Coat supplements are most likely one of the most popular supplements used with horses. There are many ingredients and brands to choose from, but here are some of the main ingredients used in commercial supplements, that can be purchased in bulk and fed by itself at significant less cost. Always consult your vet or equine nutritionist before altering your feeds.
Flax Seed- Common ingredient for many supplements. Most effective when ground, but should be used immediately because it quickly goes rancid. However, it can be fed whole. No more than 8oz should be fed per day.
Rice Bran-Comes in powder or pellet form. Stabilized should be fed unless the bag is used within a week. No more than 2 pounds a day. Popular and easy to feed. Rice bran has a high fat content, so avoid storing it where it would bake in the sun and go bad.
Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS)- Found in the Wild Bird Food aisle these black seeds provide great nutrition towards a shiny coat and weight gain. For coat feed .5-1 cup a day, and for weight gain feed 2 cups. These should not be fed to HYPP positive (n/h or h/h) horse due to their high potassium content. Make sure you get the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and not the striped seeds we commonly eat for snacks.
Paprika- The main ingredient in color enhancing supplements, Hungarian paprika is the preferred type to use. Feed 1-2 tablespoons a day. Warning: it contains capcasin, which is an illegal substance in some show associations. It will test, so use with caution.
Oils-Corn, vegetable, soy, and other oils marketed to horses are a simple way to increase calories in your horse’s diet. Oil can top dress grain or hay. Talk to your vet about the proper amount to feed. It can vary from oil to oil.
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