Can Supplements Boost Your Horse’s Brain?

Nutritional supplements support horse health through thoughtful and targeted application. Joint, digestion, coat and hoof supplements remain the most popular products among horse owners. If you look hard enough, though, a supplement can be found for whatever ails a horse. One area of equine dietary supplementation that remains untouched involves learning and memory.

“In humans, so-called brain boosters are popular supplements. A plethora of products claiming to boost focus, relieve anxiety, and improve memory, mood, mental drive, and problem-solving line store shelves,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutritionist.

Could the ingredients in these human supplements also benefit a horse’s mental state and capacity? Some of the most common ingredients include:

• Gingko biloba, a plant product used to improve blood flow to the brain and act as an antioxidant;
• Acetyl L-carnitine, an amino acid thought to help produce energy and improve brain function;
• St. John’s wort, an herb used in managing depression;
• Glutamine (or L-glutamine), another amino acid believed to help in depression; and
• Vinpocetine, a synthetic product purportedly increasing blood flow to the brain.

“There is little research supporting the use of these products in horses at this time, and data is even sparse in the human field. This makes it impossible to confidently recommend supplementing strategies with any of these ingredients. Even though most of the ingredients are ‘generally recognized as safe’ for use in humans, important nutrient, drug, and herb interactions should be considered,” advised Crandell.

One notable exception to Crandell’s skepticism is the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For example, one research group* found some positive effects on the performance of new training tasks in weanlings whose dams had been supplemented with DHA during late gestation and lactation.

“Numerous studies confirm the safety of DHA supplementation in horses and foals,” Crandell noted.

Owners interested in testing the effect of DHA supplementation on boosting their horse’s brain can try EO•3, a palatable marine-derived DHA-containing product developed by KER that is top-dressed on the feed.

*Hansen, T.L., A.M. Adkin, and L.K. Warren. 2013. Effect of early exposure to maternal docosahexaenoic acid on memory and cognition in weaned foals. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 33(5):364.