With the huge range of equine dietary supplements on the market today how can you make sure that you are using the right supplement for you and your horses’ needs? When choosing a supplement it is essential to consider the following factors:
What do you want the supplement to do?
Think clearly about what you want to achieve from your horse. Do you want to build muscle, improve coat condition, increase energy, improve joint health or improve the temperament? Do you want to do all of these things or only a few? Different supplements provide unique nutrient combinations that work on specific body systems, by being clear about what you want to achieve you are better able to select the supplement with the right nutrient profile to get the results you desire.
How is the supplement used?
Always read the instructions on the supplement packaging before you buy it. Check the manufacturer recommendation for feeding the supplement and consider how this suits your feeding regime and your horse. Is the supplement added into feed or syringed over the tongue? Must it be fed directly before or after exercise? Should it be used continuously or over a treatment interval? All of these things must be considered when choosing a supplement in order to ensure maximum supplement efficacy and value for money.
Will your horse accept the new supplement?
A new taste or smell in the diet can sometimes cause a horse to go ‘off’ his feed. While it may only take a few days for your horse to get used to the new ingredient, some horses will steadfastly refuse to eat if they detect a foreign taste or smell on the feed. Set a 3 day trial period and include the supplement in the diet as recommended. If the horse eats the new supplement immediately you know he will accept this supplement as an everyday part of his diet. If he does not eat it straight away try mixing a little molasses into the feed to encourage eating, slowly reduce the amount of molasses over the 3 days to see if your horse is accepting the new supplement. If your horse still refuses to eat the feed with the supplement mixed in you may need to look for another more palatable supplement or consider alternative methods of dosing such as syringing the supplement over the tongue.
Assess how well the supplement is working by setting performance goals within a realistic time frame. Take before and after photos, measure recovery time or whatever parameter of performance that is relevant to your discipline in order to physically assess the efficacy of the supplement.
Educate, educate, educate!
Educate yourself about your horse! You do not need to know the nutritional requirements of every horse in the world but you do need to know about your own! There is a fantastic range of resources online and in print, a copy of RIRDC's ‘Feeding Horses in Australia’ should be in every horse owners bookshelf. Understanding your horse, the nutrients he needs and why is essential for keeping your horse happy, healthy and looking and performing his best.
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