Do you feed your horses all the best grains and hay available? You may think you’re your horse is getting all its daily nutritional needs met from feed alone but I am here to tell you it probably isn’t enough. You should probably begin adding equine vitamins along with mineral supplements to the animal’s everyday routine if you want to guarantee they are happy and healthy for many years to come. Don’t feel bad. Many horse owners often make the same mistake.

Here are a few ways you can introduce vitamins and minerals into the horse’s daily diet:

Many experts often add these supplements to the grain mix. This way they can be positive that the feed it properly balanced and all the minimal nutritional requirements are met. The supplements are added grain mix by bounding it with molasses on in pellet form. Be aware that any vitamin and mineral premixes are specific for the classification of horse.

If the grain mix you are currently feeding your animals already includes the necessary vitamins and minerals and its portions address the horse’s age, workload, and production status, then there isn’t any real need to add any further vitamins and minerals. There simply is no point. First off, it can become very expensive. Secondly, you are probably doing more harm than good by disrupting the carefully formulated nutrient calculations of the horse’s current diet.

Another common problem I see with horse owners and vitamin supplements is over use. Too many vitamins and minerals in the horse’s system can often create an imbalance causing the horse to either become sick or not perform at its maximum levels. If your horses are already receiving commercially-prepared grain mixes and forage of good quality out in pasture, then they are already getting a satisfactory amount of vitamins and minerals.

I’ve found that the best way to find out if a horse is getting the necessary amounts of nutrients is to evaluate its overall diet. Many veterinarians or feed stores can recommend reputable equine nutritionists, who can assess your daily feeding programs and then determine if you are providing your horse with balanced diet. Don’t forget to also evaluate the pasture and hay too. You’ll need to include these for a more accurate nutrient profile.

Always be mindful of over-supplementation. Most experts agree that a well-balanced diet should include recommended amounts of various nutrients for the horse’s age and physical activity level requirements. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to ask veterinarian or equine nutritionist about any type of equine supplement questions you may have.