Do I need supplements?

Question

I have 3 TWHs that eat Timothy and Orchard Grass. They have free choice salt. Do I need any additional supplements. If so what ones. They are purely spoiled pleasure horses.

Answer 1

yup

Answer 2

If your hay is good quality, probably not.  

You can have your hay and pasture tested to see if it's lacking in any nutrients or is imbalanced in any way, if you're really concerned.  Otherwise, there are a gazillion supplements you could spend your money on! But it doesn't sound like your horses are stressed physically or mentally.

You could give them a joint supplement to forestall the joint deterioration that is inevitable for all horses.  And ground flaxseed supposedly helps the immune system and is a good source of fat.  The salt is essential, though.  Make sure they're consuming it.

Answer 3

This depends on your horses' physical condition and appearance.  If the horses are of good weight and health, you do not need to spend money on additional supplements.

Timothy and Orchard grass are good legume hays - without alfalfa to boost the protein and cause too much energy.

Here in Michigan, our grasses are naturally low in Selenium (a vitamin like Potassium to humans).  Therefore many of us feed a Selenium supplement or a vitamin containing it.  If you're in the great lakes region you might look into this.

Go with this statement "If there's nothing wrong, don't change it"

But if a horse is chronically a little underweight or they have a rough scraggly dry coat or there's anything about them you would like to change, supplements can help.

A good all around vitamin is Clovite.  It's a pelleted vitamin.

You can add oils to improve coat condition - Cocosoya oil by Uckele is a good supplement to make nice, glossy coats.

I feed my two mares Hoof biotin by Uckele because they are paints and have dry hooves.  I also give one of them MSM because she's got a slight leg problem and the MSM helps.  I give them all Great lakes Blend vitamins to keep a healthy balance (like us taking a daily vitamin) but it can be expensive stuff.

I have also had to start giving my older horse Opti Zyme because he's had too loose stools - it's like us eating yogurt to keep our digestive system in balance.

If they look great, keep doing what you're doing - no need to spend more money.

Answer 4

no  they dont :-)

Answer 5

are they out on pasture?.... horses can live perfectly out on pasture  but if you work them at all I would supplement them will some grain to keep there weight on... most horses dont need supplements if they are healthy and no problems.. during the hot summer i add electrolights to there feed and in the winter.. i supplement will brand mashes.. which is warm water and bran added to there grain