Q: A couple of people at my yard have started feeding turmeric. Why is this and should I be doing it too?
A: Turmeric is gaining popularity for horses in South Africa at the moment, and it seems that people are adding it to their horse’s feed for a variety of reasons. Interestingly, there has been a lot of research on the benefits of turmeric in humans, but very little to support its use in horses. Dosage and the curcumin content of turmeric are also issues that require more research, not only in horses, but also in humans.
It has been suggested that curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, may help to reduce inflammation and the symptoms of arthritis in humans. However, without more evidence for turmeric’s use in horses, we would be reluctant to feed it.