Breeding & Fertility Supplements for Horses

Reproductive health in mares and stallions depends on meeting nutritional requirements for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals that influence fertility, conception rates, and foal development. Key nutrients include calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and lysine. In mares, these nutrients support hormone production, healthy ovarian and uterine function, embryo viability, fetal growth, and milk quality. In stallions, proper nutrition contributes to spermatogenesis, sperm motility, and semen quality.

Forage alone cannot meet all of a horse’s micronutrient needs. A complete vitamin and mineral supplement such as Omneity^® helps ensure broodmares and stallions receive all nutrients required for optimal reproductive performance.

Preparing your mare to be bred should start several months before the breeding season to allow time to correct any nutritional gaps. Evaluate your mare’s body condition and aim to maintain a score of 5-6 out of 9 for optimal fertility. Submit a forage sample for analysis and work with an equine nutritionist to balance your horse’s overall diet to ensure vitamin, mineral, protein, and energy requirements are met without overfeeding. Supplementing with Omneity provides essential trace minerals such as copper, zinc, and selenium, along with vitamins and amino acids that support reproductive function, conception, and early pregnancy. Adding w-3 Oil provides high levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA along with natural vitamin E. Research shows that supplementing mares with DHA during the last trimester can support uterine recovery after foaling and may help foals stand and nurse sooner. DHA is transferred through the placenta and into milk, supporting the foal’s brain, eye, and nervous system development. In pregnant and lactating mares, w-3 Oil also adds cool-energy calories and supports overall reproductive health.

Reproductive health in mares is influenced by both nutrition and management. Ensuring your mare maintains an ideal body condition score year-round supports normal hormonal cycles and fertility. Provide consistent access to high-quality forage and avoid abrupt feed changes that could disrupt gut health. Keep your broodmare on a regular vaccination and deworming schedule to protect against diseases that can affect pregnancy. Schedule routine veterinary exams to monitor reproductive soundness and address any concerns early. Good environmental management, regular hoof care, adequate turnout, an appropriate exercise program, and low-stress handling all contribute to overall well-being and can help support reproductive function. Working with an equine nutritionist to evaluate your mare’s diet can help ensure she receives a balanced diet for breeding, pregnancy, and lactation. You can submit a free diet evaluation to have our nutritionists review your mare’s feeding program.

In early pregnancy, nutrient requirements are only slightly above maintenance, but they increase significantly during the last trimester as the foal grows rapidly. Throughout gestation, mares require consistent intake of high-quality forage plus a complete vitamin and mineral supplement such as Omneity to provide essential trace minerals and vitamins. Omega-3 supplementation with DHA, such as from w-3 Oil, supports foal neurological and immune development. Digestive support with Optimum Digestive Health can improve nutrient absorption and may enhance colostrum quality.

During early pregnancy, a mare’s nutrient needs are similar to those of an adult horse at maintenance. As long as her diet is appropriately balanced to meet the vitamin, mineral, and amino acid requirements of a mature horse, it can generally be maintained through this stage. Supplementing with a complete vitamin and mineral formula such as Omneity^® helps ensure these requirements are met, even when feeding primarily forage. In the final three months, when approximately 75% of fetal growth occurs, your mare’s energy, protein, and mineral needs rise significantly. At this stage, additional nutrient-dense feeds or supplements may be needed to maintain an ideal body condition and to support healthy foal development. Working with an equine nutritionist can help ensure the diet remains properly balanced to reduce the risk of deficiencies that could affect the mare or foal. You can submit a free diet evaluation to have our nutritionists review your mare’s feeding program.

Milk quality is directly influenced by the mare’s diet, particularly the quality of protein, energy level, mineral profile, and fatty acid content. Essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and threonine are important for supporting milk protein content, while trace minerals like copper, zinc, and selenium play key roles in the foal’s growth and development. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA from w-3 Oil, are passed into the milk and help support the foal’s immune function and the development of the brain and nervous system. Supporting gut health with Optimum Digestive Health can enhance nutrient absorption, helping the mare meet the high nutritional demands of lactation and produce nutrient-rich milk for her foal.

Yes, breeding stallions have increased energy and protein demands due to heightened activity levels. They also have higher nutrient requirements for certain vitamins and minerals to support sperm production and quality. Antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium are important to help protect sperm cells from oxidative damage. While not essential nutrients, some breeders choose to supplement omega-3 fatty acids to support semen quality. Acetyl L-carnitine is also used to support sperm motility by maintaining cellular energy metabolism.

The first step in supporting fertility in stallions is to feed a balanced diet that meets the horse’s vitamin, mineral, and amino acid requirements. High-quality forage should be the foundation of the diet, but forage alone will not provide all essential nutrients. A complete balancer such as Omneity^® is recommended to fill these gaps and ensure nutrient requirements are met. Once the diet is balanced, targeted supplements may be added to support reproductive performance. Natural vitamin E and organic selenium are antioxidants that help protect sperm cells from oxidative damage, supporting fertility. w-3 Oil is a source of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which supports sperm quality, morphology, and membrane fluidity. Acetyl L-Carnitine may also help maintain motility by supporting energy production in sperm cells. Nutritional interventions should always be combined with regular exercise, good body condition, and proper management to optimise reproductive performance.