Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is a key component of coenzyme A, which sits at the center of energy metabolism in every cell of your horse's body. It helps convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from feed into usable energy, and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, steroid hormones, and hemoglobin. For horses, pantothenic acid also supports adrenal gland function and the production of cortisol, which helps your horse cope with the physical stress of exercise, transport, or changes in environment. Hindgut bacteria synthesize some pantothenic acid, and it is widely distributed in common equine feedstuffs, so clinical deficiency is rare in horses on a forage-based diet.
Your horse needs roughly 20 to 40 milligrams of pantothenic acid per day — about the weight of a few grains of rice. A 500kg horse eating 10 kilograms of mixed hay and grain typically receives well above this amount from the feed itself plus hindgut bacterial synthesis. No separate supplementation is needed for most horses, though B-vitamin complexes included in commercial feeds provide a modest top-up.
0.0% of daily nutrient intake
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) makes up 0.0% of your horse's total daily nutritional requirements by weight. That's a tiny amount — but it matters.
True deficiency is rarely documented in horses under normal feeding conditions. In other species, signs include poor coat quality, skin lesions, reduced growth, fatigue, and impaired stress response. A horse with a severely disrupted hindgut (from prolonged antibiotic use or extreme dietary imbalance) could theoretically develop low levels.
Excess is uncommon and not a practical concern. Pantothenic acid is water-soluble and readily excreted, so toxicity from dietary sources or normal supplementation has not been reported in horses.
| Life Stage | Size | Min | Max | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | — | 20 | 40 | mg | For a 500kg horse. Met by diet and hindgut bacterial synthesis in most cases. No separate supplementation typically needed. |
Source: NRC 2007, general veterinary consensus
