Due to multiple stressors that might pose serious concerns, including colic, stomach ulcers, and arthritis, a horse’s daily life has altered drastically over time. In addition to how horses’ lifestyles have changed, our understanding of our four-legged friends’ dietary requirements has improved. Preventative care is one of the finest strategies for keeping a horse in good condition. Giving equine health supplements to athletic and older horses can improve their well-being, performance, and general health.
Senior horses are an excellent example of how vitamins can help with antioxidants and immune support as well as joint, weight, and digestive support. Horse immune systems weaken with age, and may experience weight loss difficulties and joint problems like arthritis. A comprehensive senior supplement might help by giving them the extra nutrients needed to satisfy the needs of an elderly horse. Athletic or performance horses are frequently under more stress and may benefit from joint care as well as digestive treatment to help avoid colic and gastric ulcers.
Here are some types of horse supplements:
Joint supplements
Mobility at the joint level is important for a horse to be able to move freely and comfortably. Due to the chronic and gradual nature of arthritis, joint support is introduced to a horse’s diet after they have started to get stiffened joints or experience joint problems. However, you may proactively maintain healthy joints and assist in preventing joint abnormalities by giving an active horse a joint supplement early in its life before joint difficulties occur.
An ordinary inflammatory reaction will occur in a horse’s joint with ageing. This inflammatory reaction can result in increased joint inflammation over time, which can harm joint tissues over the long run.
The nutrients the body needs to rebuild the damage caused by the inflammatory process from regular use can be given to horses through joint supplements.
Hoof Supplement
Lameness and discomfort can result from an unhealthy horse’s hooves. It might take a while for a horse’s hooves to heal and grow back when they have problems like cracks, chipping, or even disintegrating. From the hairline at the coronet band down, the average horse’s hooves only expand by around 1/4 inch per month. The greatest way to maintain healthy hooves as a result is through preventative care using a hoof supplement.
Genes, environment, and even workload can have an impact on a horse’s hoof condition. However, nutritional needs must be satisfied for every horse in order to be able to maintain a healthy, robust hoof.
Digestive supplement
Digestive horse supplements support the overall health of the horse’s hindgut. The principal function of the horse’s hindgut, which is where the complex carbs are broken down, is fermentation. Good bacteria convert fibre into volatile fatty acids during fermentation, which can later be used as energy sources. Additionally, these bacteria are in charge of creating B vitamins and other essential elements.
A horse’s digestive system is designed to be constantly digesting when it is grazing. Modern horses are unable to graze continuously and regularly receive large grain meals. This can disrupt digestion and affect the bacteria that live in the hindgut by disrupting the pH equilibrium.
Calming supplement
Your veterinarian may help you rule out any medical causes for your horse’s behaviour. This may include lameness, stomach ulcers, dental problems, and improperly fitting gear. Calming supplements may be helpful for situations like these. These supplements can be divided into two groups:
Nutrient-based: These soothing supplements are nutrient-based and supply nutrients that are already present in your horse’s diet. A stressed horse may not be receiving enough of these essential nutrients for their neurological system to function correctly. Nutrient-based supplements for your horse’s nervous system work by bringing their levels into the optimal range.
Herbal-based: Herbal elements are used in this type of soothing supplement because of how they affect the neurological system of horses. The benefits of calming supplements based on herbs may be more potent than those based on nutrients.
Final thoughts
Not only the horse health supplements can be very helpful for wellness and preventative care, but they can also be helpful for your horse’s specific difficulties. Ensure that a supplement is the best choice, and never use it as a quick-fix solution. Always discuss all your doubts and problems about supplementing your horse with your veterinarian.
