What do you feed horses for healthy hooves? (2023)

What to feed horses to improve hooves?

Trace minerals (iodine, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium) and biotin, commonly found in feeds and supplements, also contribute to hoof health. All Legends® horse feeds have advanced amino acid formulation and three guaranteed amino acids to help build and maintain healthy hooves.

When it comes to hoof quality, remember the three steps to achieve improved hoof quality: a good diet and supplements that adhere to the R.I.D.E. principles; day-to-day husbandry and footing; and the professional podiatry your horse receives.

Many nutritionists encourage the use of supplements for a horse that has poor hoof growth. Recommended supplements include zinc, calcium, protein (especially the amino acid methionine), and biotin. Zinc has to be added carefully and should be balanced with copper, calcium, and methionine to have any good effect.

But for the majority of horses, a diet with naturally occurring biotin, a good amino acid and fatty acid balance, and proper vitamin and mineral fortification will support excellent hoof growth rates and quality of growth.

Regular exercise gets the muscles contracting and the heart pumping, thereby increasing blood flow to all your horse's tissues and organs. On the correct footing, exercise helps to increase blood circulation to your horse's hooves as well, encouraging proper formation and growth.

Helps in treatment of sole and stone bruises, hoof rot, scratches, and dew poisoning. Treats calluses, split hooves, corns, quarter cracks, and hard, dry, tender, or contracted feet.

A domestic horse is unable to wear their hooves down as nature intended. Wild horses maintain their own hooves by moving many kilometres a day across a variety of surfaces. This keeps their hooves in good condition as the movement across abrasive surfaces wears ('trims') the hooves on a continual basis.

Apple Cider Vinegar works to acidify the horse's stomach for better digestion, cleansing the digestic tract. It can also aid in the absorption of minerals and helps balance the acid/alkaline ratio which is essential for good health.

How to prevent chipped horse hooves. Schedule regular trimmings with your farrier and make sure the hooves are trimmed properly with a rounded edge to prevent chipping. Avoid chemical drying caused by the use of hoof products that contain such products as lime and other stall-drying products.

How often should I oil my horses hooves?

Hoof oil. Applying hoof oil to your horse's hooves everyday during the summer months can help to maintain their health. In dry weather, soaking your horse's feet in water and applying a hoof dressing can help the hooves to retain moisture.

The addition of biotin, a common ingredient in hoof supplements, also can help harden her soles. Feed at least 20 mg. per day. Other nutrients to look for in a supplement are iodine, methionine and zinc.

A horse that is being ridden on a regular basis should have its hooves picked and cleaned before and after each ride. Other horses should have their hooves picked daily, if possible, or at least a couple of times each week so any hoof problems are caught in the earliest stages.

Extremely dry weather draws moisture out of the hoof, causing them to become brittle, crack, chip or crumble. Cold weather with snow and ice conditions are hard on hooves, causing cracks and chips; while wet climates over-saturate hooves, softening and weakening the hoof wall, and allowing thrush to thrive.

There is not a magical nutrient that will target the hoof, but ensuring the horse is receiving adequate nutrition will often correct some hoof problems. Many horses with hoof issues, even those with adequate nutrition, will benefit from added biotin, methionine, lysine and specific trace minerals (copper and zinc).

Shelly hooves – When a horse lacks a proper diet, it can become protein-deficient. Horse hooves, as well as horse hair, are made up of proteins. If horses do not consume proteins via food, the protein in their hooves cannot be restored and can start to break down.

A properly applied heartbar shoe will use the frog to assist in the weight bearing, taking weight off the heels and allowing them to grow without excessive compression. This would allow the heels to grow faster and stop the forward crushing.

The hoof grows from the coronary band downward. You've probably heard that it takes about a year for a horse to grow an entirely new hoof. Godbee notes that average hoof growth is anywhere from ¼ inch to ½ inch per month, so for most horses, it will take approximately 10 to 12 months to grow a new hoof.

Horses, like other mammals, have only one heart. However, the frog in each hoof acts like a pump to push blood back up the leg with each step a horse takes. The frog also acts as a shock absorber.

Blood is pumped from the heart through arteries to the hoof and is assisted in its return through a “pumping mechanism” in the hoof. This mechanism is necessary due to the position of the hoof in relation to the heart. There are no muscles in the lower leg or hoof to aid in the return of venous blood to the heart.

What oil is best for horse hooves?

Vegetable oils such as flaxseed oil are a gentle, safe, yet effective natural alternative to promoting the health and function of your horse's hooves. The strength of a horse's hoof is crucial to its health, as it bears the full weight of the limb.

Coconut oil is a fast-absorbing and rich oil that would be perfect if your horses live in a very dry, drought-ridden environment. A thin coat of coconut oil provides deep moisture without making the hooves soft.

Olive oil deeply hydrates, but it also helps balance the moisture levels in the hoof. It is naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial to help prevent bacteria growth.

Hoof repair and relief

If your horse is suffering from cracked, dry hooves, coconut oil can help. Coconut oil contains vitamins C and E as well as capric acid and lauric acid which can help promote healthy hooves, skin, and hair. Rub coconut oil onto sore or dry spots of the hooves daily.

Salt water encourages hoof growth and the load bearing aspect of training in the Seawalker helps Laminitic horses, as the cold water cools feet and relieves pain.

But, most of them do like having their hooves picked and don't mind shoeing at all – so long as an expert does it! Nevertheless, most horses are relatively “neutral” when it comes time for them to be shod. They might not like the process, but they don't hate it either.

Hoof trimming also is necessary to prevent other foot distortion problems; poor hoof care can make horses more prone to injuries and can cause fungal infections, sole bruises, or abscesses of the hoof. “Untrimmed or poorly trimmed feet are prone to flaring, chipping, and hoof defects,” Maki said.

Horses wear shoes to prevent their hooves from wearing down on rough ground. Shoes can also help if a horse has a weak hoof or issues with a leg muscle. In the winter, horses can wear shoes with extra traction on the bottom to walk over slippery ground.

What kills thrush in horse hooves?

Thrush can be treated by cutting back dead tissue and then treating the area with a solution. Iodine, or a 50/50 bleach/water mix can be effective for a mild, superficial case. If your horse is sensitive in the hoof, the infection may have spread deeper, and bleach would be too harsh.

“Turmeric is suitable for horses suffering from stiff joints and itchy skin conditions, as well as offering support to the digestive system,” says Becky Darby, product advisor at Global Herbs. “A lot of people feed it to provide support to horses whose joints are under stress.”

For long-standing and complicated cracks, the edges of the crack should be held apart by filling the crack with acrylic hoof repair material and further stabilized with fiberglass or acrylic patches stuck over the crack and wires or laces. The foot should then be shod with a full-bar shoe with clips.

It is a benefit to have a large frog but not absolutely necessary for the frog to touch the ground. Much of the shock absorption needed is to relieve pressure coming downward (from the weight of the horse down onto the digital cushion and then frog); not from pressure coming upward (from the ground to the frog).

Keep a regular farrier schedule. Provide proper nutrition and a quality hoof supplement such as Farrier's Formula® Double Strength to develop a denser, healthier, and more resilient hoof. Regularly apply a non-caustic hoof conditioner such as Farrier's Finish® to help regulate moisture balance.

For thin soled horses, look for a complete supplement that has more than just biotin and calcium, but also has a wide range of amino acids, vitamins and – most importantly -trace minerals. Diet is a huge subject in itself and advice should be sought from a professional equine nutritionist.

What does a healthy barefoot hoof look like?

Healthy hooves will have STRONG HEELS and bars and supportive heel buttresses. 6. Healthy hooves will have rubbery or callused thick frogs that serve well for hoof concussion and energy dissipation. They will extend probably 60% of the hoof length and be free of any bacterial Thrush or fungus.

Better shock absorption and energy dissipation. Barefoot and booted horses' hoofs are better able to absorb shock and dissipate energy than metal-shod horses' hoofs, which can equate to increased performance and longevity, particularly on hard surfaces.

But how can you know if your farrier is actually doing what is best for your horse? Your horse should be able to move with the least effort possible at any gait. He will perform better and tire less easily if he can move efficiently. The most important part of a farrier's job is to maximize efficiency.

Add a biotin supplement to his ration (ask your farrier for a recommendation). Some hooves benefit from these supplements; others show little change. Plan to use the supplement for six months to a year; that's how long it takes any benefits to show up in new hoof growth. Give him consistent exercise.

Research focusing on biotin as a means of improving hoof quality of the horse started in the mid-1980s. Over the intervening years, various studies have found a statistically significant improvement from biotin supplementation on overall hoof condition with 15 to 25 mg per day.

Serving size: According to Equine Clinical and Applied Nutrition, the amount of biotin recommended for average-sized horses with poor quality horn is 15-20mg/day, while Nutrient Requirement for Horses suggests a higher intake of 30mg/day.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an important antioxidant for horses. It helps maintain a healthy immune system and supports normal nerve and muscle function. Horses need vitamin E in their diet because they cannot synthesize it endogenously in their body. It is found in fresh, green grasses and forages.

The hoof grows from the coronary band downward. You've probably heard that it takes about a year for a horse to grow an entirely new hoof. Godbee notes that average hoof growth is anywhere from ¼ inch to ½ inch per month, so for most horses, it will take approximately 10 to 12 months to grow a new hoof.

There is not a magical nutrient that will target the hoof, but ensuring the horse is receiving adequate nutrition will often correct some hoof problems. Many horses with hoof issues, even those with adequate nutrition, will benefit from added biotin, methionine, lysine and specific trace minerals (copper and zinc).

Can a horse be given too much biotin?

Biotin supplementation is very safe for horses, with no reported cases of toxicity. Like other water-soluble B-vitamins, excess biotin that is not used by the body will be excreted in the urine.

How is seedy toe treated? The separated and necrotic infected horn should be removed by your farrier or veterinarian with a hoof knife, establishing drainage and exposing the infected tissues to air, discouraging growth of anaerobic bacteria.

Extremely dry weather draws moisture out of the hoof, causing them to become brittle, crack, chip or crumble. Cold weather with snow and ice conditions are hard on hooves, causing cracks and chips; while wet climates over-saturate hooves, softening and weakening the hoof wall, and allowing thrush to thrive.

The alfalfa plant is rich in beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body. It also contains vitamin E and the B vitamins Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic acid, Biotin and Folic acid.

Thin soles can be caused by over-trimming, and most practitioners now know not to try to trim an arch into a flat sole. Wet environments can overly soften the sole and contribute to thinning. Then, too, some horses are simply genetically predisposed to thin soles.

Most vitamin E supplements consist of alpha-tocopherol because alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically available and well researched isoform of vitamin E. The most efficient way to rapidly increase levels is to administer a natural water-soluble Emcelle Stuart Product supplement (Elevate W.S. or Nano-e).

Over-supplementation of vitamin E (the most commonly supplemented antioxidant in horses) can lead to lower systemic beta-carotene levels, potentially causing a vitamin A deficiency if the horse doesn't have regular access to fresh, green grass.

One study found that fresh alfalfa hay lost as much as 73 percent of its vitamin E after just 12 weeks in storage. In addition, some grains, such as corn, oats or barley, contain some naturally occurring vitamin E but only about 20 to 30 IU per kilogram of dry matter.

A horse that is being ridden on a regular basis should have its hooves picked and cleaned before and after each ride. Other horses should have their hooves picked daily, if possible, or at least a couple of times each week so any hoof problems are caught in the earliest stages.

How often should horses hooves be cleaned?

In general, you should use a pick and clean out your horse's hooves daily. It's an important task and can prevent infections and injuries such as thrush and stone bruising. Most horses need their hoofs trimmed every six to eight weeks; however, show horses may need trimming more often.