The Myth of ‘Safe’ Supplements: What Horse Owners Should Know
Annie Emery
Something that is an increasing concern to me is people asking nutrition professionals: Is this supplement safe? I’ve also seen more ads claiming a product is “safe and natural.” This is a tricky area. Let’s talk about what we do and don’t know about the word safe.
Of course we want the best for our horses. We want to know what to do, and what is truly best. That’s common sense. But here’s the problem: safe is not a regulated word. In fact, supplements themselves are not regulated in the United States. There is very little testing done—and quite frankly, there doesn’t have to be testing at all. That puts us in a bit of a conundrum.
Why I Won’t Say Something Is Safe
I’ve been asked many times to give my opinion on safety, and quite frankly, I won’t do it. Legally, I can’t. But beyond that, I’m not going to say something is safe when we don’t really know. My job is to balance supporting horse owners with also being honest about what we don’t know.
So let’s break down what safe does and doesn’t mean when it comes to supplements.
Unlike FDA-approved drugs, equine supplements do not go through required testing. Companies and individuals can make a supplement, package it, and market it to you as long as they don’t claim it treats or cures a disease. Many supplements already walk dangerously close to that line, acting more like medications in their advertising. But at the end of the day, the words safe, natural, effective are marketing—not science.
When a company says “100% safe” on the label, it doesn’t actually tell you anything meaningful.
Context Matters
Let’s use salt as an example. Salt is natural. Salt is generally safe for horses, and they do have a sodium and chloride requirement. I’ve said many times: every horse should get salt every day.
But at a high enough level, salt can kill a horse. Yes, I’ve actually heard of this happening. If a salt block contaminates the water source, a horse can die from salt toxicity.
The same goes for life stage differences. What’s safe for a gelding may not be safe for a pregnant mare.
Herbs are another big one. Just because something grows on a tree or bush doesn’t make it harmless. In fact, many of the worst supplement reactions I’ve seen come from poorly formulated herbal products. Most of the time I suspect it’s the binders and fillers rather than the herb itself—but I’m not an herbalist, so I leave that part alone.
The bottom line: context is important. Natural does not equal harmless. Think about poisonous plants. Horses, like people, can have allergies, sensitivities, or adverse reactions.
Questions Every Owner Should Ask
That’s why I always tell owners: know who makes the product. Start with reputable companies—ideally those with PhD nutritionists on staff, or at least a clear track record and transparency around sourcing and testing.
Ask yourself:
Who formulated this supplement?
Do they have true scientific expertise?
Are they a subject matter expert?
Does the company provide transparency?
I’ve had many people unable to answer basic questions about their supplements. If you’re going to sell it, you should be able to explain it. I’m not an advocate for companies—I’m an advocate for you, the horse owner.
What We Know vs. What We Don’t
We actually know a lot about equine nutrition at the big-picture level. Despite all the online arguments, we know how to feed a horse. We know the six major nutrient classes they require. We know how to build a balanced ration from hay, concentrates, and forage.
What we don’t know as much about is supplements. So if you’re asking about a product, look deeper:
Has this actual product been tested in horses?
Or are they leaning on studies done in mice twenty years ago?
What’s actually on the label? What binders, fillers, or inactive ingredients are included?
When you see words like safe, tested, proven—always dig deeper.
Where I Stand
I love talking about supplements. My own horse and dog are on several carefully chosen ones, and they’ve added real value to their quality of life. I’ve even worked with a veterinarian in Chinese medicine on these choices, and I believe in the concepts when they’re applied thoughtfully.
But I will never say a product is safe. That is a medical determination, and it’s one you should bring to your veterinarian. Nutrition and veterinary medicine overlap, and that’s a good thing—but I stay firmly on my side of the line.
My role is to help you assess:
What do we actually know about the product?
Is it good value?
Is the company reputable?
Does it make sense in your horse’s program—or is it a waste of money?
Most of the time, I take out far more supplements than I add. For every one supplement I add, I probably remove four. The goal is always a thoughtful, balanced program.
Final Thoughts
Supplements have their place. My horse and dog are proof of that. Some have even been revolutionary in their health. But my philosophy remains: use as few supplements as possible, and as many as you need.
Remember: safety is about context, not labels. The goal isn’t to avoid supplements, or to be scared of them—it’s to choose wisely and confidently.
That’s what I do every day. I help horse owners cut through the stress and noise so they can make clear, informed choices for their horses.
If you’d like help with this, this is literally my job. I work with clients virtually all over the U.S. and Canada, and together we can build a program that fits your horse, your budget, and your comfort level.
This article is my unique and own work, it was not made by AI and is not to be used to train/teach AI technology. These are my opinions only, I am not associated with any feed company, feed store, or other commercial group that makes and sells feeds. Copyright Revolution Equine Nutrition