Where to purchase supplements?

What supplements are you looking for? What are you trying to accomplish with them?

I like the line at HorseTech.com--Horse Nutrition Supplements--Equine Nutrition on the Net They will custom blend you a supplement with EVERYTHING you want in it, so it's all in one bucket! They'll even add some extra flavor if your horse is picky. There is no charge for the custom work, just for the added ingredients.

If I have a certain brand/product I want, I just google it and shop around for the best price. SmartPak is usually NOT the best price, lol. I have found good prices at stateline.com, valleyvet.com, horsehealthusa.com, jeffersequine.com, and even some small mom&pop online stores. You just have to take afew days and really search to find the best deals. Just remember to factor in FOB shipping for supplements weighing 5lbs or more (which is why I love horsetech.com, shipping is free!).

Anyone ever tried Newcells from horseprerace.com? It seems like it is a nice complete blood builder.

YOUR LOCAL TACK SHOP!!!

And I don't mean a State Line or a Dover Outlet, I mean a local, privately owned tack shop. So many tack shops are going out of business because people only buy online these days. Yes, you may save a few dollars buying online, but at a tack shop you get instant gratification, no waiting for shipping (which is great for emergencys), and the knowledge of the store owner to help you find what you really need. Come on, people, the economy is in bad shape, do your part to help by buying from your local store. You're going to miss them when they're all gone!

High five Eternalsun- I totally didn't think to say that even tho I get lots of mine from there :)

I do try to buy as much from my local shops as possible. Mine is a coop though, selling feed and farm goodies too, so I doubt they're going anywhere... The horse section has never been a money maker for them.

I also try to buy from smaller shops online too. I have bought from Adam's Horse Supply, Rick's, Arete Equestrian, Red Barn gifts, and others I come across on Google. You can find a lot of unique things at the small shops, and the customer service is always better .

One thing to think about though is the effectiveness of supplements. In reality very few studies have been done on how well they actually work in horses... so I would do some real research before feeding my horse anything extra. We just went over this in my equine nutrition class and a lot of the major supplements not only have NO effect, but actually have negative side effects.

I live out in the sticks, and we have two farm stores to choose from: one with significatly higher prices than the other, but both cheaper than mailorder

What supplements did you find had a negative effect?

A quick example is Devil's Claw can cause an increase in stomach acid which can lead to ulcers. I don't have my stuff with me right now, but I'll post up later.

I use smart pak that way I don't ever have to worry about them running out.