05/23/2026
IRON SABOTAGE
Do your water buckets or troughs look like this?! If so, Iron could very well be sabotaging your horse's important mineral and nutrient absorption!
A little lesson on IRON:
+Iron is a micromineral (meaning it's needed in MUCH smaller quantities).
+Iron is considered a TOXIC element and when overloaded, it will deplete other trace minerals.
+Iron has a harder time leaving the body, unlike other minerals. Small amounts leave the body in sweat, blood and intestinal cells but excess amounts cannot leave the body.
+Iron overload taxes the liver, gut and natural detox pathways.
Iron sources for horses are PLENTIFUL and DO NOT need supplemented without probable cause and testing. Iron is in EVERYTHING!
+Iron is in forage (naturally from soil)
+Iron is in commercial feed and supplements (iron chelate and ferric sulfate are common forms you'll find on feed ingredient lists)
+Iron is in “most” mineral blocks and lick tubs (along with other not so great ingredients)
+Iron is typically higher in well water than in “city” water (having your water tested is a great precaution and filtering accordingly) {Toxic Iron Levels are above 500ppm}
Iron depletes copper and zinc most!
EXCESS IRON SYMPTOMS may include:
+laminitis or poor hoof health/quality
+protein absorption issues-having a hard time holding weight
+trouble getting wounds to heal
+low immune function
+tendon/ligament integrity
+coat pigment fading (dark manes and tails bleaching)
+gut and digestive disruption
My friend Stephanie Carter wrote an amazing book that explains this topic and so many others to better understand functional equine nutrition! https://www.indigoancestralhealth.com/product-page/equine-functional-nutrition-understanding-root-cause-to-restore-vitality
IRON could be a ROOT CAUSE to the symptoms your horses are dealing with.
Don't keep wasting your money trying to supplement away a problem.
If you suspect it might be, I would be happy to help you dig deeper with a nutrition consult!
Email [email protected] to get started!
schaefferbodyworks.com
