Spirulina platensis is a blue-green algae that is rich in protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. It is used to support healthy skin, a healthy metabolism, lung function and the immune system in horses. It can be used as nutritional support for horses in stressful situations like competition and high-intensity exercise.
Spirulina
Mad Barn’s bulk Spirulina powder provides a concentrated form of blue-green algae to support your horse’s immune function and nutritional needs.
Spirulina is commonly referred to as an algae, but it is actually a naturally occurring bacteria that grows in saltwater and freshwater worldwide. Spirulina powder consists of two cyanobacterial species named Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima.
Spirulina is a nutritionally dense supplement that is easily digested. It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals to support overall health and well-being of horses.
It is especially high in vitamin A and vitamin E which are important anti-oxidants that neutralize free radicals in all cells of the body. Horses fed hay-based diets may be deficient in several vitamins and could benefit from the abundant vitamins and minerals found in spirulina.
This supplement is a source of the fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) . GLA is an anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. It has been shown to promote support wound healing and tissue repair in humans and exhibits anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. [1]
Spirulina powder is especially high in protein (up to 70%) and is considered a complete protein. This equine supplement might be beneficial for young animals and heavily exercised horses to support their high protein needs. Although it provides all essential amino acids, it is considered low in lysine and methionine.
All horses may benefit from Spirulina supplementation including horses that are:
- Undergoing stress related to training, transportation and competition
- Slow to recover from exercise
- Experiencing poor metabolic health (easy keepers)
Anecdotal reports suggest spirulina powder can support respiratory function in horses.
Dr. Eleanor Kellon reports on three cases in which a combination of spirulina platensis (20 grams given twice per day) and jiaogulan powder (2 grams given twice per day) improved respiratory function in performance horses with recurrent respiratory issues. Symptoms such as low energy and fatigue, chronic cough, sneezing, head shaking, nasal discharge and respiratory recovery were improved in the three horses studied. [2]
In another case report, three months of spirulina supplementation was shown to support improved metabolic health and weight loss in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.
Horses were fed 500 g per day of a commercial feed containing spirulina platensis. At the end of the three months, horses had diminished cresty neck scores, lower fasting insulin levels and improved glucose tolerance. These benefits were attributed to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of phycocyanin – a selenium-rich protein found in spirulina. [3]
The feeding rate for spirulina varies depending on your horse’s condition and current diet. A typical serving size is 10-20 grams given twice a day for a 500 kg horse. Some horses may be hesitant to consume spirulina powder due to its unique smell. Combining it with Mad Barn’s W-3 oil essential fatty acid supplement may help mask the smell for picky eaters.
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.
References
- Roughan, Grattan P. Spirulina: A source of dietary gamma-linolenic acid? J Sci Food Agri. 1989.
- Kellon, Eleanor. Use of the Herb Gynostemma Pentaphyllum and the Blue-green Algae Spirulina Platensis in Horses. Equine Congress
- Nawrocka, Daria et al. Spirulina platensis Improves Mitochondrial Function Impaired by Elevated Oxidative Stress in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (ASCs) and Intestinal Epithelial Cells (IECs), and Enhances Insulin Sensitivity in Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) Horses. Marine Drugs. 2017.
To determine the appropriate inclusion rate for Spirulina in your horse’s diet, submit your horse’s feeding program for analysis online and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to provide a complementary review.
Top dress once daily on feed or ration.
Body Weight | Scoops | Dose |
< 200 kg | ½ scoop | 10 g |
200 – 500 kg | 1 scoop | 20 g |
> 500 kg | 2 scoops | 40 g |
1 scoop = 29.6 cc = 20 grams |
Note: The correct dosage of Spirulina depends on the condition of the horse, bodyweight and the reasons for feeding this ingredient. Start with the recommended serving size and increase up to double the amount in times of stress, allergies, and/or exercise.
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.
FEEDING DIRECTIONS: | ||
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Ingredient | Serving Size | |
Spirulina Powder | 20 grams per day |
Ingredients: Spirulina; fine powder.
Recommended Use: Supports skin, metabolic health, lung and immune system function.
Packaged by: Mad Barn Inc., Petersburg, ON, N0B 2H0, Canada.
kg | ||
grams | ||
Servings | Cost Per Day |
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Customer Questions About This Product
- Does anything in spirulina Test in race horses?
- Q Does anything in spirulina Test in race horses?Asked by March 5, 2024 9:47 pmonAnswered by the admin We would like to confirm that the Mad Barn Spirulina product only contains spirulina as the sole ingredient. Additionally, we would like to clarify that the use of spirulina is not banned for horse racing in most jurisdictions. However, it's important to note that rules and regulations may vary between different racing organizations and individual states or countries. Can the ingestion of this product cause the horse's feces to be colored green?
- Q Can the ingestion of this product cause the horse's feces to be colored green?Asked by September 21, 2023 9:23 amonAnswered by the admin Hi Julie, Thanks for your question! If given at the appropriate feeding rate, it is highly unlikely to cause a horse's manure to be green. Hope that this helps! Does spirulina come in a pelled form?
- Q Does spirulina come in a pelled form?Asked by July 25, 2023 8:30 pmonAnswered by the admin Hi Heather, Thanks for reaching out! As of right now we just carry Spirulina in a powdered formula. Sorry about that. Have a great day. One of your answers here states that the spirulina is sourced in the US, and one answer states it is produced in China. Can you clarify. Is it specifically tested for the presence of heavy metals? What concentrations of heavy metals are you considering safe?
- Q One of your answers here states that the spirulina is sourced in the US, and one answer states it...... Read moreAsked by April 12, 2023 4:52 pmonAnswered by the admin We have two supplies for Spirulina, one in the US and one in China. China is the primary supplier. Both suppliers grow the spirulina in a controlled environment that limits exposure to pollution. However, we still test our spirulina within Canada for contaminants/ heavy metals. This ensures that it meets our standards and that each batch has consistent nutrient quality.For more specific details on the heavy metal concentrations, please reach out to [email protected]. Can the Spirula be daily feeding amount be split between meals as long as he is getting the recommend does in one day? My horse will not eat his dinner with a full 20g in it.
- Q Can the Spirula be daily feeding amount be split between meals as long as he is getting the recom...... Read moreAsked by March 28, 2023 10:20 amonAnswered by the admin Yes, the spirulina can be split into multiple meals per day. Can spirulina be added to a meal prior to that meal being soaked?
- Q Can spirulina be added to a meal prior to that meal being soaked?Asked by March 17, 2023 8:38 pmonAnswered by the admin Spirulina is a dry product and can be added to feed before it is soaked. Does spirulina act as a calming supplement for competition horses as well as provide immune support ? I have a horse prone to chronic coughs who has had pneumonia and requires some sort of immune support and does get stressed with travel. Looking for something that helps with both, would this be it ?
- Q Does spirulina act as a calming supplement for competition horses as well as provide immune suppo...... Read moreAsked by March 11, 2022 11:41 amonAnswered by the admin Spirulina is helpful for horses with respiratory issues as it is high in antioxidants, and can have anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effects. Additional benefits of Spirulina are described in this article: https://madbarn.com/spirulina-benefits-for-horses/ While Spirulina is not as heavily researched as DHA for respiratory conditions, anecdotal reports have suggested that it also can support respiratory function. For horses that suffer from respiratory conditions, we recommend incorporating an omega-3 fatty acid supplement into the diet like our w-3 Oil. W-3 Oil is rich in the highly bioavailable form of omega-3, DHA. DHA, in particular, has been researched in horses to improve respiratory function, reduce cough scores, and reduce inflammation in the lower airways of horses with RAO, heaves, and IAD. In terms of management, improving the air quality of your horse's environment is going to be extremely important. Spraying down your horse's hay with water or steaming the hay and using a hay net (especially with round bales) can reduce the amount of dust and mold particles your horse breathes in. It is best to maximize turnout, but if your horse needs to be stalled, using low-dust bedding and regular cleaning of the stall is crucial to reduce the level of dust and ammonia that circulates in the air. The B-Vitamin Pak is beneficial for helping horses to cope with stressful situations such as transportation and changes in schedules. You can read more about it here: https://madbarn.com/product/b-vitamin-pak/ Magnesium is also important for horses with respiratory issues and high stress levels. Low magnesium levels or deficiency can contribute to nervousness, depression, abnormal behaviour, muscle tremors, lack of coordination, respiratory problems, growth failure and more. My horse gets about 1-1.5lbs of alfalfa pellets per day in addition to his hay, omneity, and w3 oil. I’m interested in starting him on spirulina as he moves into heavier work and competition season but I’m concerned about too much protein. Is it ok to feed the spirulina along with alfalfa?
- Q My horse gets about 1-1.5lbs of alfalfa pellets per day in addition to his hay, omneity, and w3 o...... Read moreAsked by March 6, 2022 5:26 pmonAnswered by the admin Hi Nadine, yes it is ok to feed spirulina with alfalfa pellets. The recommended 40 grams of spirulina will add roughly 20 grams of protein to the diet which is relatively small compared to the requirement of 850 grams per day for horses in heavy exercise. The one pound of alfalfa pellets will add roughly 60 - 80 grams of protein. Hello, Is your spirulina powder tested for quality control and to avoid potentially harmful contaminants? Is it certified, or does it go through any regulations to pass safety in Canada? I see a couple of different responses to a similar question about where the product is tested. Thanks for clarifying!
- Q Hello, Is your spirulina powder tested for quality control and to avoid potentially harmful conta...... Read moreAsked by January 13, 2022 5:26 pmonAnswered by the admin Yes, all raw ingredients are tested for contaminants and nutrient levels. My mare has been on spirulina for over one month and great respond no coughing she has heave Now I feed her loose hay twice a day would it be OK to go back with round bale since she has heave?
- Q My mare has been on spirulina for over one month and great respond no coughing she has heave Now ...... Read moreAsked by December 5, 2021 7:53 amonA Round bales can be tough for horses who have heaves. If loose hay is no longer an option, you can try getting a slow-feeding haynet to help prevent her from getting her head too far into the round bale. Round bales tend to be dustier than square bales, so square bales are preferred. Hi, just read up on spirulina here. Considering giving this to my Cushings horse who is currently on 1 1/2 pergolide pills/day, MB Amino Trace, MB Chasteberry, apple cider vinegar, 10cc W3 oil, salt & soaked Ontario de-hy timothy balance mixed in to get him to eat it. Our hay is first cut Timothy/grass mix cut before 10am & we use a hay-gain steamer. Do i need to worry about the iron content in the spirulina due to his cushings status? We test his ACTH levels every fall. This year he was 23 up from 17 last year, accordingly we increased the dosage from 1 pill & will test again in the new year. Luckily we haven’t had any laminitis, but he did have a sub-solar abcess in one front this fall for the first time. He seems more prone to infection from cuts and insect bites and is a very easy keeper. Thanks for any advice you can provide. Love your products, been using them for 6 years now. All the best to your team!
- Q Hi, just read up on spirulina here. Considering giving this to my Cushings horse who is currently...... Read moreAsked by November 25, 2021 2:40 pmonAnswered by the admin Yes, you can give spirulina to your Cushing's horse. You don't need to worry about the iron content. If you feed 40 grams per day of spirulina, it will provide 11 mg of iron. This is quite minor compared to how much is usually in the total diet. You are already feeding AminoTrace+ which is high in zinc and copper that will balance iron. For the skin issues, you could also consider increasing the w-3 oil to provide more anti-inflammatory support. Increasing to 30 cc would provide more DHA to support skin health and shouldn't provide too many calories. As always, monitor their body condition to assess how the calorie supply is matching their demands. My 21 year old pony has Cushings and heaves, wondering is this safe to feed her as she can not be on Dex due to her cushings.
- Q My 21 year old pony has Cushings and heaves, wondering is this safe to feed her as she can not be...... Read moreAsked by November 21, 2021 10:11 amonAnswered by the admin Yes, it is safe for horses with Cushing's. I have a coming 5 year old warmblood gelding that is 17 hh and certainly not overweight. He's on amino trace and visceral, and I'm adding the W3 oil. Is there any benefit to adding the spirulina for this horse currently in light work and will be increasing workload come spring.
- Q I have a coming 5 year old warmblood gelding that is 17 hh and certainly not overweight. He's on ...... Read moreAsked by November 4, 2021 12:54 pmonA Hi Monika, Spirulina can be fed alongside his current diet to further support your horse's s respiratory, immune, skin, and coat health. Can it be given to foals (5 months old and weaned)?
- Q Can it be given to foals (5 months old and weaned)?Asked by November 4, 2021 8:42 amonA Spirulina can be provided to weanlings. Is Spirulina safe for mares in foal
- Q Is Spirulina safe for mares in foalAsked by October 16, 2021 8:19 amonAnswered by the admin Spirulina is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), however it has not been studied in foals or gestating and lactating mares. My horse is on camelina oil, can I continue to give this to him with the MB mad barn, or do I need it with this product.
- Q My horse is on camelina oil, can I continue to give this to him with the MB mad barn, or do I nee...... Read moreAsked by October 14, 2021 5:56 amonA You can feed spirulina oil alongside camelina oil or with our w-3 oil. I'm currently feeding Omneity P - 2 scoops daily, plus FinishLine EasyWillow containing Devils Claw for stiffness and joint help.Would you recommend Spirulina to replace either one of those products? Thanks
- Q I'm currently feeding Omneity P - 2 scoops daily, plus FinishLine EasyWillow containing Devils Cl...... Read moreAsked by October 13, 2021 2:15 pmonA Spirulina is not a complete vitamin and mineral supplement, so would not replace Omneity in the diet. Spirulina can have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that could be helpful for stiffness, but for joint health, we recommend a combination of w-3 oil, our DHA supplement, and MSM. Is Spirulina safe to give to a miniature horse for heaves?
- Q Is Spirulina safe to give to a miniature horse for heaves?Asked by June 23, 2021 11:38 amonAnswered by the admin Hi Tammy-Lyn, Yes, you can feed spirulina to your mini. Adjust the feeding rate based on your horse's weight. The suggested feeding rate is 4 grams per 100 KG (220 LB) of bodyweight. Where is your Spirulina sourced from? Does it go through any testing before being used in your products?
- Q Where is your Spirulina sourced from? Does it go through any testing before being used in your pr...... Read moreAsked by April 12, 2021 8:24 amonAnswered by the admin The product is sourced out of the US. We test all incoming ingredients for various contaminants and also to ensure they are within specification. My gelding Tango is on 3.7 grams of dexamethasone for heaves every other day, and every day if he is having breathing issues (which happens periodically). Would Spirulina be beneficial for his heaves even if he is not chronic (yet)? Is it safe to give this with the dex?
- Q My gelding Tango is on 3.7 grams of dexamethasone for heaves every other day, and every day if he...... Read moreAsked by April 9, 2021 7:10 amonAnswered by the admin
It may be beneficial for breathing and is safe to feed with dexamethasone.
Is this safe to feed with your Omniety or Amino Trace supplements? - Q Is this safe to feed with your Omniety or Amino Trace supplements?Asked by January 18, 2021 3:33 pmonAnswered by the admin Yes, Spirulina can be fed with either AminoTrace+ or Omneity. you state "It is especially high in vitamin A and vitamin E" can you tell me exactly how much vitamin E there would be in one serving? Thank you
- Q you state "It is especially high in vitamin A and vitamin E" can you tell me exactly how much vit...... Read moreAsked by January 5, 2021 3:26 pmonA
Hi Janelle, Spirulina is rich in vitamin E with approximately 1mg (1.49 IU) of vitamin E per 20g serving. However, it is not a significant source of vitamin E in your horse's diet. If you suspect your horse is vitamin E deficient you should feed a natural vitamin E supplement.
Will the Vitamin C in the spirulina help the absorption of your msm? Also wondering if it’s ok to feed the two together? - Q Will the Vitamin C in the spirulina help the absorption of your msm? Also wondering if it’s ok to...... Read moreAsked by December 1, 2020 9:10 pmonA Kira - Spirulina contains many different vitamins, including vitamin C. Research in horses has shown benefits with supplementing 8 mg/kg of bodyweight (4000 mg for a 500 kg horse) of MSM along with 5 mg/kg vitamin C (2500 mg for a 500 kg horse) per day. These were given for 7 days leading up to a competition until the end of competition, and it improved exercise recovery. Spirulina can be safely combined with MSM, flaxseed meal, jiaogulan and vitamin C for additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Where is your Spirulina produced?
- Q Where is your Spirulina produced?Asked by November 27, 2020 4:04 pmonAnswered by the admin Hi Kate, Our spirulina powder is produced in China and tested and packaged in Canada. can you feed the spirulina withthe visceral+ ?
- Q can you feed the spirulina withthe visceral+ ?Asked by November 18, 2020 12:35 pmonAnswered by the admin Yes, Spirulina can be fed with Visceral+ to support gut health and horses with ulcers. How long does a 5kg of spirulina last for one horse
- Q How long does a 5kg of spirulina last for one horseAsked by October 2, 2020 9:23 pmonAnswered by the admin Hi Shelley! The typical feeding rate for Spirulina is 20 grams fed one to two times per day. If feeding 20 grams per day, the 5 kg package will last 250 days. If feeding 40 grams per day, the 5 kg package will last 125 days. For all our products, you can go to the "Feed Cost" tab on the product page to view the estimated amount of time that the product will last for.