Barefoot horse owner...

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NeedNewHorse

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Hi,

Does anyone use any supplements for your barefoot horses? If so what and why?

Or does anyone use any hoof dressing/oil/cream??

Thanks
 
No supplements as such, but do feed a balancer, especially through the winter months. I also feed D&H Safe and Sound (which contains biotin).
When the weather is dry, I usually apply Kevin Bacon's Hoof Dressing either once or twice a day to both hoof and soles.
This prevents hooves cracking and soles flaking.
 
Im going to contain myself on this reply!!

There are so many suplements you can use wen i looked i got so very lost. . . use x for y and z for a etc

There is a fab book called feet first which is a bible for any advice you need!

Also a brill forum:

http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/

Very nice knowlageable people.

I have just decided what I am going to change Oscar onto (feed wise) after much research!

They say you shouldn't need to use ointments etc however i do use NAF pro feet hoof rub, havent really used it long enough to be able to report on it yet tho. Think its more for mybenifit than his
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Ok I wasnt very contained
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Hope it helps a little although I probably confused you more
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Sorry
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Good luck
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Supplements that are recommended - magnesium (to help break down sugars), brewers yeast to help the digestive system be as efficient as possible (again helping to break down sugars) and seaweed as a general mineral supplement.

I don't use any ointments or creams or oils or lotions on any of my five barefoot horses - they're not necessary... the only way to strong healthy feet is by a good trim, the right no-sugar diet and exercise. The quality of the feet comes from within not what we might paint on from the outside. Proof is in the pudding - I did a ten mile ride on Sunday over roads and stony tracks in North wales barefoot and not one a dodgy step... unlike the shod horses we rode with who were slipping, sliding and stumbling all over the place
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My mare has been barefoot for the last 2 years, although she hasn't done much more than light hacking and schooling and had time off for a foal.
She has never had any supplements for her feet and she's been fine.
Although i am getting 2 fronts on her tommorow now that she is getting fitter
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Hey thanks.

Just curious to know whether or not anyone adds anything to their horses diet specifically because they are barefoot or not. I don't but she has good feet.
x
 
i dont add anything specifically....my boy has a seaweed supp as he has a mix of compeete feed and straights, but mums horse only has baileys lo-cal and doesnt get anything else so no difference to if they were shod.

they get a bit off effol slopped on every day but only because, well, iv always oiled feet after washing legs/feet when they come in!!!! i did used to use kevin bacon but have found no diff with the (cheaper and easier to get hold of) effol.
 
mine dont get anything specific.
a chaff with balancer- usually the baileys stud balancer- very ecconomic.
the 6year old also gets comp mix as she needs the instant energy!
dont really use anything on their feet-if they have a little chip or split i do wash it off and rub some antiseptic on to try to prevent any infection.
 
I have an 8 year old Darty that I ride (I'm 4'10" and 7 stone at 27) and do a fair amount of road work. When I got him as a 3 yearold he had wondeful feet and still has but I keep him on a chaff type feed of healthy hooves and happy feet (or is that a movie?) and a feed balancer and he has never had any trouble.

Nikki
 
Mag ox and SS Total Eclipse - cos I'm too lazy to mix my own BY/seaweed/linseed and because I don't want huge bags of the stuff hanging round for ages.

Don't use any dressings for his hooves - there's no need to.
 
As Rockcruncher says!!...Brewers yeast, Seaweed and Magnesium.

BY & SW available to purchase in bulk from Charnwood milling... and I feed magnitude from Equine America for the MagOx. All in it works out something like 17p per horse per day
 
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