Facts: Between 1992 and 2015, total USA federal research funding for human medicine increased from approximately $14 billion to $45 billion (2016 USD).
There is no clearly stated figure for equine research funding (that I am aware of), but it is safe to say it is a fraction of what is spent on human research.
Now let’s look at spending from a different angle. The US horse feed market was estimated at $8.14 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $9.25 billion by 2025.
What does this tell us?
There is a phenomenal amount of money being made from selling horse feeds and supplements. As a result, many companies have become extremely innovative in convincing horse owners that their product will solve almost any problem.
One of the most common issues I see as an independent equine nutritionist is this:
A human-researched ingredient, fact, or dosage is used in marketing, leading horse owners to believe it will have the same effect in a horse.
Quite obviously, this is rarely true. Horses have a completely different gastrointestinal tract, physiology, and body size. You cannot simply extrapolate human data and expect the same outcome.
While many nutrients may indicate potential benefits for horses, there is still a very long way to go in terms of robust equine-specific research and clinical trials.
At the end of the day, it is the entire balanced diet—one that fuels the hindgut properly and supports immune function—that leads to long-term health and improved performance.
Very rarely is this achieved through feeding a single “magic” supplement.
Always:
- Be cautious of glowing reviews
- Read feed and supplement labels
- Confirm the actual daily dose of each ingredient
- Compare this with research-backed levels shown to be effective
- And most importantly—balance the whole diet first
That’s where real results come from.
