Vitamin & Mineral Supplements for Horses: Comparison

Minerals are required for maintenance of body structure, fluid balance in cells, nerve conduction, and muscle contraction. Only small amounts of the macro-minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfur are needed daily. Sweating increases the horses need for sodium, chloride and potassium, which is the reason for supplementing with electrolytes if a horse is sweating a lot.

An important category of vitamins and minerals are antioxidants, which include vitamins C & E, selenium, zinc, and others. Nature supplies antioxidants to protect us from the destructive effects of environmental free radicals. Free radicals are caused by ultra-violet rays from the sun, x-rays, exposure to pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and more. What's more, free radical damage accumulates with age, so they are especially important for your older horse.

Check out the following charts to see which supplements your horse may need.

Mfgr	Tuttle's	Equi-Shine	Vita-Flex	Farnum
# Servings (up to)	1 gal =128	25 lbs =67	5 lbs=80* 10 lbs =160 20 lbs =320 30 lbs =480	2-1/2 lbs =160 20 lbs =1280
Adult Serving Size	1 oz	6 oz	1 oz	1/4 oz
Form	L	PL	PW	C
Pro/ Prebiotics			Yes
Vitamin A (I.U.)	21,240	52,500	6,250
Vitamin B1 (mg)			14
Niacin (mg)	2.95	4.35	31
Biotin (mg)	0.03	0.003	0.5
Folic Acid (mg)	0.026	0.135	5.0
Other B Vitamins	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vitamin C (mg)			31
Vitamin E (I.U.)	41	1,125	250	313
Thiamine mg	0.69	70	14
Selenium (mg)		2.9	0.25	0.5
Magnesium (mg)	195	1,513	580
Vitamin D (I.U.)	2,124	6,750	1,250
Iron (mg)	468		161
Copper (mg)	2.34	170	12.5
Zinc (mg)	14	510	37.5
Cobalt (mg)			0.6
Iodine (mg)		3.3	0.6
Phosphorus (mg)	170	6,804	858
Manganese (mg)		450	31
Chromium
Calcium (mg)		16,585	2,500
Omega 3 Fatty Acids		Yes

C=Crumbles
G=Granules
L=Liquid
PL=Pellets
PW=Powder

*Based upon adult maintenance or non-training dose. Doses/values may vary for foals or horses in training.

Mfgr	Vita-Flex	Farnam	Farnam	Equi-Shine	Equi-Shine	Equi-Shine	Finish Line
# Servings (up to)	4 lbs =64	1 gal =128	3 lbs =48* 7 lbs =112 20 lbs =320	6 lbs =24*	7 lbs =56*	4 lbs =128	15 oz =30
Adult Serving Size	1 oz	1 oz	2 oz	4 oz	2 oz serving	1/2 oz	1/2 oz
Form	C	L	PW	PL	G	PL	PW
Pro/ Prebiotics
Vitamin A (I.U.)		25,000	50,000	35,000	35,000		2,600
Thiamine (mg)		30	25	25	25		160
Niacin (mg)			250				340
Biotin (mg)		0.02		0.625	0.625
Folic Acid (mg)		7		2.5	2.5		5
Other B Vitamins		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
Vitamin C (mg)							500
Vitamin E (I.U.)	1000	35	50	375	375	2500	0.2
Selenium (mg)	1	0.65	0.02	2	2
Magnesium (mg)		20	25	453	340		220
Vitamin D (I.U.)		3,500	500	4,000	4,125
Iron (mg)		300	200	272	563		106
Copper (mg)		36	8	113	111		0.1
Zinc (mg)		110	40	340	340		0.4
Cobalt (mg)		2		3.40	3.7		17
Iodine (mg)		0.25	2	1.36	1.40
Phosphorus (mg)			850	4,536	4,536
Manganese (mg)		39	20	295	284		4
Chromium
Calcium (mg)			1,418	8,618	7,796		2,100

C=Crumbles
G=Granules
L=Liquid
PL=Pellets
PW=Powder

*Based upon adult maintenance or non-training dose. Doses/values may vary for foals or horses in training.