Hello! I’ve been considering Smartpak for a while now. I even get their monthly magazines in the mail. However, I dont know if it’s worth it for my girl. She is lightly worked as a pleasure horse and a trail horse. Shes 15. Would it be worth it to buy her smartpaks with MAYBE a joint supplement and possibly an aloe vera supplement for gut aid? They also have a sale on flax supplements, so that’s why I’m really wondering. Thanks! Also, does anyone have any favorite supplements that they enjoy from Smartpak?
It depends! If you are feeding your ration balancer/grain at the minimum daily amount or higher, you are unlikely to need a vitamin/mineral supplement.
Everything else is a bonus. There is little scientific evidence that joint supplements are absorbed well orally, but lots of anecdotal evidence that they help some horses with arthritis move more comfortably. If your horse isn’t working hard, and there is no visible issue for you to judge improvement based on, I wouldn’t bother.
Aloe vera is great, but I don’t tend to mess with a good thing. Unless the horse is having digestive issues I don’t bother. If he/she is, they get a vet involved before adding things.
Flax is great for lots of things, but it’s included in my grain so I don’t add extra.
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I find that smart-paks are great for ease of convenience, but that’s it. It is cheaper to purchase their supplements in bulk, if that is a concern.
Cosequin has scientific studies promoting the efficacy of their proprietary formula. I just recently purchased their ASU supplement but purchased it online in bulk. Anecdotal evidence from trainers influenced this purchase. I haven’t started it yet. Corta-Flex used to publish studies but I don’t think they have in about a decade (I could be wrong). Oral absorption is always a factor.
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Its cheaper to buy in bulk vs Smartpaks.
I don’t use feed supplements for joints, I’ve had better luck using Adequan instead. The cost works out to be roughly similar.
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I think supplements are pushed too heavily. In reality the majority of horses don’t need anything if they get good quality hay and if needed the right type of feed. I realize many will disagree with me and go by all the research but that is just my personal experience of owning many horses over the years.
It obviously doesn’t hurt them and some do benefit from what they get but truthfully it just makes those who sell them financially secure.
I have supplemented my broodmares ,foals & youngsters I’ve had and currently my 2 mares right now get a vitamin/ mineral supplement through the Winter as they are older and 1 is on MSM , so I am not opposed at all.
It just tends to be overkill for so many owners and that gets extremely expensive.
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IMO, supplements in general are overhyped and under researched. If your horse is doing fine without, why add things that may or may not do anything? In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 
Supplements are very expensive with only anecdotal “evidence” that they do what they claim.
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In my experience, I would say “no”. Most horses I’ve worked with have done fine on hay *alone, maybe a bit of grain for extra calories. If there is a problem, then sure, try out supplements to fix the problem. I’ve known mares who did better on calming supplements due to their heat cycles or arthritic horses who did better with a joint supplement.
I live on the west coast where we have mild weather for most of the year and little/no grass pasture (land cost) so hay is the basis of forage year round. The ranch I board at has all the horses on hay only; 2 flakes alfalfa AM/PM for the “normal” horses and 3 flakes Bermuda AM/PM for the drafts. During breeding season, the stallion gets some Red Cell but that is it as far as supplements go. Everybody is in good weight with nice coats and solid feet. Actually, a few of the mares are even a bit fat off that because they’re in no work. Note that everyone is out on “pasture” 24/7 so YMMV for a stalled horse.
Supplements can be confusing and overwhelming. If you know you want them, getting them through Smartpak is convenient and fun to shop. I consider opening either their website or the front door of their physical store to be equivalent to opening a sparkling wonderful treasure chest. But, you might be better off starting with your horse’s regular diet and seeing if you needed better basic nutrition, then once you feel really confident in your horse’s basic nutritional needs, then consider a joint supplement. Just beware; these things get so expensive, so quickly!
