Besides providing horses with adequate energy and essential nutrients, their diet should also ensure an appropriate supply of specific nutrients and bioactive compounds that may play an important role in maintaining health and performance but are not usually considered separately when formulating rations. The aim of this bachelor´s thesis was to describe substances that may improve digestion, performance, immune response, and overall health in horses, including antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics, enzymes, oligosaccharides, omega-3 fatty acids, creatine, carnitine, and various plant derived bioactive compounds. These substances can be naturally present in feedstuffs or supplied through feed supplements, which may contain individual nutrients or bioactive compounds obtained from natural sources or produced synthetically. As part of the thesis, a short survey was conducted among six horse breeders. The results showed that the use of feed supplements varies considerably depending on the purpose of horse keeping, the age of the horses, their health status, and their workload. Recreational horses often receive no specific feed supplements, although some are provided only with a vitamin-mineral supplement and salt. In contrast, young, sport, and elderly horses, as well as pregnant mares, are more likely to receive vitamin-mineral supplements, electrolytes, and other supplements. The thesis also highlights the risks associated with the use of herbal preparations in competition horses, as many plant derived compounds are prohibited in equestrian competitions and are classified as doping agents, while the regulations of international governing bodies are not fully harmonized. Overall, the thesis contributes to a better understanding of the importance of different feed supplements, provides a detailed overview of individual supplements, and offers guidelines for their safe and effective long-term use in horse nutrition.
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