Walk into any tack shop or browse online and you'll quickly discover there are hundreds of horse supplements available. Joint support, gut health, electrolytes, hoof care, calming formulas, vitamins—the choices can feel overwhelming.
So how do you know what your horse actually needs?
The good news is that not every horse requires multiple supplements. The best approach is to understand your horse's workload, diet and individual needs before adding anything to their feed.
This guide explains the most common types of horse supplements and when they may be beneficial.
Does Every Horse Need Supplements?
Not necessarily.
Many horses receiving a balanced diet with quality forage and an appropriate hard feed will already meet most of their nutritional requirements.
However, some horses have increased demands due to:
- Competition and regular training
- Heavy sweating
- Older age
- Joint wear and tear
- Poor hoof quality
- Digestive sensitivity
- Stress from travel or competition
- Limited pasture quality
In these situations, targeted supplementation can help support your horse's overall health and performance.
Fresh Grass: Could It Be Affecting Your Horse's Behaviour?
Have you ever had one ride where your horse felt relaxed and focused, only for the next ride to feel like you're sitting on a completely different horse?
For many horses, changes in pasture can play a part.
Fresh grass naturally contains sugars, known as non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs). The amount of sugar in pasture isn't constant—it can vary depending on the season, weather, time of day and even overnight temperatures. During periods of rapid grass growth, especially in spring and autumn, sugar levels can be significantly higher.
Some horses seem unaffected, while others become noticeably more energetic or reactive. Owners often describe it as having a horse that's calm one day and full of extra energy the next, despite nothing else changing in their routine.
While good grazing management is always the first step, many horse owners also choose to support their horses nutritionally during periods of lush pasture growth. Two popular options are Poseiden and Maxia, which are commonly used as part of a feeding programme for horses grazing rich pasture or those that become more sensitive when grass sugars are high.
These supplements are designed to complement an overall management plan that includes appropriate grazing, forage and a balanced diet. If you're unsure which product would best suit your horse, our team is always happy to help.
Joint Supplements
As horses age or begin more demanding work, their joints experience increased stress.
Joint supplements are designed to support healthy cartilage, maintain joint mobility and assist with long-term joint health.
These are particularly popular for:
- Performance horses
- Jumpers
- Eventers
- Dressage horses
- Older horses
- Horses returning to work
Gut Health Supplements
A healthy digestive system is essential for every horse.
Changes in routine, travel, competition, rich pasture or stress can all affect gut health.
Digestive supplements may help support a healthy hindgut, maintain normal digestive function and promote nutrient absorption.
They are often recommended for horses that:
- Travel regularly
- Compete frequently
- Are prone to digestive upsets
- Have sensitive stomachs
- Experience periods of stress
Electrolytes
When horses sweat, they don't just lose water—they also lose essential minerals.
Electrolytes help replace these minerals and support normal hydration and muscle function after exercise or during hot weather.
They're especially useful for:
- Summer riding
- Competition horses
- Endurance riding
- Long training sessions
- Horses travelling long distances
Hoof Supplements
Healthy hooves grow from the inside out.
If your horse struggles with brittle hooves, slow growth or poor hoof quality, nutritional support may help alongside regular farrier care.
Remember that hoof improvement takes time. Because hooves grow slowly, it can take several months before you notice significant changes.
Calming Supplements
Some horses naturally become tense in unfamiliar environments or during competition.
Calming supplements are designed to support normal nerve and muscle function without reducing your horse's willingness to perform.
They are commonly used for horses that become anxious when:
- Travelling
- Competing
- Moving to a new property
- Working in busy environments
Vitamins and General Health
Sometimes horses simply need nutritional support to fill gaps in their diet.
General vitamin and mineral supplements can help support overall health, immune function and wellbeing, particularly when pasture quality changes throughout the year.
How Do I Choose the Right Supplement?
One of the biggest mistakes horse owners make is adding multiple supplements without knowing exactly what they're trying to achieve.
Instead, ask yourself:
- What problem am I trying to solve?
- Is my horse already receiving adequate nutrition?
- Would one targeted supplement be more beneficial than several products?
Keeping supplementation simple often produces the best results.
Remember, supplements are designed to support a healthy diet and management programme—they aren't a replacement for quality forage, balanced nutrition or good horse care.
Why Shop Horse Supplements at Canterbury Saddlery?
We're horse people first.
Every supplement you'll find on our shelves has been carefully selected because it's a product our team genuinely believes in. Many of them are used every day on our own horses, from pleasure horses through to competition horses.
Rather than stocking hundreds of products, we've chosen a range from trusted manufacturers that we've seen deliver results. If we wouldn't recommend it to a friend or use it ourselves, you won't find it in our store.
Whether you're looking to support joint health, digestion, hoof quality, muscle recovery or overall wellbeing, we're always happy to help you choose the right supplement for your horse's individual needs. Simply get in touch—our team is here to help.
