Eventers and dressage riders wanted for supplement survey
The research will aim to discover which supplements are currently used in the sports, what riders and owners would like to see available and the best ways of passing on information about them
Horse supplements
Find the latest supplement products and buying advice.
Supplements for horses, which are more correctly called complementary feeding stuffs, are added to a horse’s feed when he needs an additional source of particular nutrients to support his good health.
Horse supplements can be broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplements, which are aimed at supporting a horse’s continued general wellbeing, while others are formulated to target a specific area – for example, joint supplements, hoof supplements or calmers.
Supplements can come in a variety of forms, but the most common are powder, liquid and pellets. They should be easy to mix in with a bucket feed to ensure that the whole measure is ingested.
What do supplements do?
Broad-spectrum supplements provide vitamins and minerals that might be missing or lacking in your horse’s diet – for example, if he is on restricted grazing or doesn’t receive a balanced bucket feed. More specific supplements provide extra targeted nutrition with particular ingredients that are known to offer support in a specified area.
Supplements should not be confused with medication, but rather can be used to support a healthy horse. For example, hoof supplements can promote healthy hoof growth, while respiratory supplements can support the respiratory system to keep it operating in a healthy way.
Targeted supplements
Specific horse supplements include…
- joint supplements
- digestive supplements
- hoof supplements
- respiratory supplements
- calmers
- hormonal supplements
- performance supplements
- veteran supplements
- skin and coat supplements
- supplements for horses on restricted grazing
- electrolytes
- turmeric supplements
Supplements in sport
To protect horse welfare and ensure a level playing field, if you take part in affiliated competition, such as under the rules of British Dressage, your horse may be tested to ensure he has not ingested any controlled medications or banned substances. The use of supplements is at your own risk so extreme caution is recommended.
To help you make a safe choice and prevent accidental doping, look for companies that have UFAS (Universal Feed Assurance Scheme) accreditation and carry a BETA NOPS logo, which shows they meet the standard for the control of naturally occurring prohibited substances.
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Supplements special: will you be legal?
Calmers are a big business these days, but make sure what you are feeding is legal for use in competition
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New Electrolyte Power from Forest Farmacy
Forest Farmacy has brought out Electrolyte Power — a combination of organic ingredients to replace valuable salts and nutrients
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Herb ban should not affect equine use
New legislation designed to regulate the use of herbal medicines in humans should not impact equine use, despite the concerns of some readers who have contacted H&H
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New Per4mance Booster energy supplement from Equimins
Equimins Per4mance Booster is aimed at providing an energy boost to eventers, showjumpers, racers, hunters and any other horse that might need extra energy.
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TRM teams up with British Showjumping
Supplement manufacturer TRM is to become a business partner of British Showjumping, supporting two British young riders
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Advertising watchdog investigates Cortaflex advert
Complaints against adverts for Equine America (UK) Ltd product Cortaflex have been partially upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority
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New sweet itch supplement Think Itch launched by Brinicombe Equine
A new feed supplement to help horses with sweet itch has been launched for this spring by Brinicombe Equine.
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New ‘miracle supplement’ made from Deer Velvet
Benefits to horses include increased muscle tone, greater strength, less lactic acid build-up, and shorter recovery periods after exercise, say the makers
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New collagen product can reduce joint injury recovery times
proto-flex equine collagen is a natural supplement for horses and ponies offering nutritional support to help to maintain strong and healthy joints
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Equimins launches Inflam-E-raise for healthy joints
A new supplement designed to ease joint problems has been launched by Equimins
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Protect your horse from mud with Equimins
Two new products to help protect your horse from mud this winter have been launched by Equimins — Mud Block Supplement and Mud Slide Lotion
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New Calming Powder launched by Organic Horse
A new product to help calm your horse over the winter has been launched by Organic Horse
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Experts warn against applying human studies to horses
Vets and supplement manufacturers have said there is no evidence that two dietary supplements declared ineffective for humans last week are also ineffective for horses
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Joint Power flexes its mussels to improve movement and mobility
Joint Power — part of Forest Farmacy's range of Organic Horse Power Powders — has been reformulated with green lipped mussels, rosehips, apium seed and glucosamine
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New Magnacalm horse lick launched by Rockies
A new magnesium-based lick has been launched by mineralised salt lick company Rockies
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New organic supplements launched to keep competition horse in tip-top health
Peak Power Powders from Organic Horse is a range of three formulation to support, protect and maintain the physical balance of the competition horse
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New anti-fly feed supplement
Equine health company Feedmark has produced a new oral anti-fly supplement called Fly Formula
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New on the market — cold-pressed rapeseed oil for horses
Established equine wholesaler Battle, Hayward & Bower Ltd has joined with North Yorkshire food manufacturer Breckenholme Trading Company Ltd to launch Lincoln Omega Gold
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NAF launches three new products at Badminton Horse Trials
NAF has launched D-Itch spray to calm skin irritations, nutritional blend EnerG Shot and Ice Cool leg clay
