Best hoof supplement barefooters?

[Michen]

The newbie hasn't got perfect feet... They are about half grown out since having a decent farrier so they area fairly splayed at the bottom but what's grown through looks nice. She is bare behind and shod infront and I have no plans to take her barefoot at the moment.

She does however have vertical sand cracks in both fronts. I assume these will grow out with the better hoof and good diet but they are extended into the new, good growth so this does concern me a little. I currently have some forage plus winter balancer left which she has started on straight away, but I couldn't remember if someone on here worked out which actually had the best spec? I seem to remember seeing someone with a spreadsheet and pro hoof coming out best but I could be making that up? There's only a few weeks left so looking to re order. I've started to add salt to her diet as well.

What is the general opinion on Kevin bacon dressing? I have a tub but got told by an EP not to use it.

You'd think I'd know all these hoofy questions by now

 

[criso]

I currently have some forage plus winter balancer left which she has started on straight away, but I couldn't remember if someone on here worked out which actually had the best spec? I seem to remember seeing someone with a spreadsheet and pro hoof coming out best but I could be making that up?

I did a spreadsheet at one point and if you feed at the manufacturers recommended level, FP came out as having the highest spec with about twice as much of the key minerals as progressive earth. However pro hoof is cheaper so you could feed at a higher rate as the proportions were roughly the same and then the cost difference levels out. The only thing to watch is the Selenium levels aren't too high if you do this.

Equivita has nearly as high spec as forageplus (slightly lower copper or zinc, can't remember which) but similar levels of everything else. They use Copper and Zinc Sulphate instead of Bioplex versions of these two. There is a thought that the latter are better absorbed however they are more expensive so this is a cost effective solution. Also as the sulphates are less bulky it can be easier with a fussy eater.

Then you have to consider that both Forageplus and Progressive Earth do basic products and 'performance' types ones.

There is a more to date spreadsheet that also includes other balancers that I didn't look at on this site on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/BarefootApproach2WholeHorseHealth/1798390920386393/



Ultimately it comes down to what else you are feeding as the forage you feed will have varying levels of minerals you are trying to balance and supplement and one or the other can suit your environment better so it may be trial and error.

ps tried kevin bacon a long time ago and made no difference at all to my horse's feet. All the farriers round here seem to recommend it - I wonder if they have shares in it

 

[Michen]

Thanks Criso that is really helpful. Think I will just stick with the FP then. Amazingly she gobbles it down even with the tiniest bit of chaff. What a luxury!

I did a spreadsheet at one point and if you feed at the manufacturers recommended level, FP came out as having the highest spec with about twice as much of the key minerals as progressive earth. However pro hoof is cheaper so you could feed at a higher rate as the proportions were roughly the same and then the cost difference levels out. The only thing to watch is the Selenium levels aren't too high if you do this.

Equivita has nearly as high spec as forageplus (slightly lower copper or zinc, can't remember which) but similar levels of everything else. They use Copper and Zinc Sulphate instead of Bioplex versions of these two. There is a thought that the latter are better absorbed however they are more expensive so this is a cost effective solution. Also as the sulphates are less bulky it can be easier with a fussy eater.

Then you have to consider that both Forageplus and Progressive Earth do basic products and 'performance' types ones.

There is a more to date spreadsheet that also includes other balancers that I didn't look at on this site on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/BarefootApproach2WholeHorseHealth/1798390920386393/



Ultimately it comes down to what else you are feeding as the forage you feed will have varying levels of minerals you are trying to balance and supplement and one or the other can suit your environment better so it may be trial and error.

ps tried kevin bacon a long time ago and made no difference at all to my horse's feet. All the farriers round here seem to recommend it - I wonder if they have shares in it

 

[Goldenstar]

I saw a visible difference when I swopped to the forage plus performance balancers ( all the horses where on good quality supplements before that ) I did not see a result with the FP foot supplement .

 

[Shady]

just wanted to add , make sure you keep the pressure off the cracks by keeping the hooves rounded, iv'e been helping a friend with one of her horses, he had a bad grass crack, farrier wanted to shoe for 6+ months but each time i go over i give them a little rasp off in a nice roll and he is doing really well! xx

 

[Red-1]

I have used a few, and the difference is visible when he is on Pro Hoof. They grow faster and strong.

 

[chahala]

I too ( and my farrier) have noticed a pronounced improvement since changing to forageplus ( I use the summer hoof and skin supplement).