Apple Cider Vinegar for Horses
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Apple Cider Vinegar for Horses: Hooves, Digestion & Natural Health Support

| Modified on May 08, 2026
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The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by Karen (Tacoma, Wa) on 09/30/2014
 ★★★★★

I have fed ACV to my horses for years. I get it by the gallon at a health food store. We bought a Baskir Curly horse who had VERY dry skin, Huge dandruff. I started him on ACV and now, he is shiny as he can be and no more of that dandruff. I feed 1/3 -1/2 cup a day in his feed. I was told by a old horseman years ago that ACV is great for loosening joints. Since horses can't talk, I can't say this for sure except I have a 32 year old horse that just keeps on going.

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Posted by Lee (Salt Lake City, Ut) on 03/23/2012
 ★★★★★

Here are some good remedies to cribbing---read and try them out---look for the ***'s

Apple cider vinegar and my herd.....

I have had my herd of horses on apple cider vinegar for over a year now and I have to say hands down that it is one of the best 'natural' products out there for a number of reasons.

Horses who have apple cider vinegar in their water drink way more of it. This is a fact with my herd. I go into the barn each morning and find that my stalled horses go through '2' full water buckets each and every night.

An added benefit to adding it to their water is if the horse is travelling, he will never shy away from 'new' water as the ACV hides any taste of a new environment. I know a few show people who swear by adding it to water when they go to shows and they have had no issues with them refusing water.

ACV works wonders on cracked hooves as well as improving the quality of new growth in the foot. It can be sprayed directly on the hoof as well as the frog and it has the added benefit of acting as a hostile environment for thrush and fungus to live in as well.

***The vinegar is high in potassium and horses which are low in potassium will seek out wood to chew on which is also high in potassium for horses.

I met an old cowboy the other day that has used ACV mixed with crushed garlic daily in horse feed to prevent ulcers in race horses. I am not sure if it's a cure-all or not but I have found that adding the ACV to the water in the stall of Bliss has made him really pack on the pounds.

ACV can be used as a natural fly spray and I have read wonders about using it as such. I will be using it on my horses this summer and I will advise what I find out although I have read glowing recommendations about it on-line. (ACV mixed equal parts with Avon skin so soft and citronella. )

My research on-line also showed that ACV can help with arthritis in horses and although I cannot say that it was either the herbs or the ACV dosage for Bliss in his water, he's way more spry as of late and I'm convinced that if it can work on arthritis in humans, it should work equally well in our equine friends.

I know from experience that ACV mixed with black pepper works wonders on proud-flesh. I used the combination with ichthamol on Maverick when he came as a rescue and the results were amazing. My vet was even impressed.

The race track here keeps ACV on hand always for horses that colic. They shoot it into the mouths of horses in a syringe and it helps with the pain. They also soak standing bandages in it before wrapping to bring down swelling in the legs of worked horses.

Finally, ACV added to pasture water helps reduce algae and keeps flies and mosquitoes from hanging out by it.

Hands down, ACV is one of the best natural products that can be used on horses. I have used it for a long time and the lists of things that it can do is extensive and really quite impressive.

It has worked wonders with my herd and I thought it a great idea to put the 'research' out there that I have done on using ACV on horses and the results of doing so.

03/19/2010: Stu from Cambridge, New Zealand: "Hi, Im a racehorse trainer and have fed my horses apple cider/garlic and honey for over 30 years about 20 mils in their feed every night. I have trained major stakes winners in both nz and australia, and at this time im the leading trainer in Oman [middle east] my horses are the healthiest here and I get so many comments on how they look.

I would not do without this secret and we do not give injectables. Stu"

01/13/2011: Skipper523 from Las Vegas, Nv, Usa replies: "I place apple cidar vinegar in our horses water. We have 3 horses, and one of them had a bad skin condition all over her neck when we first got her. It was either hives or some type of allergic reaction. In a fresh full bucket of water (our water buckets are 18 gallons in size), I use about 2 cups of ACV. I pour a little more in when filling it up again.. A dash here and a dash there. This past summer she had no irritations or hives!! I also find the horses drink more water when the ACV is in it! I would never not give it to the horses!! "

02/20/2009: Cheri from Gentry, AR, USA: "I have a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse whose joints would pop a lot when he moved. I started him up on 1/2 cup of ACV in his feed, twice a day, and within 3 days - no more popping! I also noticed that his attitude was brighter, he had more range of motion, his coat took on a darker richer tone, and his new hoof growth was smoother. I won't be changing his diet any time soon. Also used it as a spray for his coat with about a teaspoon of tea-tree oil. It really glossed up his coat."

11/21/2008: C Alesi from Lake Mathews, California USA: "I have been putting a cup of ACV in my horses water barrel since last spring. I noticed my gelding was drinking alot more water with ACV. A few weeks of ACV, my gelding peed out a calcium deposits the size of a walnut. It also helped with the biting flies. One of our mares would get terrible fly bites, but this year she was scab free."

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Posted by Stu (Cambridge, New Zealand) on 03/19/2010
 ★★★★★

Hi, Im a racehorse trainer and have fed my horses apple cider/garlic and honey for over 30 years about 20 mils in their feed every night.I have trained major stakes winners in both nz and australia, and at this time im the leading trainer in Oman [middle east] my horses are the healthiest here and i get so many comments on how they look.

I would not do without this secret and we do not give injectables. Stu

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Posted by C Alesi (Lake Mathews, California USA) on 11/21/2008
 ★★★★★

I have been putting a cup of ACV in my horses water barrel since last spring. I noticed my gelding was drinking alot more water with ACV. A few weeks of ACV, my gelding peed out a calcium deposits the size of a walnut. It also helped with the biting flies. One of our mares would get terrible fly bites, but this year she was scab free.

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Posted by Abbey (Coffs Harbour, Australia) on 03/17/2008
 ★★★★★

I used ACV on my horses for many years, along with dolomite, seaweed meal, sulphur, occasional garlic, occasional dose of copper sulphate as an additional worming, a little molasses, sometimes a few drops of cod liver oil for extra vitamin A when needed, mixed in with a small amount of slightly moist lucerne chaff. The horses loved it, it got them through a drought when there was not much to eat and not a lot of goodness in what there was. They never lost condition, always bright, shiny coats, healthy feet and when tested for worms - no worms and I did not give them anything commercial for worming accept what I have listed previous. When I bought an old horse home, wormy, in poor condition and a coat that was coming away in handfuls, I gave her a diluted apple cider wash and within days her coat stopped falling out and within weeks was growing a beautiful new coat.

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Posted by Jane (Macarthur, Victoria) on 01/08/2007
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Apple Cider Vinegar with added garlic certainly helped my older horses coat and skin disorder (together with a little Yellow Sulphur) and also helped with joints. 'I have had a bottle of acv (with garlic added) in the tack room for a while but didn't think my horses needed it. I had an aged pony with a horrible skin problem and thought I would try it on her. Her skin was heaps better (and sooo shiny) after a few weeks. Just 30mls in her feed each evening was enough. I ran out a few weeks ago and forgot to get more each time I went to town. I rode her tonight and she was a bit funny in the joints and her skin didn't seem as shiny as it was. Now I know why, I haven't been feeding her the acv. Tomorrow I am going to find some. I believe it is great stuff. I will never run out again.

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Posted by Robyn (Werribee, Victoria, Australia) on 01/26/2006
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I have 2 Standardbred geldings and they have been getting 1/4 cup acv daily since I got them, which is 4 years. I combine it with 1 tbls garlic, 1 tbls dolomite, 1 tsp seaweed meal, 1 tsp yellow sulphur and 1/4 tsp copper sulphate, which by the way is what Pat Colby recommends. The combination keeps my boys healthy and I find that I don't need to worm them as often. They love the taste and lick their bowls clean every night. Their coats are shiny and they keep their weight on throughout the year. I have also found that if they get a scratch or nick it heals in no time flat and flies don't bother them as much as the other horses on the property. I recommend acv to everyone with horses!

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Posted by Melissa (Whittier, CA) on 12/18/2005
 ★★★★★

I have fed 2 ounces of acv 5 times per week to my horses for two years now. ACV in combination with a joint supplement keeps my horses feeling good all the time! They are both shiny, happy and healthy. They don't seem to itch. During the worst of the fly season, they didn't seem horribly bothered by flies as were there neighbors. I also combine 1/3 water, 1/3 Avon SSS and 1/3 ACV for fly spray which worked well. I am very pleased with the health of my horses and attribute much of that to the ACV. I buy a gallon at a time from Smart and Final for under $4. I have persuaded my barn buddies to feed as well... all are happy

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Posted by Nickkie (USA)
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I feed my horse Apple Cider Vinegar every day and he loves the taste. I like it because he has a healthier coat, better appetite, less smelly urine, less fly bites, less need for worming, and better feed efficiency. I also put it in the water buckets to keep algae from growing and to keep the flies out.

The vet recently told me to up his ACV to 2 cups per day to help prevent kidney and intestinal stones. I have also started giving it to my dogs, and I am also mixing a little in with my tea. The stuff is great!

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Posted by Cindy (Newville PA)
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I discovered how wonderful apple cider vinegar was for my horse about 3 years ago. I had to give him supplements that he absolutely refused to eat. I read somewhere to mix some acv in with his feed, and it would mask the taste & smell of the supplements. He loves it! I just keep it in a spray bottle, and after top dressing his grain with supplements, I just spray about 6 good sprays of acv then shake it all together. He is never bothered by flies in the summer either. If I feel the need to apply fly spray, I mix equal parts of acv, water, and Avon skin so soft. I find that this makes an exceptional coat conditioner as well. I make sure to NEVER run out of acv around the barn- my horses would just not tolerate it. They literally lick their feed tubs when the grain is gone!

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Posted by Sharon (Berkshire, England)
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I give my horse acv every day in his feed, he was suspicious of the smell at first by now loves it. I feed it for his arthritis as it flushes out toxins and he definitely moves a lot easier, his coat is also soft and very shiny, his appetite has improved too.

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Posted by Erika (Eugene, Oregon)
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My 30 year old Tennessee Walker has been on acv for several months now. He is doing great, and eats all his grain at night. It helps with the flies, and he is not bothered by them too much anymore. I use 1/4c on top of his grain and supplements each night. It's great for his coat too!!!

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Posted by Melanie (Calgary Alberta Canada)
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We give our horses 2 capfuls of acv 3 to 4 times a week in their grain for the past seven years and wouldn't be without it ever. We make sure we buy the unpasteurized kind from the health food dept because it has the active enzymes. It seems to keep their guts clean and moving and a around healthy tonic. ACV is full of potassium and here in alberta I sometimes feel our hay lacks the full amount a horse requires. My girlfriend uses it in a spray bottle and sprays it on sores muscles after a session of cattle penning. We also keep a syringe full of ACV in the barn (without the needle of course) and if a horse colics, I have been told by people at the race track, to shoot the liquid into their mouth to help with the pain. The enzymes apparently stimulate the digestion immediately, hence the bad taste!! I compete with my horse and I would not be without my acv and my liquid garlic (3 drops a day, 3 times a week) to keep a strong immune system.

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Posted by Lisa (Gloustershire, UK)
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I regularly feed apple cider vinegar to my arthritic 30 year old pony. It has given him a new lease of life, less pain and an increased range of movement and free from bute. I am currently studying equine science at Hartpury College and am working on a research proposal to investigate the properties of apple cider vinegar in relation to an alleviation aid for developmental joint disease such as arthritis in the horse.

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Posted by Carol (Deltona, FL)
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I gave this 19 yr old Standredbred Mare (1/2 cup per feeding)who was under weight and muck itch. Along with ACV 1/2 cup corn oil and 1/2 cup ground Flax seed per feeding twice a day. Then I bred her and her foal came out "Super". It was a colt his coat was smooth as silk and he is very "bright". His mother was cured of the "muck itch" but it took longer then 30 days. Now, I have another mare and she is getting 1/2 cup ACV and (before I got her) she was mistreated and very under weight. I believe ACV works and I live in FL where bugs are year around. I use White Vinegar on the outside of my horses for a fly spray and to kill any "fungus" they may have.


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