How to Feed a Horse Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral for horses. Many horse owners use magnesium to regulate blood pressure and to help horses remain relaxed. If a horse becomes stressed, they usually use up their stores of magnesium and may need a supplement. There are many ways to add this supplement to your horse's diet.

Things You'll Need

  • A veterinarian
  • Magnesium supplements from your local feed store
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Instructions

    • 1

      Speak to your vet for more information about feeding your horse magnesium. They may recommend a blood test to see how much magnesium is in their blood in relation to other minerals and can then tell you how much your horse needs.

    • 2

      Remember that you can add magnesium supplements to your horse's feed or injected with a syringe directly into the horse's blood.

    • 3

      Think about how much calcium your horse is getting. Calcium works with magnesium and not enough of one and too much of the other is a problem. In addition, many experts feel that giving calcium at the same time as magnesium may impact the absorption of the magnesium. Speak to your vet for more information about this.

    • 4

      Check the label on the feed you're giving your horse. Perhaps your horse is magnesium deficient because there's no magnesium in their feed.

    • 5

      Decide whether you're giving magnesium to correct a problem, such as fat deposits, or as a simple maintenance supplement. If you're giving magnesium to correct a problem, you'll need to give more, but for a short amount of time until the problem goes away. If it's maintenance, you'll give less magnesium.