Best hoof supplement

jenbleep

jenbleep

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 November 2005
Messages
14,674
Location
North West
Visit site
Hello

Charisma's hooves are rather cracked (only her fronts, near side is worse) and I am wondering if she should have some type of biotin supplement.

Currently she is being fed Alfa A Oil, Baileys # 4, Sugarbeet, Soya Oil and Seaweed. She is out everyday with not the best grass and in an night with not the best hay (soon to be on haylage).

Previously she was shod ever 6-7 weeks but farrier said by the state of her feet shoule be shod more regulary, so he comes by every 5 weeks at present. He had put a staple in her near side hoof because the crack has become quite large, but I want to make the hoof stronger from the inside out if possible!

Instructor said seaweed was the best 'general health' product and it's hard to say if her feet have improved through that (she has had it since June).

A friend of mine recommended Hoof Power Plus but there are so many about, I don't know where to start!

I am going to give some of the feed companies a ring this week but would like to know what you all think.

Thanks xx
 
I found Equimins Hoof mender really good. Baileys No 4 has vits and mins already included so you might have to check depending on how much you feed your horse whether you are just doubling up on minerals.
 
vicky_sut said:
I found Equimins Hoof mender really good. Baileys No 4 has vits and mins already included so you might have to check depending on how much you feed your horse whether you are just doubling up on minerals.
Click to expand...

She has only been on Baileys # 4 since early September, so maybe this is helping slightly?
 
It might be worth speaking to baileys to see if the amount you give covers her mineral requirements. I am not a nutritionist :-) But due to my horse going barefoot ( tb with navic)and my trimmer being very up on her minerals I had to learn a bit.
If you dont need the extra calories from the number 4 you might be fine just feeding the alfa a with un mollassed sugar beet then add your hoof supplement if it covers all the vits and mins ( I know equimins does :-))
My horse looks fab on fast fibre, micronised linseed and minerals and her feet are great. I found cutting out things with molasses to really help.
 
My boy had cracked feet when i got him. My foot trimmer said this was a combination of his feet being allowed to grow slightly too long before having them trimmed and too much sugar in his diet. I've now got him on speedi beet and a low cal chaff and rather than a compound mix he is on nuggets. May be worth looking into exactly how much sugar is in her diet and try cutting some out?
 
jenbleep said:
Hello

Charisma's hooves are rather cracked (only her fronts, near side is worse) and I am wondering if she should have some type of biotin supplement.

Currently she is being fed Alfa A Oil, Baileys # 4, Sugarbeet, Soya Oil and Seaweed. She is out everyday with not the best grass and in an night with not the best hay (soon to be on haylage).

Previously she was shod ever 6-7 weeks but farrier said by the state of her feet shoule be shod more regulary, so he comes by every 5 weeks at present. He had put a staple in her near side hoof because the crack has become quite large, but I want to make the hoof stronger from the inside out if possible!
Click to expand...

OP - there are cracks and cracks. Are the cracks in the toe down the midline or in the quarters?

I see a lot of quarter cracks due to inappropriate trimming whether shod or bare. I see a lot of toe cracks where the toe wall is heavily rasped - usually to try and create an angle through mechanical means that should actually be grown in. Toe cracks are then worsened by leaving 'corners' on the toe when trimming.

Your feeding regime is complicated and probably somewhat unbalanced.

If you are a 'keep it simple' sort of person go for Thunderbrook base mix. It will have everything your horse needs and is relatively low sugar.

If you want a good healthy diet that you make yourself for a little less money then please pm me.

Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top