2026-05-07
Proper nutrition, housing conditions, and workload intensity all have a significant impact on the condition and overall functioning of horses — whether recreational, sport, or breeding animals.
One of the laboratory methods used for elemental composition analysis is horse hair analysis (HTMA – Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis). The test involves evaluating the levels of selected mineral elements in a hair sample.
What exactly is this test, and what kind of information can it provide?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a laboratory method used to determine the content of selected mineral elements in a horse’s hair sample.
The test allows for the assessment of:
✓ macro- and microelement levels
✓ ratios between elements
✓ the presence of selected heavy metals
The analysis is performed using the ICP-OES method (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry), commonly used for elemental analysis of biological materials.
Horse hair may reflect the accumulation of elements in the body over a longer period of time. For this reason, HTMA is used as an informational tool supporting the evaluation of nutrition and the horse’s environmental conditions.
The results are informational in nature and may be used in the context of:
✓ assessing mineral balance
✓ monitoring nutrition
✓ observing changes related to diet and supplementation
✓ observing changes related to training and workload
✓ analyzing the impact of the stable environment
Interpretation of the results should always take into account the horse’s individual diet, type of use, and housing conditions.
A horse’s nutritional requirements depend on many factors, including:
✓ age
✓ type of use and activity level
✓ training intensity
✓ recovery periods or competition season
✓ environmental and stable conditions
Sport horses, breeding horses, and intensively trained animals may have different nutritional needs compared to recreational or pasture-kept horses.
Hair analysis may support a more informed approach to diet planning and mineral supplementation.
A horse hair analysis report includes:
✓ levels of selected mineral elementsh
✓ mineral relationships and ratios
✓ information regarding the presence of heavy metals
The results may be useful for monitoring changes related to nutrition, supplementation, and the horse’s living environment.
Hair analysis and blood tests provide different types of information and should not be considered interchangeable methods.
✓ hair may reflect longer-term exposure to elements
✓ blood reflects current values at the moment of sampling
These methods are not directly comparable and serve different informational purposes.
HTMA analysis may be considered, among others:
✓ when changing the feeding program
✓ during supplementation monitoring
✓ for sport and breeding horses
✓ during periods of intensive training or recovery
✓ in the context of stable environment and environmental exposure
✓ as part of regular horse condition monitoring
HTMA supports a more informed approach to diet formulation and supplementation.
he sample should be collected according to the instructions included in the kit:
1. Hair should be collected from the mane. Before collection, the mane should not be washed — it should only be thoroughly brushed to remove dirt and loose hair.
2. It is recommended to use sharp scissors. The hair should be cut close to the skin, and a 1.5–2 cm section measured from the cut end should be submitted for analysis.
3. The required sample amount is 300–400 mg, which roughly corresponds to one flat tablespoon of hair.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is informational and educational in nature. It is not a veterinary diagnostic test and should not be used to diagnose diseases or make medical decisions. In the case of concerns related to a horse’s condition or health, consultation with a veterinarian is recommended.
Horse hair analysis (HTMA) is a laboratory method used to evaluate the elemental composition of a hair sample.
It may provide information regarding mineral levels, relationships between elements, and environmental exposure, supporting a more informed approach to nutrition, supplementation, and horse care.
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