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Selenium is a trace mineral that partners with Vitamin E in the body’s antioxidant defense system to trap free radicals produced by exercise, illness and certain medical conditions. While some parts of the country have high levels of Selenium in their soil and therefore the plants that grow there, Selenium deficiency has been reported in 46 states. Therefore, most horses will need supplementation to meet the NRC requirement of 1mg/day for maintenance. For optimum immune function and exercise recovery, 2 to 3 mg/day is recommended, which is still well below the 5mg/day which may be the upper safe limit. Selenium Yeast, the organic form of the mineral, is better absorbed than inorganic Selenium Selenate or Selenite.
Source: United States Geological Survey http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html - (National Geochemical Survey)
Many vets recommend feeding a selenium and vitamin E supplement to horses that are prone to tying up or azoturia.
An equine veterinarian can determine if your horse is suffering from a selenium deficiency by taking a blood test, and can give advice on creating effective and safe supplementation.
It is also worthwhile to consult an equine nutritionist to establish the recommended levels of selenium for your horse. Vitamin E is often fed to a horse in conjunction with selenium as they work together - these two key anti-oxidant nutrients are an important part of the horse's detoxification system.
They can protect the horse's red blood cells from damage during exercise.
Natural sources of Selenium
Selenium is a naturally occuring mineral found in the soil.
Equine selenium supplements are most commonly manufactured from selenide in sulfide ores of silver, copper or lead.
SELENIUM CAN BE TOXIC
Take care if you decide to feed a selenium supplement to your horse or pony. Selenium can be toxic in high doses.
If high levels of selenium supplements are fed to a horse over a period of time, chronic poisoning may occur.
Selenium toxicity can produce symptoms such as hair loss from the mane and tail, diarrhoea, blindness, separation of the hoof wall from the horse's foot, colic, increased respiration and heart rates.
However the benefits of feeding selenium supplements to horses and ponies do outweigh the risks providing care is taken not to over supplement your horse's feed with it. Take special care not to feed more than one horse supplement containing selenium at a time
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