Dressage Supplement Guide: Our Top Picks

At all stages of preparing, training, and competing in dressage, the physical challenges and the natural ageing process, as well as modern horse management practices can result in increased need for nutritional support.

Here are our top dressage supplements to support health, wellbeing and performance:

1. Supporting long term soundness – Joint care is important to help support longevity and a full dressage career, especially for young horses and to maintain joint comfort in the older school masters. Approximately a third of dressage horses will experience lameness during their career (Murray et al., 2010), with foot pain, suspensory ligament injuries and hock pain most frequently being the cause. Providing targeted nutritional support will support their joints and soft tissue health and comfort.The Cortaflex range is ideal for young horses and soft tissue support and Kentucky Advanced Joint Powder will provide a high levels of support for the school masters or those with significant wear and tear. Buteless Super Strength will provide potent support for the horse’s own anti-inflammatory processes in hard working horses, those competing and travelling internationally, as well as the older horse with wear and tear.
2. Supporting gastric health and digestive wellbeing – the rigours of training, travelling and competing can take its toll on digestive and gastric health. Uls-Gard Pellets and Solution provides targeted nutritional support for the stomach and hind gut. Pro-Gut Balancer, containing pre and probiotics, supports a healthy microbiome during times of stress and change.
3. Supporting dressage horses of the future – many dressage breeds take time to reach skeletal maturity, and often start work before they are fully developed. Better Bones provides a carefully researched combination of key minerals, vitamin D3, vitamin K, collagen and amino acids, to support correct bone growth and development. More Muscle Pellets provide key amino acids - the building blocks of protein - as well as antioxidants such as Vitamin E, to support muscle development and health, to be fed as part of an appropriate exercise or rehabilitation programme.
4. Supporting a low starch and sugar diet and all-round wellbeing – omega 3 fatty acids from linseed oil, are a useful addition to the dressage horse diet, supporting all round wellbeing, with their role in supporting a normal inflammatory response, which is vital for joint health. Omega 3 Fatty acids also play a key role in immune function, coat and skin condition, supporting the nervous system and reproductive health. EA Supreme Omega oil provides high quality, cold-pressed linseed oil, grown and produced in the UK, to provide omega 3 fatty acids. EA Supreme Omega Oil can also be used to provide additional calories, when fed at appropriate serve rates, for those requiring a low starch diet.
5. Managing sweat loss and hydration – just 1% dehydration can cause a loss in performance, but severe dehydration can be life threatening. Electrolytes are lost during sweating, due to exercise, travel and hot/ humid weather. Electrolytes need to be replaced after sweating to ensure the desire to drink is maintained, so fluid balance and electrolyte losses can be restored, to promote recovery and ensure optimum performance and health. The Apple Lytes range have been carefully formulated to contain a balanced ratio of key electrolytes: sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium, and are available in powder, solution and convenient paste forms.
6. Need that extra bit of oomph? High levels of B vitamins from Xtra Boost Hemogen will support energy production, as well as copper and zinc to support haemoglobin production and oxygen transport. Xtra Boost Hemogen can be fed alongside a fully fortified diet. For those looking for a broader spectrum blood tonic, Pro-Pell Plus is ideal to give a boost when horses feel a little flat.
7. Supporting muscle health: the lifestyle of a dressage horse often means turn out and grass intake are limited. Grass is an important source of many potent antioxidants including Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, which plays a key role in muscle health and normal functioning of nerves. Exercising horses have increased requirements for Vitamin E, which may not be being met if they are fed a ‘light’ balancer or feed and not receiving turnout. Supplementing with Vitamin E and Selenium will help to keep levels optimized.
8. No foot no horse: we have all heard this saying, and we know it is true! Supporting your horse’s hoof growth and condition with Super Hoof Plus Pellets, will provide the key nutrients, that have been scientifically proven to be important in the production and maintenance of sound, healthy hooves.
9. Keeping focus and concentration on the big occasions (or even just everyday!): sometimes the big shows can be a bit too much, causing an exaggerated fight or flight response, leading to excitability, stress and nervousness in unfamiliar busy surroundings causing your horse to lose concentration and focus. Providing nutritional support for the nervous system can help the horse to maintain a calm outlook and concentrate on their test. The range of calmers Super So Kalm and So Kalm, provide key nutrients including bio-available magnesium and vitamin B1.

Equine America is BETA NOPS and UFAS accredited, making all our products suitable for horses competing under FEI regulations by reducing the risk of our products containing prohibited substances.

It is important to us that our products are evidence-based and backed by science. We pride ourselves in being transparent with our ingredients and nutrient levels, ensuring we meet our label claims and you as a horse owner, know exactly what you are feeding. For further information on each product and the full Equine America range please visit the individual product page.

At Equine America we know every horse is individual and getting their nutrition right is so vital for their health, wellbeing and performance. To speak to our experienced, qualified nutritionists and equine Vets about your horse, please contact our free nutrition helpline: info@equine-america.co.uk or 01403 255809.