Having the right amount of food and nutrients, as well as proper healthcare, keeps your horse healthy. Normally, horses spend most of their time eating so it’s important to provide them with the right diet, which includes pasture grass and tender plants, hay, grains, concentrate mixes, salts and minerals, water, and even treats.
However, when the amount of food is limited, there’s a possibility of nutrient-deficiency among horses. Specific horse activities, such as those involving sports, tend to immediately deplete a horse’s nutrient levels, causing weakness and other health conditions. As such, horse owners resort to supplements to restore and enhance their equine’s overall condition.
There are many types of supplements depending on the horse’s deficiencies and health condition. A horse experiencing osteoarthritis may require joint supplements to provide the essential nutrients for joint care. However, be careful with the type of supplements administered and make sure that you’ve consulted a vet beforehand.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the benefits of letting your horses take health supplements.
1. Improved Digestive Health
When a horse is prone to colic, which causes severe abdominal pain, then you may be interested in using a digestive support supplement. These supplements aid in ulcers and help manage changes by limiting stress and increasing the turnout and forage availability. This is the first line of defense against deteriorating health. A digestive supplement is often combined with probiotics containing live and beneficial gut bacteria, as well as yeast to encourage the development of healthy bacteria and digestive enzymes.
It’s important to provide your horses with basic ways to keep them healthy. These include a good diet, alternative treatments, proper grooming, vaccinations, proper living conditions and exercise, and socialization.
2. Better Joint Health
Joint supplements are one of the best solutions to joint pain since they’re designed to help the horse move easier and tend to reduce the impact of osteoarthritis and lameness. CBD oil is also gaining popularity in this regard.
Further, horse joint supplements provide support to maintain normal and healthy joint function. The supplements help eliminate stiffness during the cold weather and provide pain relief for horses suffering from joint pains, especially those participating in competitions or performing heavy work.
Choosing the right joint supplement will make things work better for your horse. Ingredients for horse joint supplements include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, methyl sulphonyl methane (MSM), and avocado soy unsaponifiable (ASU). It’s best to identify the ingredients and check the balance and proportion of active components. You can look for reviews on the top rated joint supplements for horses to help you spot and select the best ones.
Of course, it’s best to consult your vet prior to purchase to ensure that you’re giving your horse the right treatment, as well as to address their specific health needs.
3. Healthier Coat And Skin
A healthy coat and skin are generally good looking and a sign of a horse’s good condition. After all, the skin is the first line of defense against environmental factors like sunlight, pollution and allergens, insects, parasites, fungi, and bacteria.
When the horse is exposed to environmental challenges, they’re prone to allergies and can suffer from skin disorders, especially if they have a low immune system. During this time, a skin and coat supplement may help support their immune system and prevent skin disorders, which can help them look great and healthy. These supplements contain specific ingredients that include omega oil to alleviate skin irritation and soothes the skin, as well as antioxidants that counter oxidative stress and prevent environmental and biological stressors.
4. Supplements Have Essential Vitamins And Minerals
Sometimes, horse owners often concentrate on feeding their horse major components of the diet such as pasture, hay, or chaff, as well as protein. However, they tend to neglect the value of micronutrients that keep horses healthy. These vitamins and minerals are essential to growth, reproduction, and the immune function of all horses.
Horse owners are sometimes unaware of the mineral and vitamin content of horse feed because it’s hard to check if animals are deficient in these minerals. Some signs are more apparent, such as a lack in protein can be observed through poor growth and rough hair coat. However, other signs of deficiency are less obvious and may result in severe disorders. For instance, cracked hooves are the result of a lack of zinc minerals.
To ensure that your horse is receiving the right amounts of micronutrients and macronutrients, feed them with supplements fortified with essential vitamins and minerals that are vital for your horse’s functions. But keep in mind that overfeeding will not supplement the horse and may instead cause digestive and health problems.
5. Provides A Calming Effect
Some horses tend to get spooked by a sudden impact or loud noise, whether at home or during a competition. Also, horses can get stressed with intensive training, which may result in joint and muscle pain. As a remedy, horse owners give calming supplements that contain active ingredients targeting the nervous system. These supplements have components like vitamin B1, L-tryptophan, and magnesium. The nutrients help lower stress and increase a horse’s resistance against stressful situations or events.
Bottom Line
The benefits of horse supplements vary with each individual horse. A horse suffering from digestive disorders requires a supplement with probiotics, fiber, and yeast for a healthy gut system. Before buying these supplements, consult your vet to address your horse’s specific health concern. Be guided and conscious of choosing the right supplement available in the market to have good quality products and avoid fraud.
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