Kelp: An Alternative Equine Mineral Program

Everyone knows that minerals are an important part of the equine diet. There are many different sources for minerals – blocks, loose mineral formulas, or even Himalayan salt licks are becoming increasingly popular, as is kelp. Depending on the manufacturer, kelp is considered a whole food that is so nutrient dense very little is needed. Potentially, kelp can be an efficient mineral source for pennies a day, as the average horse only needs a recommended ½ - ounce per day. 

Feeding Mineral

With a regular mineral program, a horse needs one to four ounces of mineral per day depending on the formulations. A horse will lick a salt lick or mineral block for a few minutes, but the chances of them actually getting their complete mineral needs is minimal. A more efficient method of feeding mineral is as loose mineral, either on top of feed or free fed. The most important aspect of the equine diet is the forage; after forage and fresh water, comes mineral. The third most important part of your horse’s diet is becoming the next big supplement market. 

When walking the feed and supplement aisles of your local feed store, or flipping through the pages of the latest catalog, there are literally hundreds of options for mineral supplementation.  After testing your forage, where do you go? How do you know what is enough mineral? What is too much? Toxicity is a very real concern in every vitamin and mineral program. Basic formulas are available and your local feed store employee can help you widdle down your options. But what about kelp? Why is it becoming so popular?

Why Kelp?

The main benefit of feeding kelp instead of a manufactured mineral product is that it is a plant, and therefore easier for the horse to absorb and digest, easier even than the chelated organic minerals now available on the market. It is a complete package, containing muscle building amino acids, vitamins, as well as perfectly balanced micro and macro minerals, with no further supplementation needed. According to North American Kelp Company of Maine, SeaLife is a rich and dependable source of 60 minerals and elements including iodine, 21 amino acids, and 12 vitamins (including A, C, B12, thiamin, and vitamin E or tocopherol). Because the minerals are in plant tissue they are easily digested and assimilated. Many of the trace minerals contained in SeaLife are essential for producing enzymes which in turn promote healthy body functions. (“North American Kelp”). Kelp is an excellent form of a multi-vitamin and a hoof supplement, kelp contains “balanced quantities of essential minerals such as iron, selenium, iodine, sulfur, copper, magnesium, zinc, as well as beta carotene, vitamins D, E, C, B1 and B2, niacin, and up to twenty different amino acids (Self 97).”

Kelp is becoming an increasingly more popular ingredient in many herbal alternative health formulas by many companies. Silver Lining Herbs, of Buhl, Idaho uses kelp in fifteen of twenty-eight formulas (www.silverliningherbs.com). Equine Science™ of Memphis, Tennessee has twelve different formulas containing kelp ranging from immune system boosters to breeding enhancers and muscle building formulas (www.herbs4horses.com).  Specifically, another respected supplement company, Springtime, Inc., uses kelp as the main ingredient in their Hoof & Coat Formula. According to Springtime, Inc, “without doubt, kelp is one of the most nutrient dense foods that exists. As it grows, sea kelp converts the inorganic minerals in sea water into organic mineral salts that are combined with amino acids to form naturally chelated minerals (www.springtimeinc.com).”

Benefits and Uses of Kelp

Kelp, or bladderwrack, as it is known in other countries, has a wide range of health benefits and uses including, but not limited to:

• Vitamin & Mineral Conditions:

 Anemia (Self 73), Cushing’s Disease (Self 80), Exhaustion (Self 89), Acute inflammation (Self 102), Laminitis (Self 104), Mineral/Vitamin Deficiency (Self 109), Coat & Skin Conditions (Bird 41), Hoof Problems (Bird 41, 205),  Ulcers (Gastric or Mouth) (Self 134) 

• Blood Purifier: 

Muscle Damage/Wastage/Tension (Self 115), Muscle Development (Bird 42),  Rheumatism (Bird 42), Thrush (Self 133), Worms (Bird 42), Sweet Itch (Self 131), Old Age/Senior Horses (Self 119), 

• Glandular Problems: 

Lymphangitis (Self 106), Tendon & Ligament Repair (Self 133), Thyroid (Bird 41)

• Other: 

Post-Viral Syndrome: rich in Vitamin C and minerals to strengthen the horse’s natural defenses (Self 121),  Milk Production in Mares: increases to quantity of milk (Self 108), Boosting Metabolism (Bird 214).

Cautions

Although Kelp is a natural wonder, there are still cautions in any mineral program.  Balance is an extremely critical aspect in all mineral supplementation. Supplying minerals in the most bioavailable form will improve mineral status through higher supplement efficiency (Hoof, Ph. D., Swenson, Ph. D., and Johnson, Ph. D., 27).  Feeding a nutrient dense natural mineral is the easiest method of ensuring high supplement absorption and, depending on the manufacturer, naturally balanced for your horse’s general needs. Iodine toxicity, the major concern with feeding kelp, can be easily avoided by feeding the recommended quantities (Baxter).  As always when adding new feed programs, before adding kelp to your favorite horse’s diet, talk to your veterinarian to ensure there are  no medical concerns like enlarged thyroid or too much iodine in your horse’s diet already.

Baxter, Kay. "How Much Kelp Meal Should You Feed a Horse." eHow 23 August 2010: n. pag. Web. 6 Mar 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/decision_6858252_much-meal-should-feed-horse_.html>.

"Benefits of SeaLife as a Feed Supplement." North American Kelp. North American Kelp, 11-17-2003. Web. 6 Mar 2011. <http://www.noamkelp.com/index.html>.

Bird, Catherine. A Healthy Horse the Natural Way. 1st ed. Guilford, Connecticut: The Lyons Press, 2005. Print.

Hoof, Ph. D., David M., Connie Swenson, Ph. D., and A. Bruce Johnson, Ph. D. Building the Equine Hoof. 1st ed. Eden Prairie, MN: ZinPro Corporation, 2002. Print.

Self, Hilary Page. Modern Horse Herbal. 2nd ed. Shrewsbury, UK: Kenilworth Press Ltd, 2004. Print.