Kelly does morning feedings at the barn where her horse is boarded. Most of the horses just get a "scoop" or two of "pellets", plus a bit of beet pulp. The ponies get less, the school horses and hard keepers get more.

Until recently, Kelly had never thought about anything other than maintaining her horse's weight and energy level. She hadn't considered whether his vitamin and mineral requirements were being met. Actually, she didn't even know the "pellets" they feed…

Question: I see a lot of the same types of supplements available in powders, pellets or pastes - what's the difference?

Answer: Supplements in paste form are generally intended for occasional use. For example, you

might use a calming paste when your horse is in a new situation and more nervous than usual. You might administer a digestive paste when your horse is being trailered and you’re worried about digestive upset from the…

For most riders, if you’re not riding, you’re thinking about riding. But when you’re counting the weeks until summer or the hours until 5 o’clock, you’re not dreaming about spooking horses or missing shoes. Fortunately, there are supplements that can help you make the most of your time in the barn.

PROBLEM: An anxious or spooky horse makes riding difficult

SUPPLEMENT SOLUTION: Calming Supplements

We’ve all been there —…

Balancing Act

When adding fats to your horse’s diet, it’s important to consider the source, because not all fats are created equal. All fats will help put a bloom on your horse’s coat, but some provide additional health benefits, while others may actually do more harm than good.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are important to many…

Gastric Health

The fact that 60% of performance horses suffer from gastric ulcers reinforces the idea that the life of a show horse isn’t easy. Prescription medication, like GastroGard®, is the only way to heal an active ulcer. However, gastric health supplements, like…

PROBLEM: Flies are bugging your horse and irritating his skin

SOLUTION: Insect Control Supplements

There are very few things that you can get a room full of riders to agree on, but hating flies is definitely one of them. Fly sprays are great, but a bottle-a-week habit can really put a dent in your budget. Fortunately, supplements can help!

There are two main types of insect control supplements. Some are only effective if fed to all of the…

One simple solution helps your horse avoid serious consequences of dehydration

PROBLEM: Your horse sweats heavily or doesn’t drink well

SOLUTION: Electrolytes

Dehydration can have serious consequences for any horse, any time of year. Inadequate water intake and mineral imbalances can cause fatigue, muscle stiffness and even colic. Whether your performance horse is sweating hard in the summer heat or your senior refuses to drink when winter buckets…

Don’t let breathing problems derail your training. Help your horse breathe easy.

PROBLEM: Cough and allergens are impacting your horse’s performance

SOLUTION: Respiratory Supplements

If your horse is constantly coughing or has trouble catching his breath, riding not only won’t be fun, it might not be possible. If you notice a breathing problem, it’s always best to have your horse checked by your veterinarian to determine…