What supplements do you give your horses?

[manyspots]

Just a poll to see what others are feeding!!!
My Appy is on:
Smartpaks Smartvite Performance Grass multi-vite (AM Feed)
Smartpaks SmartFlex I (AM)
10 Tums (2x day)
Canola Oil (2x day)

My TWH Boarder is on:
Smartpaks Smartvite Senior multi-vite (AM Feed)
Smartpaks SmartFlex Senior (AM Feed)

[tpup]

Platinum Performance CJ
1/2 scoop Nutra Flax

Appy here too :)

[Sakura]

Arabian stallion... Paprika (to keep his coat black), Omega Horseshine (coat/hoof health)

The two mares (Arabians) and gelding (Paso Fino) get Omega Horseshine for coat and feet as well.

[Guilherme]

None, as none are needed.

If a suppliment is needed then use it. If not, don't. Using un-needed suppliments has some negative effects. The first is that a dollar spent on an un-needed suppliment means that dollar is not available for needed items, like lessons for the human to improve their skills. Second, un-needed items may constitute a safety hazard. Dietary suppliments (human or horse) are unregulated. This means that they have no independant verification of efficacy or safety. So every user is a "researcher" and their horse is a "guinea pig." Personally, I'm uncomfortable with that. Third, there is the risk of negative reaction with other suppliments. As they are not tested for safety or efficacy neither are they tested for reactivity with other substances. The "guinea pig" problem repeats itself.

If you conclude from the above that I'm not a fan of the "suppliment" or "alternative" or "complimentary" approach to equine care you'd be right! :lol:

If there is a known deficiency in forrage then a supplimental item might be appropriate to fix it. Or maybe buy better quality forage. Whatever works. Ditto for any other demonstrable deficiency.

G.

P.S. The one item we do use regularly are trace mineral blocks. :cool:

[sublimequine]

Not all of us are throwing supps at our horses just for fun, Gui. I'm gettin kinda tired of that lecture over and over again, when some folks actually do make a concerted effort to give only what's demonstratably(sp?) needed.

That said, my mare gets:

- A multivit/min supplement that is given by the barn, to fill out any deficiencies in her hay or grain (she only gets 1c grain per feeding, 2x a day, so not really getting much from that).

- Probiotics as prescribed by the vet after a colic. I either use Fastrack or the Probios cookies. Both do a good job.

- MSM for hoof and coat. I took her off of it for about 4 or 5 months in the summer because I wasn't sure it was doing anything, and sure enough, the mane stopped growing so well, didn't develop as nice of a winter coat as usual, and the feet are crumblier than they used to be. So we went right back on it. Oh well. :lol:

[&WithStyle]

Smart Flex Maintenance
G.U.T.
2 cups of rice bran
1/5 to 2 cups of corn oil

[manyspots]

I agree... I wouldn't be giving my gelding anything I didn't think he needed. Afterall, I don't have tons of money to throw at extras especially in this economy!!!

The Tums have made a significant difference in my gelding's attitude towards food... I suspected an unsettled stomach and looks like I was right. Not only does he love them, but he gobbles up his meals now rather than finishing VERY SLOWLY!

Multivite... enough said, especially since we live in an area with low selenium and Vit E.

SmartFlex... after a fews years of chiropractic, I see a noticeable difference in strdiing and comfort when he is on, and I have experimented.

Canola... we need the extra calories to keep his wieght on. Come spring, this gets taken out of his feed.

Do I wish I could do no supps... yes, but he is better for this diet. And that comes from a few years of SAFE experimentation.

[jaimebaker]

Since I recently switched to BP I have had to up the supplements since I pulled them off of a ration balancer.

All arabs, none are ridden, out on pasture 24/7, all barefoot

High maintenance mare - multi vit, probiotics, Grand Hoof Pellets, little bit of extra MSM

Horse #2 - multi vit, Grand Hoof Pellets
Horse #3 - multi vit, MSM on occasion
Horse #4 - Multi vit
Horse #5 - multi-vit
Horse #6 - multi-vit, Ugard (though I'll be pulling him off once I run out), occasional MSM

And everyone gets a dash of cinnamon on their soup for flavor:) I also do a bit of probiotics but not full amounts on everyone as well. I do full amounts at worming time.


I've got an order of Omega Horseshine coming in and I hope to be able to see good hoof results from that and stop feeding the Grand Hoof. I don't mind continuing it, but it's getting costly.


In the Spring I plan on putting a couple back on Quiessence if I can afford it. One did REALLY well on it last year and I'd like to get some fat pads off of the high maintenance mare.

I also have an order of Lysine coming in as well that I'd like to add through the winter. There's just not enough in the multi-vits to make me happy.

I also would like to think I don't over supplement but maybe I do. The one mare has always been high maintenance. She's colicked in the past as well as foundered in the past. So, she gets more stuff than the others as preventative care. She's really the only one that NEEDS a hoof supplement. The other horse on it went through a period where his feet were crappy a couple of years ago. They look great now but I have gotten in the 'habit' of continuing the hoof supplement. I honestly don't think he 'needs' it though. He's got good healthy growth and fast growing feet.

[paintedtrails]

Smartpaks: Accel; MSM; B1
Temporary 80days: DAC Digestive aid...once that runs out, going to switch to Cocosoya Oil (hardkeeper and can use any extra fat we can get on him)

[idtogo]

our horses are on a primarily grass hay, minimal grain diet in a very e and sel deficient area so get : Accel multivit
Vita flex e and selenium

the irish draught is also on Corn oil and elevate WS vit e since even with above supplements maintains a much lower than avg e and selenium blood levels ( he is tested quarterly)

one thbd with particularly bad feet is on farriers formula as well.

[PinkPonies]

My guy is on TractGard and UGard for his ulcers and Farrier's Formula. When I start riding him again in spring I will probably put him on some kind of joint supplement as he's getting older and has a lot of jumps in him.

[appychik]

Gus:

AM (in Smartpaks)
Smartflex Senior - 1/2 dose
SmartMSM - 1/2 dose
Smartvite Senior (probably going to change to Mega-Cell) - 1/2 dose

PM (in tubs)
Ulc-R-Aid
Tums
Silica Mixture (homemade)
Previcox -Rx
SmartCalm Ultra - 1/2 dose Just started Gus on this to see if it'll help curb his cribbing. Not sure if it'll work or not, but he wasn't cribbing over the summer when he was on a magnesium supplement.

Gringo:

PM (in tubs)
Smartflex Senior - 1/2 dose
SmartMSM - 1/2 dose
SmartCalm Ultra - 1/2 dose
Silica Mixture
Previcox - Rx (every other two weeks)

[dalpal]

Omega Horseshine Flax
Quessience
LinPro
Tractguard
Lubrisyn (for older horse)

They also get Beet Pulp as their lunch


I feed Progressive Sr Pellets and alot of grass hay....since they were put on Linpro, they get very little grain and look GREAT. Linpro isn't super cheap, but it pays for itself.

[Buffyblue]

Farrier's Formula
Strongid C2X
Ration Plus
Missing Link
Hilton's Herbs (respiratory for allergies)

[ThoroughbredFancy]

For my OTTB

Corta-Flx.
Pro-choice. (Probiotic digestive supplement)
Omegatin.
And BOSS if that counts.

[turningpointequine]

Horse #1 Hunter/Jumper 10yrs (supposedly had a suspensory injury prior to me owning him but has never been lame with me)
Cosequin
MSM
SmartTendon

Horse #2 Hunter 10 yrs
Flex-Force liquid Glucosamine
Flex-Force liquid Chondroitin
MSM
(heard liquid supplements are easier to digest so trying it out, it's an experiment) :)

Horse #3 Retired broodmare 15 yrs
MSM

Everyone gets Triple Crown feed (actual product depends on their needs) and free choice Timothy/grass hay so I don't feel a need to use a vit/min supp.

I will put Horse #1 on Legend next year as I plan on him going to an inspection and want him to have every edge I can give him.

[Rebelpaintrider]

Nothing much, one scoop Equi-Min PM with Oil or Applesauce.

[LOVE*MY*NAGS]

Horse #1: Corn Oil, BP
Horse #2: Corn Oil, BP
Horse #3: Cosequin Optimized with MSM, Corn Oil, Farriers Formula, BP
Horse #4: Corn Oil, BP

[LuvMyTB]

Mystic Mare (raspberry leaves)
Cetyl-D-Glucosamine injections, if that counts

[horseandridertackshop]

Where do you get the Omega horse shine from?

I've heard from a number of people that they like the results.

[dalpal]

I bought my Omega HS through Smart Pak.

[Fharoah]

My gelding gets three tiny meals a day containning:
tiny handful of soaked beet pulp
basic powder mineral supplement
heaping scoop recovery EQ HA
1.5 scoops ace granules (trying to keep calm heal injury)
1/2 cup of ground flax

I am considering switching the recovery to conquer & cosequin ASU as I read some good studies supporting there effectiveness.
This is an article on ASU http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10105
This is a small study done on oral HA http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=7677

He aslo gets monthly legend and adequan every two weeks

[SBClancy]

My 7 year old RISH gets daily MSM, Vitamin E/Selenium and electrolytes year round. The vet recommended the E/Selenium and electrolytes year round. I put him on the MSM, not sure though if it really works or is needed.

[texang73]

Very little actually...

8 y.o. 16.1 hh OTTB working, competing
Source
B-1 (new this last week... seeing if it takes the "edge" off... if the "edge" is not diminished, then after this is finished, no more)
Cool Calories (winter only since he's a smidge of a hard keeper and the BO is stingy with hay:no:)

25 y.o. 15.2 OTTB retired
Source
Not really a supp, but I give him soaked Beet pulp in the winter to help with weight

I should add that my guys have amazing coats, hooves and attitude. I think the Source just helps balance out what is missing in their feed.

Neither have shown need for anything else, except electrolytes in the summer and/or when needed...

[draftgirl01]

I keep my mare in 100mg of liquid HA, 10,000 Mg of liquid MSM, and VitE/Selenium.

[murphyluv]

I agree- there are lot of people that look at the smartpack catalogue and get suckered in... I also have to laugh when I see a horse on a complete feed or a RB with an additional vit/min supplement (unless the horse is only getting a tiny amount of one) BUT there are tons of good reasons for different supplements. THere's a lot of crap out there, but some actually works. Some are suggested by vets for different issues- e-lytes, probiotics, e/selenium, etc. Some horses are magnesium deficient- and it miraculously calms them down. Some need supplements for metabolic issues.

My horse is currently getting:
soaked alfalfa cubes (I would like to do 1/2 alf 1/2 beet pulp- the alf cubes were to entice him to eat his supps)
small handful oats/barley
handful of soaked flax

Theracell EQ's Tum-ease and whole horse winter.
He LOVES this stuff. Practically runs me over now to eat it- comes when I call, and the only thing different is the Theracell EQ stuff.
I figured out I was dealing with ulcers, thus the Tum-Ease. Also seemed very stiff, winter grumpies, Both have made a HUGE difference. The Tum-Ease I think will also finally solve his hindgut issues as well.
He also gets a tbs of Brewer's Yeast 2x/day, again for the hindgut issues. The Brewer's yeast I will keep him on for a month, see what I've got.

In the summer he was on Platinum Performance chromium yeast and magnesium. The fat deposits went away. I'm not sure if he'll need it while on Theracell's products.

I put him on Theracell's products since he always got diarrea or skin issues on any complete feed. Triple Crown, Nutrena, etc. I think he just can't handle the synthetic vits and whatever else is in complete feeds. Probably soy as well.

[lolalola]

My horses are on MSM, Source, daily dewormer, probiotics and flax seed. Yes, I am the supplement queen - also take MSM, flax, and acidophilus myself. My dogs get brewers yeast, and I've been taking it for years. Read years ago that Ronald Reagan attributed the fact that he didn't go grey to brewers yeast, and I'm in my early 50s and no grey yet.

[2Horse]

All of mine get GroStrong Vit/Min.
I have one that gets Max-E-Glo and ulcer meds. Trying Pro CMC on her right now.

[pattnic]

Star: BioFlax 20
Paprika
Remission - this is on-trial, to see if it does anything for her fat pads and crest

Sparky: Currently nothing

[yellowbritches]

All three of mine get TractGuard (I obsesss a little about ulcers after my old guy getting a horrible case and almost losing him. The young guys get it since they are both in hard work and competing a good deal). Paco and Vernon (the young ones) get a little garlic (no "garlic is bad" lectures, please. I've read all the "studies" and have come to my own conclusions on this subject), and Vernon gets Farrier's Formula. I'm considering Cosequin for Paco, but I'm not sure I want to spend the $$ right now.

[Appsolute]

19 month old Appy :)

Opti-Zyme (yeast/probiotics)
Omega Horse Shine (ground flax)
LMF Super Supplement (Ration balancer, vit/min/protein)

[Appsolute]

Where do you get the Omega horse shine from?

I've heard from a number of people that they like the results.

I get mine from Tractor Supply, but you can get it online here as well:
http://www.omegafields.com/ (my local tractor supply is cheaper, even before shipping).

[joiedevie99]

25 yo TB - Strongid C and Smartflex Senior

6 yo Dutch - nothing

15 yo Hanoverian - Strongid C, Equinyl and electrolytes (in summer only)

[Little Valkyrie]

Kyrie:
MSM, B-1, Cosequin, Flex-HA, and a vitamin supplement.
Waldo:
MSM, B-1, Expectorant/Cough meds, and vitamin supps.
Little Dude:
MSM, B-1
Nothing too complicated, plus about a handful of hay pellets each :lol:

[denovo]

Most of them get nothing...a couple of the harder working old schoolies get some glucosamine/msm/some variation of...
My show horse, coming 16yr old tB mare, to do the 3'6/3'9 gets a liquid glucosamine, biotin, and just last month started on her first dose of Legend.

[Tiffani B]

My Saddlebred is on SmartGut and SmartFlex Senior. I treated him for ulcers, so the SmartGut is a maintenance supplement, and he is 11 and was getting a little stiff, so I added the SmartFlex. He was just on MSM but I felt the additional benefits of the other ingredients would help him more.

[Simbalism]

My mare gets 1x per day: A moody mare herbal, a joint supplement, a mineral/salt supplement, and BOSS (winter) in the summer added is B1, garlic, and when really hot electrolytes.

[Simkie]

My mare has me so well trained that I am honestly surprised your horses eat all this stuff.

I used to feed supplements. Now I use Adequan and Legend, and Succeed paste for her stomach. Blush picks the pellets out of her TC Senior...there's no way in hell she'll actually eat anything IN her grain.

Sigh.

[ljc]

My retired (but still being ridden daily) TB hunter (age 21) gets lubrisyn, platinum performance and BL solution.

Fully retired TB hunter (age 25) gets Vitamin E w/selenium; Thyro-L, SmartPak senior and Omega Horseshine.

My eight year-old TB/percheron gelding (in rehab for major soft tissue injuries) gets SmartPak repair & Omega Horseshine. Have just ordered Fastrack because he's been having some runny manure for awhile.

My two minis get Platinum Performance just because!

[Bank of Dad]

Grow N Win hay ration balancer
Salt
Ground Flax
Farrier's Formula for the one with bad feet
2 1000 Vit E capsules

Senior horse gets senior feed, salt, flax, and Vet-Flex, vit E

[diva4ever]

My 9 year old OTTB gets
1/2 scoop Smartflex 2 (ends up being the same as smartflex 1, but a little cheaper)
1/2 scoop apple a day that I'll up to full scoop in summer
3/4 scoop Cocosoya supp found in Smart paks. Haven't decided if I'll keep him on this or not or down it to 1/2 scoop. He started about 1 week ago and his coat looks great but he's a little jumpier. Then again, it's also been 0 and -25 wind chill and he hasn't gotten out in like 3 or 4 days and we have some "scary" dark corners in our indoor. Plus he only seems to be doing it with me (as he is also a lesson horse) so I think this is his "game".

[Ohioarab]

I don't remember the name rihgt now unfortunately as we just switched yesterday. The adaquan is to treat ringbone and bone spur in right fore. It was serious enough that he could not canter comfortably.

Immediately after putting him on adaquan IM, I saw instant results that are just amazing.

[MunchkinsMom]

25 year old pasture-pet QH mare:
Fluid Action HA
B-L Solution

She has arthritic hocks, mild navicular syndrome and sidebone.

21 year old semi-retired QH gelding
Fluid Action HA
Thia-Cal

He also has arthritic hocks, mild navicular syndrome, and can be a little on the nervous side. Still not 100% sold that the Thia-cal is helping with the nervous issue, might be discontinuing it.

I was feeding Omega Horseshine, but lately the horses are not wild about eating it, thinking of switching to the cookie style instead of the powder.

[Char]

Mine gets ShowBloom. The difference in his feet and coat/mane/tail are amazing. It's also helped him keep weight on. I had him on corn oil for a while, but it made him so hot that he would run it off and it was doing no good towards getting the weight to stay ON him. :lol:

I saw that someone mentioned that they gave Paprika to keep thier horses coat black. Does anyone else have "something special" like that that they give horses of other coat colors?

Mine is brown/chestnut, but if I could find something that would bring out the red in his coat that would be awesome!

[jetandmegs4]

My horses get:
Farrier's Formula
Smartpak Maintenance
MSM
U-Guard

[camohn]

Garlic in summer (bugs) and rice bran in winter for all (13 of em). That's all "in general". One with arthritis (ringbone) gets glucosamine/MSM and one with a bad case of Moody Mare in heat gets Moody Mare herbs spring/summer when she is cycling.

[camohn]

I don't remember the name rihgt now unfortunately as we just switched yesterday. The adaquan is to treat ringbone and bone spur in right fore. It was serious enough that he could not canter comfortably.

Immediately after putting him on adaquan IM, I saw instant results that are just amazing.
Hmm.....we have a polo mare (hubbys best one) with the same thing....was considering retiring this year to breed (she is 14). Maybe should try this first.......

[lotc2005]

Luvvy (3 year old thoroughbred filly):
-selenium
-MSM
-beet pulp, steamed oats, rice bran (soaked)
-garlic in summer only

Thelma (3 year old appendix AQHA filly):
-selenium
-MSM
-beet pulp, steamed oats, rice bran (soaked)
-garlic in summer only

[FillyMe]

10 yr old horse working 5-6 days dressage (2nd/3rd level)
Flex-N-motion
MSM
Pure Lysine
SmartCalm (for the mag)
I just took him off of the Buckeye Ration Balancer so I added VitaFlex's Accel Lifetime (vitamins and amino acids w/antioxidents)
This all goes into his BP with added ACV (with the mother) so it gets sticky and he gets it all in him. Licks the bowl clean.
Also, a Himalayan salt thingy hangs by his water bowl which he looooves to lick.

[wishnwell]

Where do you get the Omega horse shine from?

I've heard from a number of people that they like the results.

Tractor Supply has had it, at least out here.

[2DogsFarm]

Both get Red Cell, Biotin, MSM & BOSS
Since I feed plain rolled & crimped oats along with grass hay I know exactly what supplelemnts I am adding to their feed.

FYI Guilherme - all are vet-approved additions

-Red Cell suggested by vet when Vern's bloodwork showed he was iron-poor about 15 years ago. It's a decent multivitamin, so both horses get 1oz daily

-Biotin/Horseshoer's Secret was suggested by shoer when Vern seemd to be chipping/cracking more than usual - vet agreed it might help & it has

-MSM was added for Cash's SAD symptoms when I took him off Clenbuterol & for both as a joint supplement

-BOSS from suggestions on this BB - vet has been commenting on how shiny & soft their coats are since I started feeding

Nothing wrong with adding things that might be missing from your diet or your horse's as long as you research and don't just jump on the current bandwagon

[Painted Horse]

My horses get quality hay. That's it!
I mix some Alfalfa and some grass hay. so they get a little variety. Hopefully, since the grass hay and the Alfalfa comes from different areas, a little differences in the nutritional values.

I occassionally give them a treat of an apple or a carrot. I do this mainly so they will come greet me when I call for them. I hate chasing loose horses on the mountain.

On very cold mornings, I sometimes give a really sloppy soaked beet pulp to add some water to their diet.

They have a white salt block in the corral.

During the summer when I'm riding in the heat and doing distance rides, I give them some electrolytes.

[ladipus]

Horse #1- 17yr Danish Wb-gets Platinum Performance Equine Wellnes, Osteon,Recovery EQ Ha,Fastrack,Strongid C2x daily dewormer,Grand Hoof Pellets

Horse #2 - 6yr ottb- Corta Flx Uguard Solution, Grand Hoof Pellets

Horse #3 coming 4yr Dutch wb- Fastrack, Strongid C2x daily dewormer

Horse #4 coming 4yr Dutch wb- Fastrack, Strongid C2x daily dewormer

Horse #5 4yr ottb - Grand Hoof Pellets, Strongid C2x daily dewormer

[dwblover]

I have a dutch warmblood and a thoroughbred. They both get Recovery EQ and G.U.T. They also get 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice and 1/2 cup of corn oil per day.

[luvmywalkers]

All of mine have salt and trace mineral (in the stalls as well as the fields), and my oldest mare gets Cosequin for her arthritis. That's it.
Have 9 horses, ranging from 8 months to 31 years, all have shiny coats (unless they're covered in mud), good feet, good weight, good muscle tone, no health issues. In fact, they're as healthy as, well, horses.