficiencies in two trace minerals; copper and zinc can be very noticeable.

I was recently asked about sulfates in horses diet, I thought it would be a great topic for a new blog post!

Links to sources of individual supplements: Minerals, Joint Support, & Vitamins

Winter is the most important time to ensure your horse has access to a constant supply of clean water. A horse's weight consists of 70% water. For your average 1,000lb horse, that is 700lbs of water! Horses naturally drink less water in the winter, leaving it up to us to ensure adequate intake.