Learning to read and interpret feed and supplement labels properly empowers horse owners to make genuinely informed decisions, rather than relying purely on marketing claims printed on packaging.
The ingredients list, sometimes called the composition, tells you what is actually in the product, typically listed in descending order by quantity. For supplements specifically, this list alone often does not tell you the actual quantity of each ingredient, which is why checking the additives or analytical constituents section, where actual quantities per kilogram or per dose are specified, matters considerably more for assessing genuine specification.
Feeding rate guidelines specify how much of the product should be fed, usually based on bodyweight, to achieve the levels of active ingredients the manufacturer intends. It is worth calculating what this actually means in terms of the specific active ingredients your horse will receive at the recommended rate, rather than assuming the feeding rate alone tells the full story.
Analytical constituents, a section more commonly seen on bagged feed than supplements, but increasingly included on higher specification supplements too, break down the actual nutrient content, including protein, oil, fibre and ash content, alongside specific vitamin and mineral inclusion rates. This section is where you find the genuinely useful detail about what a product actually delivers nutritionally.
Additives sections list specific functional ingredients, including Vitamins, trace elements and other additives such as Glucosamine, MSM, Horse Biotin.... where relevant, often with actual inclusion rates specified per kilogram of product. Cross referencing this against the recommended feeding rate allows you to calculate the actual daily intake your horse will receive of any specific ingredient you are particularly interested in.
Best before dates and batch numbers matter for quality assurance and traceability, and checking these, particularly for products you may be storing for extended periods, ensures you are feeding a product within its intended quality window.
Manufacturer contact details, increasingly required by regulation, allow you to contact the company directly with any questions about formulation, sourcing or specific concerns, which is genuinely useful if you want clarification beyond what the label itself provides.
It is also worth being aware of common marketing language that does not necessarily reflect meaningful formulation differences. Terms such as "premium," "advanced" or "scientifically formulated" are not regulated terms with a specific defined meaning, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for checking actual ingredient quantities and composition.
Taking the time to properly understand feed and Horse Supplement labels, rather than relying purely on front-of-pack marketing claims, genuinely empowers better decision making for your horse's nutrition, across our own products and any others you may be considering.
