Veterinarians should teach clients how to choose a high-quality supplement for their horse. | Haylie KerstetterWith thousands of equine supplements on the marketranging from joint support and digestive aids to calming formulas and coat enhancershorse owners often look to veterinarians for guidance on what their animals might need. Veterinarians can help them determine when supplements are necessary for their horses, which ones are appropriate, and how to avoid ineffective or potentially harmful choices.Start With the ForageCarey Williams, PhD, equine extension specialist and professor at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, says supplement discussions should always begin with the horses core diet in mind.Forage should be the foundation, Williams says, followed by a concentrate or other commercial feed appropriate for the horses age, workload, and physiological status. For example, a broodmare or growing horse needs a different feed than a performance or pleasure horse. Then you can decideis there (a specific concern) that a supplement might help with? she says.If the diet is already balanced and the horse has no underlying issues, Williams says supplements might not be necessary at all.Making Informed Equine Supplement DecisionsOnce theyve identified a need, veterinarians can help clients evaluate product options by focusing on transparency and research. Some companies wont be doing their own research, but they might cite published studies on ingredients in their product, Williams says.Veterinarians should direct owners to supplements with labels that include detailed ingredient lists, recommended dosages, and explanations of function. Vague phrases such as proprietary blend can be red flags. The more specifics a company provides, the more confident I am in their product, she says.She also advises veterinarians to recommend ingredients rather than specific brands if they do not have a brand with which they are comfortable. If youre not familiar with a company, suggest functional ingredients like omega-3s from a particular source or specific antioxidants, says Williams. That way, the owner can do some research on their own or consult a nutritionist.Evaluating Equine Supplement Quality and Avoiding RiskQuality control ranks among the most important factors to consider when choosing a supplement for your horse. Veterinarians can help clients look for companies that publish their testing protocols or quality assurance processes on their websites. Reputable companies will show how they test their products, what methods they use, and how they ensure consistency, Williams says.She adds that cost can be a helpful indicator, though not a guarantee, of quality. You do often get what you pay for, she explains. If a supplement is dramatically cheaper than others with similar ingredients, it should prompt questions. Is it underdosed? Has it been sitting on a shelf for years? Is the company cutting corners?She finds low-cost supplements from companies with limited public information or no customer support especially concerning. Reputable companies are happy to discuss their product with you, including safety testing and research on it, she says. They spend a lot of money doing this, so they want everyone to know.Navigating Client Conversations About Equine SupplementsWhen a supplement serves no clear benefit or risks interfering with veterinary treatment, communication becomes essential. Williams often works alongside veterinarians during consultations to evaluate horses full diets and provide evidence-based recommendations.In cases where the vet suspects a supplement is doing more harm than good, well go over the label with the client together, she says. Sometimes its not about the brand, but about the dose being too low to be effective, the supplement interacting with a medication, or they are feeding several products with overlapping ingredients.To help owners feel comfortable making changes to their horses supplement regimens, Williams recommends gradual adjustments. I always suggest decreasing the dose first, she says. If they see no change, theyre usually more open to discontinuing it. Its a good way to determine if the supplement is having an effect or not.Working With Equine Nutrition ProfessionalsNot all veterinarians are confident advising their clients about equine nutrition, which is where collaboration with a nutritionist can be helpful. Williams encourages veterinarians to contact equine extension specialists at their states land-grant universities, many of whom offer free or low-cost consulting.If a vet isnt confident evaluating a ration, they can call someone like me, she says. Every state has cooperative extension, and we also have a national network. If I get a call from another state, I can help them out myself if their field is not nutrition, or I can refer them to a trusted colleague who can.Understanding Equine Supplement Regulation GapsUnlike prescription medications, equine supplements are not subject to FDA regulation, and manufacturers do not need to demonstrate efficacy before products reach the market. Veterinarians should communicate this to clients so they understand the importance of thoroughly researching supplements before purchasing them, says Williams. Thats why its so important to stick with companies that are transparent, publish their ingredient lists, and explain their quality control processes, she adds.Williams also recommends that clients call companies directly to ask questions. A reputable company should be able to explain whats in their product and why, she says. If they avoid your questions or dont respond at all, thats a problem.Take-Home MessageVeterinarians can help clients make responsible, informed decisions about nutritional supplements for their horses. By evaluating the base diet, recommending evidence-based ingredients, and collaborating with qualified nutritionists, they can provide practical guidance grounded in science.There are good supplements out there, Williams says. But they should be used intentionally and with a clear purpose. Its about solving a problemnot just adding something extra because they read about it online.

Back for its fifth year, the Ocala Food & Wine Festival returns to World Equestrian Center November 7-9, 2025 for three unforgettable days of bold flavors and big fun! This hallmark fall event features celebrity chefs, expert-led tastings, culinary competitions, and live demosall celebrating the best in food, wine, beer and spirits. The annual festival kicks off the first full weekend in November and offers[...]Read MoreThe post Save the Date for the 2025 Ocala Food & Wine Festival appeared first on World Equestrian Center.

One horse in Grays Harbor County, Washington, recently tested positive for strangles. The horse lives at a private facility, and it is unknown if additional horses are exposed.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

Two horses in Los Angeles County, California, recently tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).The first horse was a 20-year-old Thoroughbred mare, who eventually developed equine myeloencephalopathy (EHM) secondary to EHV-1 infection. The mare was euthanized.The second horse is a 28-year-old warmblood mare who tested positive for EHV-1 after developing a fever. She is still alive.In addition to the two confirmed cases, 95 horses on the premises are potentially exposed. They are quarantined, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture is actively monitoring the situation.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.EHV 101Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected.In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse.Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.