Paste Equine Supplements: When and Why to Feed Them

Many of us are familiar with feeding powdered, pelleted, or even liquid supplements - daily formulas designed to offer continuous support in various areas of horse health. But do you know when or why to feed a paste version of a supplement?

Why choose a paste?

Supplements in paste or gel form are generally intended for occasional, targeted use, acting like a booster to your horse’s daily supplement regimen. They make it easy to give your horse a precise serving that can be fed on an as-needed basis outside of regular mealtimes. For example, your horse may consistently be fed a pelleted supplement for day-to-day support in a particular area, but he could still benefit from a paste supplement for additional support in a time of stress. Consider it like the cherry on top of a situation in which your horse may need extra support depending on his needs.

Let’s take a closer look at four of our favorite paste supplements and when they could be used.

• SmartCalm® Ultra Paste

If your horse exhibits excessive nervous, skittish, or unfocused behavior, particularly during a new or unfamiliar events like showing, or trailering, SmartCalm Ultra Paste can be a smart way to help manage your horse’s anxiety. By combining several key ingredients for a healthy nervous system, this convenient paste is quick and easy to administer when your horse needs a little extra support and can even be fed in addition to other SmartCalm daily supplements.

Magnesium and thiamine help smooth out deficiencies in the diet that can interfere with proper nervous system function. Taurine is an amino acid found in high concentrations in the brain, heart, retina, and muscle that stabilizes membranes and assists in the movement of electrolytes in and out of cells, which is critical for nervous system health. Inositol and tryptophan both participate in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter whose brain levels are known to be a factor in excess anxiety. Plus, this formula is herb-free, making it a great choice for most competitions.

"With the high amount of fitness comes a high amount of energy. For years, we've trusted SmartCalm to keep our ultra-fit eventers focused at the competition so they can perform their best."

-Team SmartPak Rider and four-time Olympian Boyd Martin

• SmartLytes® Paste

While hay, pasture, and fortified grain are key components of a horse’s diet, none of them contain enough salt (sodium chloride) to meet your horse’s needs, and not all horses can get their requirements from a salt block alone, especially when on the go! Feeding a well-balanced electrolyte supplement like SmartLytes Pellets can supply your horse with enough sodium chloride, as well as the three other key minerals that are lost in sweat: calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

SmartLytes Paste’s sugar-free formula is a convenient way to replace mineral losses in equine sweat and encourage your horse to drink. It can even be fed in addition to a daily electrolyte supplement. But remember, always make sure your horse has access to plenty of fresh water, too.

"We have been using them in Foxy's travels during his Burghley trip! I love how easy this is to use when we are traveling, If we find the horses are dehydrated or just not drinking enough water, it is in an easy oral paste to help encourage them to drink. It is a must have for our horses that we know aren't good drinkers when they ship!"

-Team SmartPak Rider and 5* International Three Day Event Rider Jennie Brannigan

• SmartDigest® Ultra Paste

Modern horse keeping practices such as getting new hay deliveries, changing grain, introducing or removing horses from a barn, and even traveling and showing can cause your horse to If your horse experiences times of digestive stress. SmartDigest Ultra Paste can help keep your horse’s hindgut functioning at its best and works great when paired with daily digestive support for horses that experience digestive distress, anxiety, or immune challenges.

This formula includes specialized ingredients, including many that are backed by research, for comprehensive support. Prebiotics and probiotics help support normal gastrointestinal flora. DVEquine™ Postbiotic improves fiber digestion and assists the beneficial bacteria of the hindgut in adjusting to feed changes. Key enzymes are included to increase the proper digestion of starch in the foregut. All of this is combined in a tasty, butterscotch-flavored paste that even picky eaters are sure to love.

SmartDigest Ultra Paste is an absolute staple for my horses. I always keep some on hand to ensure that I can support them during any digestive challenges they might face. Through weather changes, travel, showing, hay changes, or any number of stressors I find that this paste gives my horses the extra boost for their hindgut they need!

- SmartPaker and Barn Care Coordinator Kit Frey

• SmartShip & Show® Paste

We all know that travel can be tough on horses, so SmartShip & Show Paste was designed to help your horse cope with the demands of trailering, competing, and other stresses in one comprehensive formula that boasts digestive support, electrolytes, and antioxidants. This formula is best utilized once daily prior to and during travel or other stressful events so that your horse can feel his best and get the support he needs for optimal performance.

Probiotics and prebiotics support healthy digestive and GI tract function, while the potent antioxidant vitamin C protects cells throughout the body from the damaging effects of stress. Plus, electrolytes are included to replace minerals lost in sweat and to encourage proper hydration.

“One of my mares has always been nervous while trailering, she would not eat anything, and would be covered in sweat by the time we reached our destination. A few months ago, we discovered Smart Ship and Show. It has made a world of difference and now is a necessity for keeping her calm and allowing her to relax in the trailer!”

-Team SmartPak Rider and USEA's Lady Rider of the Year, Kim Severson

Why NOT pastes?

Paste supplements are an excellent way to provide extra support in times of need. They’re convenient to pack, easy to administer, and contain easy-to-feed serving sizes that make them a great choice for on-the-go riders and horses. However, these supplements are not meant to replace formulas intended for daily servings and long-term use.

Not sure which version would be best for your horse? Our Customer Care Team offers FREE Supplement Consultations. They take your horse’s entire lifestyle—diet, exercise, living situation and more, into account to help you find the best program to keep your horse her healthiest and happiest. Give us a call today at 1-800-461-8898.