The Complete Handbook of Horse Vitamins & Supplements

I've been managing a 12-horse barn for a decade and I thought I knew more than I actually did. The chapter on reading labels alone is worth the price, especially the breakdown of what to look for in a guaranteed analysis. It's a bit dry in places, and I would have liked a few more photos to break it up, but it's quickly becoming my go-to reference. It feels like a textbook, which is exactly what I wanted.

Finally, a book that treats the reader like an intelligent adult. I bought this for my own horses after being swindled by a very expensive joint supplement that did absolutely nothing. Chapter 1 gave me the foundation to understand why, and the later chapters gave me a system to evaluate what they actually need. The troubleshooting section is gold. I've already recommended it to two other competitors and I'm planning to use the business section to start a small online retail operation. This is the book the industry needed.

I'm a serious dressage rider, not a vet, but I needed more information than what the feed store could give me. This handbook filled a big gap. I really appreciated the chapter on choosing a supplement, because it made me stop adding things willy-nilly and actually look at my horse's diet as a whole. The only reason it's not 5 stars is because the glossary could have been more comprehensive, and the future trends section got a little speculative for my taste.

As someone who runs a small tack and feed shop, I needed concrete information to help my customers without pretending to be a veterinarian. This book's chapter on business opportunities was a practical eye-opener, especially the part about private labeling. I've reorganized my entire supplement shelf after reading it. It's a little dense to read cover-to-cover, but I keep it under the counter for quick reference when customers ask me the tough questions.

I appreciated that this book didn't try to sell me on any brand or miracle product. It's purely practical. The sections on why a horse might not eat a supplement and what to do about it, as well as the maintenance and troubleshooting, were incredibly helpful for dealing with my picky mare. It's not a light read, but it's a solid and serious reference. I docked a star only because I wish there were an index of specific ingredients and their synonyms.

I found the first chapter to be a good foundation and it's clear the authors know their stuff from a hands-on perspective. However, I was hoping for a little more specific guidance. I have a horse with complicated allergies, and the book stays general on these kinds of niche issues. It's a great starting point for someone who is new to keeping horses, but I think a more experienced owner like me might find the latter half of the book to be more useful than the earlier chapters. It's a solid resource, overall.