15+ Superfoods for horses: Plant-Based health boosters

It doesn’t always have to be an exotic superfood for horses like spirulina algae or green-lipped mussels. Of course, there are also genuine superfoods right on our doorstep: rose hips, beetroot, birch, or stinging nettles, and many more. We not only introduce you to a colourful spectrum of superfoods for your horse but also show you how to use them specifically for different bodily functions or ailments.

Unlike dietary supplements, herbs, fruits, and vegetables contain additional nutrients that are beneficial to the horse’s health. Horses should ideally be fed as naturally as possible, as it is in their nature to nibble on herbs and medicinal plants. However, biodiversity in many parts of our meadows and fields is being pushed back by intensive farming. You should also ensure that these are not protected plants or areas, or freshly fertilised fields. So, if you’re not 100% sure whether you can pick that particular herb and feed it to your horse, it’s best to hold back and opt for already dried, packaged herbs. These are available as ready-made mixtures or individually, so you can combine them as needed.

The wide spectrum of horse-suitable superfoods

Superfood	Effect	Feeding recommendations*
Rosehips	Immuno-strengthening due to high vitamin C content, anti-inflammatory & pain-relieving (in cases of osteoarthritis), circulation-promoting (in cases of laminitis), intestinal regulating (in cases of constipation, free faecal water)	Horses up to 40g/day Cobs up to 20g/day

Superfood	Effect	Feeding recommendations*
Stinging nettle	Detoxifying, diuretic (in cases of urinary tract diseases), circulation-promoting, metabolism-stimulating, anti-inflammatory & pain-relieving (in cases of osteoarthritis)	Horses 30-50g/day Cobs 25g/day
Milk thistle	Detoxifying, liver-strengthening, heart-strengthening, digestion-promoting, rich in omega-6 fatty acids, improves skin & coat by building a healthy skin barrier (in cases of sweet itch)	As oil: Horses 50-150ml/day Cobs 20-50ml/day As seeds: Horses 20-30g/day Cobs 10-20g/day
Dandelion	Digestion-promoting, appetite-stimulating, diuretic (in cases of urinary tract diseases), liver metabolism-stimulating, cares for the intestinal flora (in cases of free faecal water syndrome, diarrhoea, flatulence, colic)	Horses 20-40g/day Cobs 10-20g/day
Birch	Diuretic, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, metabolism-stimulating, facilitates coat change	Horses 40-50g/day Cobs 20-25g/day
Beetroot	Immuno-strengthening, metabolism-stimulating, blood-forming, rich in vitamin C, iron, folic acid, B vitamins, calcium and betanin, protects cells, bones, cartilage and tissue	As chips: Horses 100g/day Cobs 50g/day Raw: up to 3 tubers/day
Echinacea/Coneflower	Immuno-strengthening, anti-infective, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, blood-forming	Horses 20-40g/day Cobs 10-20g/day
Ginger	Appetite-stimulating, digestion-promoting, circulation-promoting, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory (in cases of osteoarthritis, laminitis), cancer-fighting, rich in pungent substances gingerols and shogaols	Ground: Horses 20g/day Cobs 10g/day Use in moderation!
Hemp	Immuno-strengthening, metabolism-stimulating (in cases of sweet itch, laminitis, EMS), anti-inflammatory (in cases of osteoarthritis), rich in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, positive for coat, hoof, muscle building and in cases of tension	As oil: Horses 15-25ml/day, Cobs 10-20ml/day As seeds: Horses 60g/day, Cobs 30g/day
Psyllium	Cares for the intestinal flora through self-cleaning (in cases of diarrhoea, free faecal water syndrome, sand colic, stomach ulcers)	Horses 30-60g/day Cobs 15-30g/day
Garlic	Immuno-strengthening, metabolism-stimulating, antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic, natural insect protection	Horses max. 50g/day Cobs max. 25g/day or 6-8g/day per 100kg Use in moderation!
Black cumin	Immuno-strengthening, positive for respiratory tract in cases of asthma and cough, skin problems and overreactions such as sweet itch, digestion	As seeds: Horses 40-60g/day Cobs 30-40g/day As pellets: Horses 60-100g/day As oil: Horses 15-25ml/day Cobs 10-20ml/day
Linseed	Intestinal caring, digestion-promoting, performance-enhancing, strengthening for coat, skin & hooves, rich in omega-3 & -6 fatty acids	As linseed cake: Horses 100g/day Cobs 50g/day As oil: Horses 30-45ml/day Cobs
Carrots	Immuno- and nerve-strengthening, digestion-promoting, antioxidant, rich in beta-carotene for the formation of vitamin A, protects the mucous membranes, in dried form they bind bacteria	Feeding mixed with a dash of linseed oil Horses max. 2-3kg/day Cobs max. 1-2kg/day
Ginkgo	Immuno-strengthening, circulation-promoting (in cases of laminitis, EMS, Cushing, senior horses), vessel-dilating & heart-strengthening	Horses 20-40g/day Cobs 10-20g/day

Herbs for horses by effect

Especially in autumn and winter, when the weather is damp and cold, and horses have to do without herbs and fresh grass, they can be more susceptible to infections. Therefore, they particularly need vitamins and immune system support during these times. Read here how you can strengthen your horse’s immune system in winter.