Performance Supplements
Condition that shows in the ring.
Balancers, electrolytes and energy supplements for horses in hard work.
Horse Performance Supplements
Most horses in regular work do not need a performance supplement — but horses that sweat heavily, compete, travel or are building topline often benefit from targeted support. The three things worth adding are electrolytes (to replace what is lost in sweat), a muscle or topline supplement (to support condition alongside good feeding), and an energy or glucose product for short-term top-ups. Every product named on this page is in stock now, with in-stock horse supplement prices from £3.92.
In a hurry?
- Sweating hard or competing? Start with an electrolyte — NAF Electro Salts (1kg) is £15.33.
- Travelling or one-off events? A syringe is simplest — Supreme Professional Electrolytes (30ml syringe) is £6.59.
- Building topline? GWF Muscle & Topline for Horses (3kg) is £30.44.
- Just want a cheap energy top-up? Triamvet Glucose Powder (400gm) is £3.92.
- Not sure? Get in touch and our team will help you narrow it down.
Which type of performance supplement do I need?
Match the problem to the product rather than buying everything at once. Every item in this table is in stock today, and the price shown is the lowest in-stock size.
| What you are trying to solve | Type to look at | In-stock example | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy sweating in work or hot weather | Daily electrolyte powder | NAF Electro Salts (1kg) | £15.33 |
| Fussy feeder who leaves powders | Liquid electrolyte | Cavalor Electroliq Balance (1000ml) | £34.00 |
| Travelling or competition days only | Syringe or paste | Supreme Professional Electrolytes (30ml syringe) | £6.59 |
| Poor topline or muscle condition | Muscle and topline supplement | GWF Muscle & Topline for Horses (3kg) | £30.44 |
| Competition muscle support programme | Premium muscle formula | Cavalor Muscle Motion (1kg) | £45.50 |
| Flat, sluggish horse on the day | Energy shot or booster | Gold Label Energy Shot (3 x 20ml syringes) | £14.50 |
| Cheap, simple energy top-up | Glucose powder | Triamvet Glucose Powder (400gm) | £3.92 |
| Post-work muscle rub for the legs and back | Topical embrocation | Radiol M-R Muscle Embrocation (500ml) | £13.15 |
What do electrolytes actually do?
Horses lose sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium in sweat, and unlike us they lose them in high concentrations. An electrolyte supplement is simply a way of putting those salts back so normal fluid balance and thirst response can be maintained. It is not an energy product and it will not make a horse go faster — it supports recovery and encourages drinking after hard work.
Powder, liquid or syringe?
Powders such as NAF Electro Salts (1kg, £15.33) or Horse Straights Direct Electrolytes (1kg, £17.88) are the cheapest per day and suit horses on a daily routine. Liquids like NAF Liquid Electro Lytes (4 Litre, £35.61) or Cavalor Electroliq Balance (1000ml, £34.00) mix through damp feed and suit fussy eaters. Syringes — Supreme Professional Electrolytes (30ml, £6.59) — are for one-off days when you want a measured dose with no feed involved.
Do I need to feed them every day?
Only if your horse is sweating most days. A horse in light hacking work with free access to a salt lick and clean water usually does not need a daily electrolyte. Horses in hard work, competing, travelling or working through a hot spell are the ones that benefit most. Always give free access to fresh water alongside electrolytes.
Do muscle supplements build topline on their own?
No. Topline is built by correct work, enough good-quality protein in the diet, and time. A muscle supplement supports that process — it does not replace it. Products such as GWF Muscle & Topline for Horses (3kg, £30.44), Omega Equine Muscle (1.98kg, £31.19), Global Herbs Muscleup (1kg, £31.70) or Science Supplements Muscle Builder (830gm, £46.45) provide amino acids and nutrients that support muscle development when the work and the forage are already right. If your horse has lost muscle suddenly or unevenly, speak to your vet before reaching for a supplement.
What about the bigger competition yards?
Yards running a full season often use a structured programme — Cavalor Muscle Motion (1kg, £45.50; 5kg, £178.50), Cavalor Muscle Force (2kg, £147.00), Equine America More Muscle Pellets (3kg, £47.50; 10kg, £126.50) or Premier Performance Muscle Strength (30 servings, £58.77). These are a bigger commitment, so it is worth getting in touch and our team will help you work out whether the larger tub is genuinely better value for your horse's dose rate.
Are energy supplements the same as electrolytes?
They are not. Energy products supply calories or readily available sugars. Glucose powders such as Battles Glucose Powder (3Kg, £12.80), Battles Glucose Powder Refill Pouch (1kg, £5.45) and Triamvet Glucose Powder (400gm, £3.92) are the simplest and cheapest option. Gold Label Garlic Glucose & Honey (3kg, £23.51) is a palatable version for horses that dislike plain glucose. For a measured dose on the day, Gold Label Energy Shot (3 x 20ml, £14.50), Cavalor An Energy Boost (6 tubes, £91.00) or Provita Energy Plus (1 Litre, £22.79) are designed for that job. Kevin Bacon's Zen Energy (400ml, £59.00) sits at the calmer end for horses that get fizzy on high-energy feeds.
How much does this cost to run?
Entry-level glucose starts at £3.92 for a 400gm Triamvet tub. A daily electrolyte powder sits in the £11.94 to £17.88 range for a 1kg pack — Everyday Electrolyte (1KG) is £11.94 and NAF Electro Salts (1kg) is £15.33. Muscle supplements run from about £30.44 for a 3kg GWF tub upwards. Larger sizes such as NAF Electro Salts 4kg (£53.75) or Cavalor Muscle Motion 5kg (£178.50) bring the cost per day down if you know the product suits your horse.
Horse performance supplement FAQs
Does my horse really need a performance supplement?
Not automatically. A horse in light work with good forage, a salt lick and clean water is usually fine without one. Supplements are worth considering when a horse sweats heavily most days, competes or travels regularly, or is struggling to hold muscle condition despite correct work and feeding. If something has changed suddenly, get your vet to look first — a supplement is not a substitute for a diagnosis.
When should I give electrolytes — before or after work?
Most manufacturers recommend feeding after work, once the horse has cooled and has had a drink, to replace what was lost in sweat. Follow the dose on the pack rather than guessing, and never feed electrolytes to a horse that has no access to fresh water. For competition days a syringe such as Supreme Professional Electrolytes (30ml, £6.59) makes the timing easy to control.
Powder, liquid or syringe — which is easiest?
Powder is cheapest for daily use and works well if your horse eats a damp feed — NAF Electro Salts (1kg) is £15.33. Liquid suits fussy feeders because it coats the feed rather than sitting at the bottom of the bucket; Cavalor Electroliq Balance (1000ml) is £34.00. Syringes give a precise single dose with no feed required, which is why they are popular for travelling and one-day events.
How long before I see a difference from a muscle supplement?
Muscle and topline change slowly. Most owners allow six to twelve weeks of consistent feeding alongside appropriate schooling before judging a product, which is why a 3kg tub such as GWF Muscle & Topline (£30.44) is a sensible first purchase. Take photos from the same angle at the start so you have something honest to compare against. If there is no change at all, review the work and the forage before changing supplement.
Can I feed an electrolyte and a muscle supplement together?
Usually yes, because they do different jobs — one replaces salts lost in sweat, the other supports muscle development. The thing to watch is doubling up on the same ingredients if you are also feeding a balancer or a fortified hard feed. Check the labels, stick to the stated doses, and if you are stacking three or more products it is worth running the list past your vet or a nutritionist.
Are these supplements suitable for competition horses?
Many are used on competition yards, but prohibited-substance rules differ between disciplines and governing bodies, and they change. Always check the current rules for your discipline and read the product label before a competition — and if you are unsure, ask your vet. Get in touch and our team will help you find the product details you need to check.
Buying with confidence
Supplements support a good diet and a sensible workload — they do not treat or cure illness or injury. If your horse is unwell, lame, losing condition or behaving out of character, speak to your vet before adding anything to the feed.
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Last reviewed 2026-07-26 by the Just Horse Riders team.