3:1 Zinc Copper provides essential trace minerals in an ideal ratio to maintain hoof, skin and coat health in your horse. Horses with high iron intake, weak hoof structure, or metabolic problems might benefit from additional organic zinc and copper in the diet.
Copper is an essential trace mineral involved in multiple enzymatic processes that support connective tissue formation, antioxidant defense, and energy metabolism. It is a cofactor for lysyl oxidase, an enzyme required for cross-linking collagen and elastin, helping maintain strong tendons, ligaments, and bone matrix integrity. Copper also contributes to melanin synthesis for normal coat pigmentation and supports red blood cell formation through iron metabolism.
In horses, adequate copper status is associated with joint soundness, tissue repair, and optimal hoof and coat condition. Copper also plays a role in antioxidant defense as part of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that helps neutralize free radicals generated during exercise or stress.
Organic forms such as copper proteinate are more bioavailable than inorganic sources like copper sulfate or oxide, allowing for more efficient absorption and utilization. Supplementing with organic copper helps maintain normal copper levels in horses consuming forages grown in low-copper soils or diets high in competing minerals such as zinc, iron, or manganese.
Zinc is an essential trace mineral required for numerous enzymatic processes involved in metabolism, tissue repair, immune defense, and antioxidant protection. It supports normal hoof growth and integrity, skin and coat condition, joint health, and reproductive function in horses.
In the body, zinc participates in more than 300 enzymatic reactions related to protein synthesis, collagen formation, and insulin regulation. Adequate zinc status contributes to normal glucose metabolism, muscle recovery, and wound healing, while deficiency can impair growth, immunity, and integumentary tissue quality.
Zinc proteinate is an organic, chelated form in which zinc is bound to amino acids or small peptides, improving intestinal absorption and bioavailability compared with inorganic forms such as zinc oxide or zinc sulfate. This form helps ensure more consistent mineral uptake under dietary or physiological stress and supports optimal trace mineral balance when fed alongside copper and manganese.
Proteinated Zinc & Copper Supplement for Horses
Consult with nutritionist or veterinarian prior to use.
Top dress once daily on feed or ration.
| Body Weight | Scoops | Dose |
| < 200 kg | ½ scoop | 3 g |
| 200 – 500 kg | 1 scoop | 6 g |
| > 500 kg | 1 ½ scoops | 9 g |
| 1 scoop = 9 cc = 6 grams | ||
A scale should be used with all individual ingredients to ensure accurate dosing.
For equine use only. Not for use in horses intended for food. Keep out of reach of children. This VHP may not be incorporated into a mixed feed.
| Active Ingredients: Per gram serving |
||
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient | Per 6 g | |
| Zinc | 300 | mg |
| Copper | 100 | mg |
Active Ingredients: Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate
Excipient Ingredients: Dried Distillers Grain, Dried Yeast.
Recommended Use: Helps maintain healthy skin, coat and hooves.
Packaged by: Mad Barn Inc., Petersburg, ON, N0B 2H0, Canada.
1 kg (2.2 lb): SKU 628055182023
| kg | ||
| grams | ||
| Servings | Cost Per Day |
|---|
Have a question about this product? Ask below and our nutritionists will be happy to assist.
Hoof Strength and Growth
Joints and Connective Tissue
Coat Quality and Skin Health
Metabolic Health
Antioxidant Status
Mineral Balance
Immune Function
Intense Exercise
Resistance to Stress
Overall Well-BeingMad Barn’s 3:1 Zinc Copper supplement provides the essential minerals Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) in the correct three to one ratio to balance most equine diets. One scoop supplies the recommended 300 mg of zinc and 100 mg copper for a 500 kg horse.
Our 3:1 Zinc Copper powder is composed of 100% chelated (organic) Zinc and Copper sources. These chelated minerals are organic forms known as proteinates, meaning they are bound to amino acids or small peptides. This natural binding improves absorption and utilization in the body compared to inorganic minerals.
Copper and zinc are required for the horse to make keratin, a protein that is found in hair and hooves. Horses with low levels of copper and zinc might have a coat that is frizzy, dull, or discolored. Zinc and copper supplied in a 3:1 ratio supports a shiny, healthy coat and healthy skin.
Optimal intake of these minerals helps support strong hooves and helps to prevent hoof wall cracks, thrush and/or white line issues. Copper and zinc proteinates have been shown to support a strong hoof structure and lower the incidence of hoof wall separation. [1][2]
Copper and zinc work together as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme copper/zinc superoxide dismutase which is found in all cells of the body. Older horses and heavily exercised horses have a high need for antioxidant support from the diet and might benefit for copper and zinc supplementation.
Horses that are low in these essential minerals might be more prone to infections like mud fever or rain scald because of inadequate antioxidant status.
Horses with high levels of iron in the diet are likely to require supplemental zinc and copper to keep these three minerals in proper balance. Excess iron intake interferes with absorption of copper and zinc from feed sources. A ratio between 10:3:1 to 4:3:1 of iron to zinc to copper is ideal in the equine feeding program to enable optimal absorption and utilization of these minerals.
Excess iron intake can contribute to Cushing’s/PPID, insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and liver damage. Adding copper and zinc to the diet may help counteract the negative effects of high iron and support metabolic health and liver function.
Mad Barn’s AminoTrace+ is a complete vitamin and mineral premix that has high levels of zinc and copper. A typical serving size provides 760 mg zinc and 300 mg copper. It was developed specifically for horses with metabolic concerns, laminitis, and/or high iron intake. Horses that are already on our AminoTrace+ do not typically need additional zinc and copper in their diet.
You should always consult a qualified nutritionist before altering your feed program. Submit your horse’s diet for analysis online and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to provide a complementary review.
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Advanced Gut Health Supplement
DHA-Enriched Fat Supplement
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Powder
Enhanced Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Advanced Gut Health Supplement
Probiotic & Prebiotic Supplement
High-Potency 5-Strain Probiotic
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Enhanced Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Hoof, Skin & Coat Support
Extra-Strength Omega-3 Oil
Joint Health Supplement
DHA-Enriched Fat Supplement
DHA-Enriched Fat Supplement
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Organic Trace Mineral Blend
Enhanced Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Mood & Hormone Support
Metabolic Health Formula
Mood & Hormone Support
Muscles & Nerve Support
Advanced Gut Health Supplement
Advanced Gut Health Supplement
Respiratory & Performance Supplement
Essential Amino Acid Blend
Essential Amino Acid Blend
Muscles & Nerve Support
Performance & Muscle Support
Respiratory & Performance Supplement
DHA-Enriched Fat Supplement
Immune & Respiratory Support
English
3:1 Zinc Copper 
AminoTrace+ 
Copper 
Omneity® Pellets 
Omneity® Premix 
Trace Mineral Pak 
Zinc