Question
My 12-year-old warmblood-cross is fit and appears to be in good health. We usually compete most weekends, and he always does what is asked of him. However, he has terrible feet. They grow slowly and crack easily. He is constantly losing shoes, which stops us from competing. As far as I know, he consumes a well-balanced diet. I think he needs a hoof supplement, but there seem to be so many brands, all with different ingredients. Please, can you shed some light and make a recommendation?
Answer
The old saying “no hoof, no horse” still applies today. Many horses have great potential but cannot succeed because of poor hoof health, and this can be really disappointing. Hoof quality is dependent on balanced nutrition, and the correct building blocks need to be present in the diet to ensure healthy hoof growth. Just to be sure your horse’s diet is nutritionally balanced, I would recommend a ration evaluation. Request a KER diet analysis.
Hoof wall is made up mostly of protein. Proteins consist of amino acids, and there are a few specific amino acids that are essential in forming strong healthy hooves. Methionine and lysine are two important amino acids that tend to be limiting, as they can be deficient in horse diets. Without these building blocks, hoof growth is restricted and hoof integrity is likely to be poor. When you look for a hoof supplement, be aware that it should contain methionine in its formulation.
When poor hooves are a problem, an important factor to consider is whether you are feeding enough energy. When a horse is expending more energy than it receives in feed each day, the energy in the diet is reserved for important body functions such as growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues rather than hoof growth.
Balanced trace minerals are essential for healthy growth of hooves as well as the overall health of the horse. The mineral zinc is involved specifically with the integrity of skin, hair, and hoof, and is essential in a diet designed for hoof health. However, without the correct balance of the other trace minerals, you are unlikely to see the desired results when using a hoof supplement as a quick fix. Chelated zinc is better absorbed and utilized within the body than alternative inorganic zinc sources, so it is a useful ingredient in a hoof supplement.
The vitamin biotin is well-known as a key player in hoof health. Studies have shown that biotin levels of 15-20 mg per day have positive effects on the hoof wall. These effects take approximately 6-9 months to fully manifest, so you do have to be patient and persistent with your hoof-repair strategy.
Balanced nutrition plays a large role in promoting sound hooves. Once you have addressed any dietary imbalances and have double-checked the work of your farrier, and your horse’s hooves are still in poor shape, a well-fortified hoof supplement will supply essential nutrients for hoof growth. Bio-Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom HF in Australia) is one such hoof supplement.
