Barefoot diet questions

Holly Hocks

Holly Hocks

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Hi
My elderly TB gelding had his shoes taken off about 8 weeks ago as he had lost so much hoof that it was going to be nigh on impossible for the farrier to put shoes on and for them to stay on, so I couldn't see the point in him putting them on, only for him to lose one and break a load more hoof off and make the situation even worse. So he's been chillling in the field since, but the last couple of weeks I've been bringing him in over the yard for a groom and his tea, rather than feed him in the field. He is very footsore on concrete.
Anyway, someone on here the other week said that alfalfa isn't good for barefoot horses, so about a week ago I changed his diet completely.
I'm now giving him Allen and Page fast fibre, micronised linseed, seaweed and his joint supplement. I've also changed my mare to the same diet as I am hoping to get her shoes taken off for winter (because she has been lame ever since I was told by the vet hospital that she shouldn't be barefoot and should be shod (at this point I would put an angry smiley, but don't know how!) so I did as they said and put shoes on). They were out 24/7, but are now out during the day and in at night. They get good quality ad lib haylage. There is no hay available on the yard.
How long does it take for a new diet to take effect? A month, two months?
Is the diet correct?
Help and advice much appreciated. Thank you
 
Hi :) I'm no expert on it, but I have been told that biotin and seaweed are great for feet. My chap will be having these in his feed, along with a general vit and min supplement. I have also heard that alfalfa can cause footiness.
 
fhf - I don't think you need to feed a vit/min supplement alongside the seaweed, AFAIK the seaweed is the vit/min supplement.

HH - I think you also need to feed magnesium.
 
I was told that most of the UK is low in copper and zinc, but high in iron. Seaweed is also high in iron, so this shouldn't be fed. (I hope that's right!)
It's all about low sugar/starch (less than 10% in every mouthfull) and balancing their minerals.

If you want to go the whole hog, get your grazing and haylage analysed http://shop.forageplus.com/epages/e... horses forage to determine nutrition needs." and then you can see what's missing from the diet. If not, you can get something like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280723407424?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (can be bought in bigger sizes) or http://www.equimins-online.com/acatalog/copy_of_Equimins_Advance_Concentrate.html These are based on a collection of forage analysis' from across the UK.
Brewers Yeast helps their tummies after grass http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brewers-Y...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item4cf63be43a but then there's this: http://www.finefettlefeed.com/products/ Expensive, but worth it if you can't control his grazing ideally
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Click to expand...
This is a bible! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feet-First-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317970773&sr=1-1

Is your grazing rich? Is he footsore on flat smooth tarmac (roads?) Some take longer than others. The more the foot is stimulated by walking on a variety of surfaces, the better the feet become - but you need to feed for hoof health first! If he's ok on grass and in a sand school, just stick to those surfaces for now. As his feet get stronger, start roadwork. Is he ridden or retired?

Anyhoo, suppose i should do some work! Good luck! :D

.
 
Hi
He's been semi-retired for some time now, but I want to start doing some work with him in Spring as I think he's deteriorating quicker now that he's not doing anything at all. He's footsore on every surface apart from grass and the school, but he's a bit lame at the moment as he tripped and fell on the concrete a couple of weeks ago, so can't really do anything in the school.
On the plus side, he hasn't worn shoes at the back for about 5 years and the back feet are hard as nails, so I'm hoping the fronts will also sort themselves out over winter. He doesn't even get the backs trimmed - they do the job themselves. I'm hoping that as it's been successful at the back, then there is no reason that it shouldn't work at the front...
Where do I get the magnesium from? Is it a powder or what? Which is the best brand to buy?
Thanks again
 
My feed for 15,00 very light work:
500 gm Quick beet - low sugar hi fibre
100gm linseed meal [charnwood Milling. joints, skin hair and hoof
10gm seaweed meal. I bought it before I got the message about Iodine and Iron excess
10 gm biotin
5gm limestone flour
15gm Feedmark Steady Up [has magnesium and yeast]
The problem is that I can't control the sugar intake, other than soaking hay and limiting grass intake by stabling at night.
It is the sugars that cause footiness, I noticed the skin and hair were much better after six weeks, the hooves and feet changed steadily over eight weeks, and are still improving, however he is still a bit footy some days.
I give hin 40 minutes walking on tarmac, and rasp off the edges lightly pretty much every week.
The farrier checks them every months, or more if there is one handy.
The barefoot regime works aslong as you are prepared to mange the horse, but of course some are no problem.
I am saving on farriers bills, and I think I my diet is about the same cost as buying bagged feeds, I no longer feed Dengie no molasses chaff, alfalfa or Calm and Condition/Fast Fibre.
If he gets more work k, I will add a bit of FF or Mare and Youngstock dependant on his "oomph" requirement
If he has problems I would feed a joint supplement say 10 gm over along period.
http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/category/0802204936-Magnesium+Supplements/
You also need yeast sac.
I would be wary of buying the MG in bulk until you have found a palatable one.
My boy is spooky so has been on Steadu up for several years.
 
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Hello,

I had trouble with my barefoot horse on alfalfa, it tended to make his white line open up and become prone to infection, I saw a marked improvement within weeks of changing his diet - the white line closed up and I've gone from discinfecting his feet twice a week, to maybe only once a month since the diet change. I know every horse is different (and mine wasn't lame) but I'd have thought you'd see some changes in the hoof quality with in a month, even if your horse isn't sound.

He now has D&H Just Grass as a base to mix his suppliments in (tendonease and super flex as he has bone spavin and a chronically inflamed tendon sheath). As he's a fattie on a restricted diet, when grazing is poor and I'm concerned he's not getting correct vits he has TopSpec AntiLam.

Hope your horse improves soon, its horrible seeing them lame and having to play the waiting game :(
 
I've just answered a similar question on uknhcp forums, I'll just copy most of the answer here!

Since he has such thin soles then boots are a good idea to help him get moving comfortably. Don't forget to get pads for them too. http://www.thehorseshoof.com/Art_Pad.html

You should start noticing some changes really quickly. If after a couple of months you are still having problems that you can't attribute to thrush/lack of exercise over a range of surfaces etc then it is worth considering getting a forage analysis and feed plan so you can fine tune what you are feeding.

Not sure of a specific thread. Can you get hold of the Feet First book? It is really useful to keep dipping into for information!

Generally high fibre, with low sugar/starch is good - this is why people avoid cereals.

Adlib hay/soaked hay/haylge/grass (depending on what your horse tollerates) with a fibre feed to add magox and any other supplements to.

Non molassed chaff is good (lots of people report problems with alfafa so it is best avoided if possible),
unmolassed sugar beet (though is high in calcium which can be a problem for phosphorus, calcium, magnesium ratios if your grazing is also high in calcium),
fibre cubes (check ingredients though),
bran is good too (though is best if you have high calcium as it is high in phosphorus which can leach calcium).
Allen and Page Fast fibre is ace stuff, no baddies added!

Added to your base feed is magox and linseed. Seaweed is best avoided. A course of yeasacc can be useful (ours have a two week course twice a year, I don't like to have them on it all the time). Lots of horses do well on brewers yeast - loads of b vitamins, and I have found it useful for my sweet itch mare too. Added salt too (sea salt is best).

Good luck!
 
So whats the lowest sugar/starch no cereal high fibre product then???

TS fibre plus cubes - say 10% combined sugar/starch - contain oatfeed and mollasses

Spillers fibre nuts - 8% sugar - contain oatfeed and wheatfeed

Grass nuts - contain no baddies except 12% sugar

Kwikbeet - low sugar low starch (my horse doesnt eat it! :(

Fast Fibre - 5% starch and low sugar


So which is best bet - especially when you have to keep weight on skinny minnie??? (has adlib late cut low sugar haylage
 
Thanks everyone, there's some really good tips on here. I'm going to buy the Feet First book too.
The first tub of seaweed has come to an end, so I won't replace that.
So I'm going to stick with Allen and Page Fast Fibre which they both seem to like, with haylage at night and grazing during the day. Supplements will be micronised linseed, and joint supplement. I will get them a course of yeasacc (or whatever it's called) and some magox and see how we go.....I will update you in a couple of months. By that time, my mare will hopefully have had at least her back shoes taken off, if not her fronts as well.
 
For my native types I have them on alan and page L mix ( 3.75% starch/ no addedsugar) with vit/min supplement and pro feet which I swear by.
Tb types get speedibeet, linseed, vit/mins pro feet and L mix as a chaff to mix it in.
All mine now are bare behind and working on fronts
 
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