The 6 Most Important Ingredients for Equine Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

1. Selenium.

Selenium is perhaps the most discussed mineral in New Zealand equestrian circles. Much of our soil is notoriously selenium-deficient, which can lead to “white muscle disease” in your foals and poor muscle recovery or impaired immune function in your adults.

Selenium supplements are a powerful supporter for your horse’s muscle function. Keep in mind that this mineral is important to get right! which means too little can create a deficiency, but too much can be toxic. NPC Health uses a safe level which is set lower, also selenium yeast which is organic ensuring the safest possible form to use. Always check if your equine multi-vitamin contains selenium, what type and at what level before adding a dedicated supplement to your horse’s diet.

2. Copper

3. Zinc.

Copper and zinc work as a team, building up your horse’s coat pigments and strengthening their hooves. If your chestnut is starting to look “bleached” or that gorgeous mane is going frizzy, there’s a good chance they need more copper.

This combination are often the  best horse minerals in NZ because many of our pastures are high in iron and manganese, both of which can actually block absorption of copper and zinc. Balancing that ratio is a great way to get that “show-ring shine” naturally without bringing in too many topical oils.

4. Vitamin E.

Horses cannot produce vitamin E on their own and must get it from their diet. While fresh green grass is an excellent source of this vital vitamin. Vitamin E levels drop significantly once that grass is cut for hay, or upon storage in the dry summer.

Adding a vitamin E supplement supports your horse’s neurological system and helps them repair their muscles after a hard day’s work. If your horse is on a high-grain diet or spends a lot of time on “standing” hay, a vitamin E supplement is almost always necessary.

5. Biotin (vitamin B7).

If you’re dealing with cracked hooves or shoes that won’t stay on, Biotin is the industry standard. This vital B-vitamin specifically supports your horse’s system when producing keratin, which is the stuff that makes up the hoof wall.

Now, keep in mind that hoof growth is slow. When you start feeding a Biotin supplement or in your preformulated vitamins and minerals, remember that it can take upwards of six months to see the results in the new hoof growth. Keep at it. 

6. Iodine.

New Zealand is often low in this crucial element. For your horse to function in a healthy way it should be included in your supplement.

A few tips from the NPC Health team:

When shopping for the best vitamins and minerals for horse health, the most expensive choice isn’t always the best one. Your best bet will always be to find the specific gap in your horse’s individual diet and fill it with a high-quality supplement. Where possible, it might also be possible to change their diet to fill that gap.

When you’re buying supplements in particular, here are a few tips to consider:

1. Read the dosage. Look not at the “mg per kg” but the “mg per dose.”  This is the most crucial one to tell you exactly what you are feeding. High-quality vitamins and minerals for horse health will have high bioavailability (meaning your horse’s body can actually absorb it). Usually this is stated as organic or chelated.
2. Avoid fillers. Many international big-brand supplements use “lucerne meal” or “molasses” to bulk up the container. If you want results, look for concentrated supplements in which the active ingredients make up most of what you receive, if not all.
3. Consider your base feed. If you are already feeding a full “complete” hard feed at the manufacturer’s recommended rate, your horse might already be getting these minerals. Supplements are most effective for horses on “unfortified” diets like grass, hay, and straight grains (like oats or barley). However, as New Zealand horses are mostly at pasture with “some hard feed” extra supplementation is often needed.

Investing in the best horse minerals NZ suppliers like us can offer is essentially an insurance policy for your horse’s health. It is much easier (and cheaper) to maintain a horse’s health with a balanced mineral profile (and keep them feeling great!) than it is to fix a bad hoof or an animal that has broken down with ill thrift, poor immunity and infection after a long life of nutrient deficiencies.

Luckily, this is simple when you focus on the core building blocks of your horse’s health. Cover your bases with selenium, copper, zinc, and several vitamin complexes. With those ticked off, you’ll notice a huge difference in how your horse looks, feels, and performs.

Tick off your horse’s health needs with the best horse minerals NZ has to offer.

We are NPC Health, and we take equine health seriously. We are committed to using scientific research to create long-lasting, high-quality, fortified supplements that genuinely help your animals while keeping them safe. Our vitamins and minerals balance out pasture shortfall and also work in with your horse’s diet. With all instructions are on the back of our labels we guide your through the best and most effective dose for your horse and your current diet regime.

Browse our range of vitamins and minerals for horse health or get in touch to build a tailored plan for your horse’s health with the experts at NPC Health.