28/01/2026
We’ve seen a few curious questions about creatine and why it isn’t part of our Stamina Mix (our natural oral endurance product for horses). It's the current go-to product for human athletes right now, right? So why not for equine athletes?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in muscle that helps quickly regenerate ATP — the energy currency your muscles use for short, intense bursts of activity (think sprinting, jumping, power moves). That’s why you see it in many human strength-training formulas.
But here’s the catch: endurance = long, aerobic energy, not short bursts. Think trot → canter → long slow distance… that’s oxidative metabolism, not rapid phosphocreatine replenishment.
Why doesn’t creatine help endurance in horses?
1. Horses don’t absorb creatine well orally.
Studies show that even when creatine is fed at doses similar to those that work in humans and dogs, horses show little increase in muscle creatine content. That means the supplement never really gets into the place it needs to be to boost performance.
2. Performance studies don’t back it up.
In a study on Quarter Horses, 45 days of oral creatine supplementation did not improve race times, heart rate, or lactate levels — standard performance markers — compared with controls.
Another investigation in Standardbred trotters found no change in muscle metabolic response, plasma lactate, or endurance capacity after creatine supplementation.
So why does this matter for The Herbal Horse?
At The Herbal Horse, our goal with the Stamina Mix is to support natural, sustained aerobic performance — improved oxygen use, reduced oxidative stress, steady energy delivery — using plant-based extracts, antioxidants and digestive support. We choose ingredients that:
- actually align with the metabolic demands of endurance work
- are bioavailable and effective in horses
- support long-term health (not just short bursts of power)
And since creatine doesn’t reliably boost endurance or even get into muscle in horses, it simply doesn’t belong in our Stamina Mix — no matter how popular it is in human running or powerlifting circles.
In a nutshell
- Creatine might help short, high-intensity efforts in some species.
- In horses, absorption and performance benefits are weak or nonexistent.
- For endurance, other pathways and nutrients are more important — and that’s where we focus.
Got more questions about supplements, endurance science, or how plants can help your horse go the distance? Drop them below — answering horsey questions is my favourite thing!
And, just in case this has piqued your interest in Stamina mix, here is a link to more information: https://bit.ly/3OER1n8.
A blend of herbs, vitamins and minerals formulated to nutritionally support stamina, endurance and performance in horses competing in highly demanding sports. Use Stamina Mix if: you compete in endurance, polo, polocrosse, eventing, showjumping, racing etc. your horse's energy decreases over time. y...
