Question

I have a 19-year-old Appaloosa molly mule that is 13 hands (132 cm) and around 850-900 lb (385-410 kg). She's in good weight for her size. When I first got her I fed free-choice coastal hay and she got too fat. Now she gets two flakes of coastal hay each day along with pasture. She gets a half cup of racehorse oats, which I soak and rinse twice before feeding. She has access to a mineral block. I feel she might not be getting the vitamins and minerals, including selenium, needed for overall health, as well as hoof and coat condition.

Answer

Mules tend to maintain their weight easier on fewer calories per day than horses. This is what you have may encountered when she gained weight when she first arrived.

As you figured, she is not getting the proper levels of vitamins and minerals from the small amount of oats or the forage she consumes. A general vitamin and mineral supplement is appropriate. Adding a micronutrient pellet like Micro-Max at 60 g per day will meet her vitamin and mineral requirements, including selenium, without adding significant calories.

If you are interested in focusing specifically on hoof and coat health, you may consider additional supplementation, including Bio-Bloom PS. This supplement includes biotin and other necessary ingredients for hoof strength and growth as well as coat conditioning.