Equine nutrition coverage spotlights targeted supplement use

Vitamin and mineral supplementation is getting fresh attention in equine media, with new sponsored, subscriber-only articles from EQUUS and The Horse focused on choosing the “best” products and on when an equine nutritionist should be involved. While the full articles are protected, the surrounding material makes the core message clear: many horses can meet much of their nutrient needs from forage, but trace mineral gaps, hay-based diets, life stage, workload, and geography can change that equation. EQUUS’s sponsored article is tied to Mad Barn, while its separate nutritionist-focused content is part of a Sentinel Horse Nutrition education series, underscoring how feed and supplement companies are continuing to invest in educational content around ration balancing and micronutrient use. (equusmagazine.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical issue isn’t simply whether horses need supplements, but which horses need which nutrients, in what form, and based on what evidence. Extension, association, and clinical references consistently point to forage testing and ration review before adding products. Ohio State notes that forage quality and soil mineral variation can leave diets short on nutrients such as copper, selenium, and zinc, and says nutritionist input can help ensure correct amounts and ratios. AAEP’s 2025 owner guidance likewise emphasizes the physiologic importance of trace minerals, while Merck warns that excesses can be harmful, including selenium toxicity and mineral interactions. In other words, this is a case where “more” isn’t automatically better, and veterinarians may increasingly be asked to help pet parents interpret supplement marketing, evaluate hay-based diets, and decide when testing or referral to an equine nutritionist is warranted. (ohioline.osu.edu)

What to watch: Expect more branded educational content in equine nutrition, with continued focus on forage analysis, ration balancers, vitamin E status in hay-fed horses, and region-specific trace mineral supplementation. (stablemanagement.com)