26/05/2025
⭐ RESEARCH in to COPPER DEFICIENCY and HIGH IRON LEVELS IN HORSES HEALTH ⭐
I am seeing alot of posts about soil testing at the moment, due to horses struggling with liver conditions. It's still in the researching stage at the moment, but with everyone asking about tests, I thought I would share my findings.
I am researching Copper and zinc deficiency due to high levels of iron in soil and the grass horses are eating.. over the years the older horses coats are bleaching, one is taking a long time to recover from tendon ligament injuries along with muscle weakness. I knew low copper levels caused the coats to look faded (I don't believe sun bleaches coats) so spoke to many vets about it over the last 2 years, they all said if copper was low your horse would be really poorly.. I decided to listen to my gut and get a few of them tested normal levels of copper are between 19 and 25 all of the 3 horses tested 11 and 12, extremely low
Of the 3 horses being tested
Horse - No.1 Retired at my yard 11years
No.2 Raced 3 years ago
No.3 Retired last year from racing
I am explaining each horse as I want to put it out there that each of these 3 have had different dietary needs for the last 8 years, Horse No.1 on cheap balancer, Chaff and conditioning cubes
Horse No.2 racing cubes up until 3 years ago, then cheaper balancer - lots of legs injurys and muscle weakness
No. 3 racing diet up until last year been on cheaper balancer for the last year along with chaff and conditioning cubes
Cheaper Balancer - Iron 120mg - Copper 85mg - Zinc 310mg
Expensive Balancer - Iron 35mg - Copper 233mg - Zinc 525mg
More Research then followed to indicate high iron can deplete copper. Soil test confirmed iron 1200 (normal levels 200-400) I am in the process of 3 copper supplement to see which one works best all 3 horses changed on to the expensive high copper balancer and were given the copper supplements as below
Horse No.1 - Liquid multivitamin with copper
Horse No. 2 - powdered copper
Horse No.3 - changed cheap balancer to expensive balancer - no added copper
4 weeks of this change all copper levels are still below normal range - Horse 1 14, Horse 2 12 and Horse 3 15. Its not making any big difference at the moment how much copper is going in or which supplement, the level is rising but by small margins, as the iron is still blocking the absorption of copper.
My biggest finding regarding feeds were that the cheap balancer only had 85 mg of copper compared to the expensive brand which has 233mg, Zinc was 525mg (expensive) over 310mg. But look at the difference in Iron, iron was higher in the cheaper balancer at 120mg compared to 35mg. I had moved retired older ones on to the cheaper balancer 4 years ago….yes to save some pennies as I thought it still contained all the right things for my horses, but what I was doing was depleting the copper even further due to the higher iron intake, as well as high iron in my soil, grass, and hay.
All the babies and breeding mares have always stayed on the more expensive balancer due to the quality of the balancer and high protein levels for babies too grow and develop. (This bloods haven't been tested, as they all look great)
External factors that will be under gone in a few weeks is that lime will be added to the paddocks to reduce iron levels. From me speaking with a few farmer lime isn't used enough as it probably should, my manure is spread on the farmers land, which he then cuts my hay from and then my horses eat it. So not only is my paddocks and grass high in iron, I would expect my hay is also extremely high in iron. Water will be tested as it is rain water with the possibility of filers being put into tanks in the future.
High iron levels causing Copper and Zinc deficiency can have a large impact on horses conditions like muscle weakness, dull coat, nerve pain, head shaking, trapped nerves, liver problems, itchy, tiredness, thyroid problems, muscle and soft tissue injuries are slow to heal. Hoof health is poor, skeleton issues and anemia problems .
⭐ Photo Evidence
Horse A - Back in November 2024, this horse was on 4 months box rest. The only thing that changed was copper supplement and on a theraplate twice a day. This horse looked worse starting box rest, but came out of 4 months on box rest, looking amazing with increased muscle mass, more of a top line and a coat that shone and had colour to it. The Theraplate has been the main factor is this improvement to see increased muscle mass, with the copper aiding the muscles and tendons to repair and be able to build up while the body is working on the Theraplate. The copper had a big impact on the coat colour (it was golden, it was shinning and rich in colour) and health of the horse. 2025 no copper supplement and very limited theraplate and coat and muscle tone has reduced again. This has made me release what I big impact the Theraplate and Copper supplement had in Nov 24.
Horse B - 2021 - Had a foal 4 years ago, before that she was on the expensive balancer look at the coat colour (sorry poor quality of photos). 4 years to the week in May her photo was taken again. The last 4 years she has been on the cheaper balancer and as expect iron levels have been constantly rising over the years in the hay and grass look at the difference in coat, very dull, shaded, bleached. This horse should be dark dark bay but she isn't. Copper supplements and the expensive balancer she is now on.
It's all about time now, allowing the lime to reduce the iron in the paddocks until then copper will be given and regular blood tests taken.
If I can help one person to become aware of copper deficiency to help there horse, or to stick with you gut even when the vets say it won't be low. I have and will be speaking with vets further about my findings, when last spoke the vets were having chats about copper deficiency and hopefully the more vets aware will also help other horses too.
