Nutrition
Herbs and Other Supplements
Basic Information 
Overview and Goal(s)
• Forage is the main component of any horse’s diet, but intensely exercising horses require supplementation to meet increased nutrient demands.
The basic principle is to give a horse one or more dietary ingredients above what are normally required to meet nutrient requirements.
Given with the goal of improving performance, preventing a problem from occurring, and combating or managing a problem after it arises.
Many commercial supplement products contain ingredients that provide one or more vitamins, minerals, amino acids (protein), fuel sources (carbohydrates and fats), herbs, and direct-fed microbials (bacteria and yeast).
Indications
• Possible ingredients: Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM)
Should see an effect in 1 month’s time, if no improvement is seen after 2 months, it is assumed that the individual is a nonresponder.• Glucosamine has antiinflammatory properties, ultimately preventing cartilage degradation and preserving the integrity of the joint.
• Chondroitin sulfate initiates glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, enhancement of synovial fluid viscosity and antiinflammatory processes.
• Hyaluronic acid theoretically helps restore viscoelasticity and provides joint lubrication while exhibiting antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.
• Low incidence of toxicity in laboratory animals and humans; nothing found in horses.
• Ingredients include vitamins (eg, vitamins E, C and A), minerals (eg, selenium), enzymes (eg, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) and nutrient derivatives (eg, glutathione, lipoic acid).
• Antioxidants are most effective when used in combination with each other as they can recycle antioxidant radicals that are formed during the scavenging of ROS.
• Ergogenic aids are compounds that enhance exercise performance.
• Increasing speed, power, muscle mass, or endurance capacity are some of the claims provided by advertisements.
β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB), carnitine, creatine, coenzyme Q10, and γ-oryzanol are a few of the many products theorized to increase anaerobic or aerobic capacity.• Probiotics or direct-fed microbials are used to help increase the population of beneficial microorganisms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
• No evidence to prove that providing probiotics to animals with healthy GI flora would have any effect.
Bacterial populations including the Lactobacillus species might effectively treat some conditions, like diarrhea.
• Herbal supplements that affect the immune system can be classified as adaptogens, immunostimulants, or both.
Immunostimulants activate the nonspecific or innate defense mechanisms against viral, bacterial, or cellular infections.• Most of the studies to date in laboratory animals, humans, and other species have determined that the immunologic effect of herbal supplements does not enhance normal immune response but may help if the immune system is compromised.
• Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens):
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