How to Feed a Horse Vitamins

Like all living creatures, horses need essential nutrients to maintain their health. If you are interested in learning about the dietary needs of a horse, read about how to make sure horses get all the vitamins they need.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Give your horse adequate pasture time. Horses can meet most vitamin requirements through proper nutrition alone. Dark greens contain naturally occurring carotene, as do most hays, carrots and corn. In instances that a horse does not consume sufficient amount of carotene, you can give it an active vitamin A supplement.

2. Provide enough sun. Vitamin D is a nutrient derived from the sun, so make sure that your horse has at least four hours of sunlight each day. For horses in northern climates and for those that do not meet outdoor requirements, you can supplement its diet with a vitamin D concentration.

3. Make sure that your horse forages for fresh food. Moldy clover hay can cause vitamin K deficits, causing problems with blood coagulation. Additionally, horses fed poor quality hay and gray can suffer thiamine deficiencies.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses fed on good quality pasture usually need no additional vitamin supplementation, although foals and lactating mares may need extra nutrients. In the event that a horse does need a vitamin supplement, incorporate it into dry food in the form of pellets and cubes.
• Administer vitamin supplements carefully, as they can be toxic to a horse when given in large quantities. Be sure to consult a veterinarian who has experience with horse nutrition in order to develop a dietary plan that suits the needs of your horse.

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