Do Horses Need to Take Vitamin Pills?

Horses produce all necessary vitamins except A and E in their bodies. These vitamins must be provided by the horse’s diet. Vitamins C and D as well as the B vitamin niacin are produced by the horse through enzymatic conversion. The rest of the B vitamins and vitamin K are produced by microbes in the horse’s cecum and large intestine.

Many of these vitamins have key roles in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus, and in proper skeletal development. Therefore, adequate supplies of all vitamins are necessary for correct growth in young horses and also for tissue maintenance and metabolic processes in mature horses. By feeding recommended amounts of a fortified commercial grain product, horse owners can be sure their horses are supplied with the vitamins and substrates they need to maintain good condition.