Seaweed and Kelp Supplements for Horses

Horses on beach

Horse feed supplements derived from seaweed or kelp have been developed to add trace minerals, especially iodine, that may be missing in a horse's basic feed ration.

Equine Seaweed supplements contain minerals, amino acids and vitamins.

There has been a lot of debate and controversy in the equestrian world about the potential benefits to be gained from feeding equine seaweed supplements to horses - which will be discussed and reviewed here.

The levels of vitamin and minerals in the equine supplements generally sound good, but these are found at very low concentrations in the recommended dosage levels of 15 to 30 grams fed to horses.

There is a danger that iodine toxicities occur when a horse is fed too much seaweed.

But if fed with care kelp and seaweed can provide unique benefits to a horse's health.

In the Orkney Islands, off the mainland of Scotland, it was noticed that sheep grazing on seaweed were generally in better overall condition and had more resistance to illness, especially coughs and respiratory problems such as COPD and SPAOD. This led to the development of specialised feed additives based on sea weed and kelp.

It appears that the reason seaweed and kelp may benefit horses and ponies is in both the combination of nutrients and the content of Algin.

It is the iodine content of the seaweeds used in an equine supplement that is most important.

Iodine is a key trace element in nutrition. It enters into the life of every cell in the body and its more decisive action is its effect upon the thyroid gland, which, through its secretion of thyroxine, controls the rate of metabolism.

If you have any doubts about the amounts of iodine in a chosen equine kelp supplement it is safer not to add this to a horse or pony's feed.

Claimed benefits of feeding seaweed supplements to horses

Stimulates the thyroid.
Calms nervous horses.
Anti-bacterial
Increases fertility in the horse.
Treats iodine deficiency.
Antibiotic
Antirheumatic
Removes heavy metals from the body
Improves skin & coat condition
Anti-ulcer
Anti-inflammatory

Amino Acids to be found in Seaweed

Arginine
Alanine
Aspartic acid
Coleucine
Cysline
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Histidine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Serine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Valine

History of feeding seaweed to horses

Varieties of seaweed have been used as nutritional additives for animals since 600 BC in China and Japan
Seaweed has been fed as a supplement since at least the 5th Centuryin Ireland, Scotland and Norway.
After World War 1 - when sources of fodder were limited - studies were made on the use of seaweed for animal food with positive results.
During WW2 these studies were continued in Ireland. It was concluded that seaweed was valuable as a feed additive, although not nutritious enough to be a major feed source.

Things to do before feeding seaweed or kelp to your horse or pony

Consider carefully why you feel you need to feed an equine seaweed supplement to your horse.

If you can’t come up with a specific reason such as a known iodine deficiency, then it is probably best you don’t feed seaweed.
Check the iodine content of the kelp or seaweed supplement that you wish to use.

If the supplement thatyou have selected does not list the iodine content on its list of ingredients then DO NOT FEED IT.

Amount of seaweed supplement to feed

The average horse requires about 2mg of Iodine per day with toxicity occurring at 40mg/day
At 3 g per day you are adding approx 1.5mg of Iodine to the diet
If you feed your horse other equine supplements containing iodine it is essential to add these amounts in your calculations.
Carefully weigh the amount of seaweed or kelp supplement you feed to your horse each day.
NEVER allow your horse to have unlimited access to seaweed

WARNINGS!

Don't overfeed seaweed to try to quickly correct an iodine deficiency in a horse - as there is a danger of creating damaging level of iodine toxicity.

There is a particular risk in adding seaweed or kelp to the diet of mares in foal and lactating mares.

Any excess of iodine is accumulated in the placenta and in the milk.

Foals of mares fed on diets with a high level of iodine have a chance of developing iodine toxicity.

Foals born to thses these mares may be born very weak or even dead and may develop bone or skeletal abnormalities

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