Why do horses need vitamins?

Vitamins A, D and E are the most common vitamins added to horse diets. Although B complex vitamins may not be commonly supplemented, including them in performance horse diets may be necessary. The natural source of Vitamin A is beta-carotene which occurs in green forages and properly cured hays. As long as the hay source has a green color and is leafy, then it will probably be more than adequate to meet the horse's Vitamin A requirement. 

Vitamin A functions in the maintenance of epithelial integrity, normal bone metabolism and is very important for night vision. Therefore, a deficiency in Vitamin A may result in night blindness, upper respiratory infection, brittle bones and possibly many other deficiencies. One reason to supplement Vitamin A is that horses are not very efficient in converting beta-carotene to active Vitamin A.

Vitamin D is very important in the normal absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. It also functions in the absorption of several minerals for bone deposition. Vitamin D is converted from precursors through a series of reactions in the skin stimulated by sunlight. Rickets in young horses and osteomalacia in older horses are the two most common symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. Giving large doses of Vitamin D should be avoided as toxicity may occur resulting in calcification of soft tissue. Natural sources of Vitamin D occur in sun-cured hay and cod liver oil.

Horses need long stem roughage in their diet for normal digestive function. Horses fed hay or those on pasture are more able to maintain gastro-intestinal tract normalcy, experience less colic and are less prone to developing annoying stable vices when compared to horses not receiving a long stem roughage source.

In our website you can find several injectable vitamins for horses like the B12 and Liver 7 which has vitamin D and also vitamin C. Remember that horses are individuals and should be managed as such. By knowing the nutrients they need and their function.