Taking the Edge Off: Calming Supplements for Horses
Janice L. Holland, PhD
May 15, 2025
Learn which calming supplement ingredients work and things to consider before choosing or administering a product to your horse.
Learn which calming supplement ingredients work and things to consider before choosing or administering a product to your horse.
Scientists are studying the safety, efficacy, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetics of equine nutritional supplements.
Some calming supplements for horses contain valerian, an herb thought to interact with brain chemicals. Here’s what science says—or doesn’t say—about valerian for calming horses.
Are you confused about nutraceuticals in your horse’s diet? Learn more from our equine nutrition expert.
Lemon verbena extract could help reduce cellular stress that leads to oxidative damage, which, in turn, can compromise horse health and welfare. Here’s how.
Hemp oil, hemp meal, CBD, and THC all come from similar—and sometimes the same—plants and are becoming more popular as cannabis and industrial hemp regulations loosen. Learn how nutritionally rich hemp might help your horse.
Researchers determined that Devil’s claw extract did not cause any clinically detectable adverse effects in horses following oral administration.
Researchers identified “major misperceptions in how supplements are tested before being launched for sale” among surveyed Irish equestrians.
Owners considered veterinarians the most reliable information source, which researchers found encouraging.
Performance horses need customized diets to meet their energy requirements, as hay alone likely won’t suffice.
Take a look at some commonly fed supplements and the theories behind their use.
Joint health and mobility supplements were the most frequently used in both disciplines, researchers found.
Most respondents said they get information from nutrition articles or by consulting their vet or equine nutritionist.
Recent studies suggest these two agents could help counteract the effects of endotoxins on lamellar tissue.
Here’s what current research, or lack thereof, is telling us about common equine supplement ingredients.
Do all the supplements, concentrates, and forages on the market have you confused about what’s best to feed your horse? Learn what your horse really needs to eat from equine nutritionist and consultant, Dr. Clair Thunes.
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