Here’s how to evaluate product labels, spot red flags, and decide which ingredients are worth your money

Veterinarians and nutritionists can help owners evaluate whether a supplement fits a horse’s individual needs and whether evidence supports its intended use. | Photo: Alexandra Beckstett

You’re standing in the feed store or searching online and find a dizzying variety of supplements promising everything from gut support to joint health, hoof strength, and calming effects. Nearly 84% of horse owners use supplements and nutraceuticals, according to authors of the 2017 study “Supplement Use and Perceptions: A Study of US Horse Owners,” completed at Middle Tennessee State University.

Yet horse owners still face a fundamental question: How do I know if—and which one—will deliver on its promise?

One of the biggest challenges with equine supplements is determining whether the supplement actually works, says Bob Coleman, PhD, an associate extension professor in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington

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