Must-Have Minerals

Understanding 5 essential minerals for horses

- Hayley Kruger

As horse owners, we often rely on feed companies to make sure our horses’ nutritional intake is as balanced as possible. Although many commercial feeds provide a good source of nutrition from their composition, it is important to note the minerals necessary in a horse’s diet. Often behavioural and performance issues are the result of a mineral imbalance in the diet. It’s always best to have a professional equine nutritionist assess your horse’s diet in detail should you suspect an imbalance or a conditioning issue. However, it is in the owner’s best interest to be aware of the basic requirements. We take a look at a few of the most common minerals that should be present in a horse’s diet.

Calcium and phosphorus

Maintaining the correct calcium and phosphorus ratio is very important in a horse’s diet. Horses with calcium or phosphorus deficiency can be prone to a variety of disorders. Calcium assists with normal brain and nerve function, as well as heart, skeletal muscle and intestinal contraction. Phosphorus assists in regulating muscle and heart contraction, cell integrity and the use of glucose in the body.

The calcium to phosphorus ratio is balanced when the diet consists of 0.15 to 1.5% calcium and 0.15 to 0.6% phosphorus. Any ratio less than 1:1 can have adverse effects on the horse. A simple rule to remember is a horse requires as much calcium as phosphorus in his diet – and never the other way around.