Question
Question: My trail horse has had terrible feet for as long as I have owned him. The farrier says he has thin soles and no heel. Even when he grows foot, it is shelly and brittle. Someone mentioned adding a combination of gelatin and biotin to his diet to help his hooves. Is that advised?
Answer
Answer: Many horses struggle with weak hooves as a result of genetics, environment, nutrition, or a combination of these and other factors.
Because you didn’t mention the current diet, I assume your horse’s basic nutrient needs are being met. If your horse is an easy keeper, as many trail horses are, simply offering a ration balancer with forage may be all he needs to maintain moderate body condition. Ration balancers offer a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, and minerals designed to be fed at a feeding rate of 1-2 lb (0.4-0.9 kg) per day. If your horse requires a concentrate to satisfy energy requirements, be sure to feed the amount recommended by the manufacturer to ensure appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals are offered. Providing a solid base of nutrients is the first step in supporting hoof quality.
The use of gelatin as a potential hoof supplement has been addressed by researchers in the past. Studies in ponies supplemented with gelatin showed no effect on hoof condition when fed at doses of 30 g (1 oz) and 90 g (3 oz) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight.*
Biotin, on the other hand, has been scientifically proven to improve the strength and growth of new hoof growth in many horses with daily doses of 20 mg or greater. Only new hoof growth is affected by biotin supplementation, though. Because hooves grow slowly, improvements in hoof quality will not be noticeable for several months after supplementation begins.
As an example, in one study 42 Lipizzaner stallions with poor-quality hooves were treated with 20 mg of biotin per day for over three years. Assessments of hoof quality were made and compared to control horses. This study showed that it took six months for appreciable differences to be observed between treated and control horses and nine months to achieve a statistically significant difference.**
To my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence that suggests a combination of biotin and gelatin has greater effect on hoof condition than biotin alone. However, when biotin is fed with other key nutrients, increases in hoof quality may be more substantial.
High-quality hoof supplements combine biotin with methionine, zinc, and iodine. Keratin is the primary protein constituent of the hoof horn and is rich in the amino acid methionine. Iodine is necessary for proper thyroid function and tissue growth. Zinc is known for its role as an enzyme activator for various systems. Zinc deficiency may disrupt keratogenesis, which is the production of horny cells and tissue.
*Butler, K.D., Jr., and H.F. Hintz. 1977. Effect of level of feed intake and gelatin supplementation on growth and quality of hoofs of ponies. Journal of Animal Science 44:257-261.
**Josseck, H., W. Zenker, and H. Geyer. 1995. Hoof horn abnormalities in Lipizzaner horses and the effect of dietary biotin on macroscopic aspects of hoof horn quality. Equine Veterinary Journal 27:175-182.
