This article summarizes some of the more recent findings in nutrition that may affect the way you want to feed. It is an overview of current discussions going on between equine nutritionists and links are provided to more complete information where this is appropriate. Also, included are some current thoughts on nutrition's relation to behavior, performance, and lameness. Included in this discussion is information on:

• Vitamins
• Fats
• Probiotics
• live yeast culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• Sodium Bicarbonate
• vitamin B12
• iron
• ascorbic acid (Vit C)
• MSM
• octacosanol
• SOD (superoxide dismutase)
• gamma hydroxybutyrate
• gamma oryzanol
• bioflavanoids
• inosine
• pangamic acid (erroneously called B15)
• furosemide
• nandrolone
• amphetamine
• DMG and DIPA
• and probably carnitine
• Capsaicin
• Isoxsuprine
• Biotin
• Methionine
• beta-carotene

There is no doubt that the more we learn about nutrition the more the old basics seem to be the best way to feed: fresh water, salt block, good quality pasture or quality grass hay at about 2.0 to 3.0% of body weight daily, and just enough concentrate to keep the weight where we want it. Yes, there are a few exceptions:

• growing horses and pregnant mares should have more protein and calcium in their diet
• some easy keeping horses and almost all ponies may grow dangerously fat on rich pasture alone
• there are some areas of the country deficient in certain minerals
• we are beginning to recognize some familial lines of horses that have genetic traits that require special nutrition
• horses that race or work particularly hard for a living

Supplements are big business where horses are concerned. There are supplements out there that are guaranteed to do everything from make your ill-mannered mare the perfect dressage horse or to turn your poor coated, weak hooved nag into a dreamboat that can cross the Rockies barefooted. You know there are supplements that promise to keep flies away. Can you imagine if there was something you could feed your horses that would keep flies away! Sorry, no such substance exists but these products continue to be sold and in large amounts.

Of course there are good products out there that will help you take better care of you horse. Let's look at various aspects of horse management and look in detail at what we know and don't know.