Benefits of feeding magnesium to horses. Here are 7 benefits why magnesium is important in a horse’s diet:

  1. Muscle Function: Magnesium plays a key role in muscle contraction and relaxation. Feeding magnesium benefits horses in work by ensuring adequate levels to prevent muscle cramps, stiffness, and soreness, improving a horse’s performance and comfort during exercise. Often tension and tight muscles are a sign that extra magnesium supplementation may be needed.  Daily feeding of magnesium benefits the horse prior to strenuous work or prolonged exercise.

  2. Bone Health: Magnesium supports the development and maintenance of healthy bones and joints in horses. Magnesium works synergistically with calcium and phosphorus to strengthen the skeletal system and help prevent conditions like brittle bones in horses. It is important to also ensure that young horses have adequate balance of all nutrients.

  3. Nervous System Health: Magnesium is essential for proper nerve function and helps in the regulation of neurotransmitter activity. This can help calm a nervous or excitable horse, reducing stress or anxiety. Magnesium, therefore, benefits the horse by helping to manage hyperactive or reactive behaviour calming nerves for a more relaxed demeanour.

  4. Improved Digestion: Magnesium has a laxative effect and can help promote normal digestion and bowel movements. It can assist in preventing impactions and other digestive issues.

  5. Electrolyte Balance: Magnesium is an important electrolyte where it helps to regulate the balance in the body, which is crucial for maintaining hydration and normal cellular function, especially after intense physical activity or during hot weather. Magnesium is also a component of most equine electrolyte formulas. Ensure your horse receives adequate magnesium if salt is fed in place of regular electrolytes.

  6. Supporting Heart Health: Magnesium plays a role in maintaining a healthy heart rhythm and function. Adequate magnesium levels can help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and support overall cardiovascular health.

  7. Stress Relief and Calmness: Magnesium has a calming effect on the horse’s nervous system. It is often recommended for horses that are prone to stress, anxiety, or nervous behaviour, to help promote relaxation and improve their ability to cope with stressful situations. Daily feeding of magnesium benefits your horse prior to travelling, moving, training, competition or prior to a stressful event by ensuring muscles and nerves are relaxed as possible prior.

 

By feeding magnesium your horses health, well-being and performance will benefit. Low levels may also be noticed during fast growing grass where horses may exhibit reactive behaviour known as grass affected horses. By feeding magnesium you boost and restore the body’s optimum level for healthy function.  Magnesium is a major mineral required for cellular function. The best form to use is a quality amino acid chelate such as Mag-Eze. This form of magnesium is bioavailable for fast uptake by cells. Click this link for more information on feeding magnesium to your horse   Magnesium for horses | Best Chelate