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Why vitamin E is so important for your horse at the end of winter

Winter is drawing to a close and the first signs of spring are becoming visible. For horses, this means that grazing is back in sight, but this transition period in particular is a time when extra attention is needed for your horse's vitamin E status. In this blog, we explain why it is important to supplement vitamin E at the end of winter and how this will benefit your horse's health.

Vitamin E

Feeding

10 March '25 • 2 min reading time

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that helps protect body cells from damage caused by free radicals. It supports muscle function, the immune system, and the overall health of the horse. Horses normally obtain a large portion of their vitamin E from fresh grass, but in the winter months, this source is limited or unavailable, making it necessary to supplement their intake in other ways.

Deficiencies After Winter

During the winter months, many horses rely on hay as their primary feed, but hay contains significantly less vitamin E than fresh grass. By the end of the season, the amount of vitamin E in hay is nearly nonexistent. Since the body cannot store large amounts of this vitamin, a deficiency may develop toward the end of winter, which can manifest as:

  • Stiff or weak muscles
  • Reduced immune function
  • Lower energy levels and vitality
  • Slower muscle recovery after exercise

Why Supplement Now?

At the end of winter, your horse’s vitamin E reserves are often at their lowest. Although fresh grass will soon be available again, it takes time for vitamin E levels to return to normal. By starting supplementation in time, you can prevent your horse from entering the grazing season with a deficiency. This not only helps maintain supple muscles and a strong immune system but also ensures that your horse begins the season fit and full of energy. It is especially important for broodmares, as vitamin E plays a crucial role in fertility.

How Can You Supplement Vitamin E?

There are several ways to supplement vitamin E:

  • Through a supplement: Special vitamin E supplements are available that can easily be mixed into feed.
  • In combination with selenium: Selenium aids in the absorption and effectiveness of vitamin E and can be a valuable addition if your horse is also deficient in selenium.
  • Without selenium: Ideal for horses with an increased need for vitamin E, such as those with muscle issues or high-performance sport horses. An excess of selenium can be harmful, so a selenium-free form is the best option in such cases.
  • With natural sources: Cold-pressed oils such as wheat germ oil contain natural vitamin E and can be a great addition to the diet.

Conclusion: Don’t Forget to Supplement Vitamin E!

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient for horses, especially at the end of winter when reserves are depleted. By starting supplementation in time, you ensure that your horse remains supple and vital, ready for the transition to fresh pasture. Want to find out which vitamin E supplement best suits your horse? Feel free to contact us!

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Vitamin E

Feeding

Horses that spend many hours in the pasture get enough vitamin E from fresh grass. But in the winter, most horses are hardly on the pasture anymore, or the pasture is bare. They mainly eat dry forage, such as hay. There is much less vitamin E in hay, especially when it has been sitting for a while. In storage, vitamin E disappears from the hay.

How much vitamin E is in hay?

Horses that spend many hours in the pasture get enough vitamin E from fresh grass. But in the winter, most horses are hardly on the pasture anymore, or the pasture is bare. They mainly eat dry forage, such as hay. There is much less vitamin E in hay, especially when it has been sitting for a while. In storage, vitamin E disappears from the hay.. The degradation of vitamin E from drying hay is very rapid. Often half of it has disappeared after two weeks. You can imagine that the vitamin E content has become very low by the end of winter. Your horse cannot meet its vitamin E needs in that period with just hay. Why is vitamin E important for horses? Horses need vitamin E as an antioxidant, for the proper function of their muscles, and for the immune system. Vitamin E is also important for the nervous system. All horses need daily vitamin E...

Insulin resistance

Vitamin E

Feeding

Sweet itch

Under natural circumstances, horses obtain their required vitamin E from fresh grass. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is crucial for muscles, prevents stiffness, and supports a healthy nervous system. Sport horses have a higher need for vitamin E, but this also applies to horses sensitive to sugar and horses with PSSM. If your horse doesn't have access to fresh grass, you need to ensure a good supplementation!

Horse not on the grass? Provide extra vitamin E.

Under natural circumstances, horses obtain their required vitamin E from fresh grass. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is crucial for muscles, prevents stiffness, and supports a healthy nervous system. Sport horses have a higher need for vitamin E, but this also applies to horses sensitive to sugar and horses with PSSM. If your horse doesn't have access to fresh grass, you need to ensure a good supplementation!. Horses that are sensitive to sugars, such as horses that gain weight quickly, have had laminitis, or horses that suffer from sweet itch], cannot graze unlimited. Therefore, these horses are often kept in a paddock and given hay as roughage along with a mineral and vitamin pellet. This is wise and healthy for these horses. But you need to pay close attention. Vitamin E in case of insulin resistance There is a lot of vitamin E in fresh grass, so you don't have to worry about vitamin E for horses t...

Vitamin E

Vitamin E plays an important role in improving fertility in mares. This has been known for humans for some time. But this vitamin also has a positive effect on horses. Vitamin E is often used together with other antioxidants. It increases the fertility of mares and stallions and ensures better resistance in breeding mares and their newborn foals.

Better fertility of mares and healthy foals thanks to vitamin E

Vitamin E plays an important role in improving fertility in mares. This has been known for humans for some time. But this vitamin also has a positive effect on horses. Vitamin E is often used together with other antioxidants. It increases the fertility of mares and stallions and ensures better resistance in breeding mares and their newborn foals.. The effectiveness of vitamin E in people with fertility problems has been well researched. There have also been a number of scientific studies done in horses. Vitamin E deficiency Vitamin E is an incredibly important vitamin. Not only for fertility, but also for your horse's muscles and nervous system. It is a powerful antioxidant. Because horses do not produce vitamin E themselves, it must come from their diet. Grass contains a lot of easily absorbable vitamin E, so horses that spend all day in...

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