Why Low Iron Matters

Why Low Iron Matters

• Iron is already commonly high in grass, hay and haylage.
• Commercial feeds and supplements often add more iron unnecessarily.
• Hidden iron can come from mineral ingredients such as lower-grade magnesium oxide.
• High iron can interfere with the balance of copper and zinc.
• Copper and zinc are often the minerals most in need of targeted support.

. Iron is essential for life, but it is also one of the most commonly over-supplied minerals in modern equine diets.

Do Horses Need Additional Iron

In most cases, horses do not need extra iron added to their diet. Iron is present in virtually everything a horse eats or drinks, including grass, hay, haylage, water, soil, commercial feeds, beet pulp, alfalfa and many vitamin and mineral supplements.

The issue is not only the iron declared on a feed label. Hidden iron can also be present as a contaminant in feed-grade minerals used to manufacture supplements

Iron, Copper and Zinc Balance

One of the key concerns with excess iron is the way it can affect the balance of other trace minerals, especially copper and zinc. These minerals are important for hoof quality, skin, coat pigment, immune support and connective tissue health.

When forage contains high iron and low copper or zinc, simply adding a general multi-vitamin and mineral supplement may not solve the problem. A forage-focused approach looks at the mineral pattern in the forage and supplements the nutrients most likely to be limiting.

Iron                                                               

Often already high in forage, soil and water. Usually not a mineral that needs adding to horse balancers.

Copper

Important for coat pigment, connective tissue, hoof quality and iron metabolism

Zinc

Important for skin, hoof horn, immunity, wound healing and enzyme function

Signs That Trace Mineral Balance May Need Reviewing

Many common horse health concerns can have more than one cause. However, when the diet contains high iron and low copper or zinc, trace mineral balance is worth reviewing

Could Your Horse Benefit From a Mineral Balancer?

Could Your Horse Benefit From a Forage-Focused Balancer?

• Persistent thrush or white line issues despite good hoof care.
• Repeated hoof abscesses, cracks or weak hoof quality.
• Dull coat colour, sun bleaching or poor coat condition.
• Itchy, flaky or sensitive skin.
• Recurring mud fever or skin irritation.
• Poor topline, slow recovery or low stamina.
• Metabolic concerns, sugar sensitivity or laminitis history.
• Unexplained soil eating, bark chewing or unusual plant browsing.
• Allergy-type issues affecting skin or breathing