Vitamin E important for overweight horses

Horses with overweight have an extra need for vitamin E. Firstly, vitamin E is important for all horses to eliminate waste products (free radicals) that are released during exercise. This is to prevent muscle pain, stiffness, and prolonged recovery after intensive training. But with overweight, there is more to it! Fat is a major source of inflammation. Therefore, horses with overweight experience more inflammatory reactions in the body than normal. There are extra free radicals in their bodies that all need to be eliminated with the help of vitamin E. As a result, horses with overweight have an increased need for vitamin E.

A deficiency in vitamin E can cause more damage from inflammatory reactions, which in turn leads to more waste products (free radicals) and can result in other conditions. These horses become more sensitive to laminitis, EMS and other overweight-related issues.

Horses get vitamin E from fresh grass

Supple muscles, a healthy nervous system, support for fertility, immune system support, and strong antioxidant effects. These are all functions of vitamin E. Therefore, vitamin E is a very important vitamin for horses. But did you know that horses mainly get vitamin E from fresh green grass? Grass is the main source of vitamin E for horses. Horses that spend long periods in the pasture during the summer get enough vitamin E this way. They even store it in their adipose tissue, so these horses also have vitamin E in the winter through the breakdown of fat. In the summer, a horse builds up a reserve stock of vitamin E to use in the winter. Horses without work usually have enough of this, thus preventing deficiencies. However, horses that are worked, sick, experience stress, or do not have access to grass are at an increased risk of a vitamin E deficiency.

Pasture access is actually very important for all horses. But if your horse, for whatever reason, does not have access to fresh grass? Be alert in ensuring these horses are supplemented with vitamin E.

No grass and overweight horse? Don't forget to supplement with vitamin E!

Is your horse not on grass, or only very limited? Then it is really important to supplement with vitamin E to prevent deficiencies and other problems. Vitamin E is usually only supplemented in the winter, which is fine if the horse has sufficient access to fresh grass in the summer. However, horses that do not have access to grass, or only limited access, quickly develop deficiencies in the summer. The antioxidant effect of vitamin E is particularly important for overweight horses during the summer, given the risk of founder. Opt for a vitamin E with grape seed extract, not selenium.