Crumbly feet? Best supplement?

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SpruceRI

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My mare has had her shoes off for a week after having had an abcess.

She's also out of work due to a seperate injury.

Her feet have always been a bit rubbish but are now particularly crumbly, bit's chipping off all over the place.

Should I have her shoes put back to help hold them together?

She's not foot sore at all.


Over the winter I fed her a Biotin supplement - 6 months worth. Can't remember the make, but I have to say it's not made a jot of difference.

Can anyone recommend anything they think is good that works?

I know it will take months and months for new growth to grow down, I'm prepared for that.

Thanks
 
The only hoof supplement I have used is Formula 4 Feet - I was recommended it by the Laminitis Clinic and it certainly does its job. Mine are also feed Happy Hoof which contains biotin and other stuff good for hooves.

F4F may seem expensive - I get the big sack which lasts over 3 months so is the best value for money. If you call the manufacturers they will send you a sample to try before you buy some to see if your horse will eat it.
 
I use Formula 4 Feet too, though ironically for my shod horse, the unshod one has rock hard feet (but she has been barefoot 3 years now).

Has your farrier trimmed the feet and rounded off the edges, because if not they will be very likely to chip?
 
I use F4F too, and if I were you I would also get your vet/ pharmacist to make up some Eucalyptus and Iodoform to brush on to your feet to kill any fungal infection you might have in the hoof wall. it tends to be fungal infections that cause a hoof to break and go flaky. I use the iodoform at least twice a week on my TB's feet as they are really prone to cracking and flaking and that with the F4F has worked wonders. we can now keep shoes on for 4 weeks at a time whereas before i was lasting about 1-2 weeks and really struggling with no hoof to put a replacement shoe on
 
Another vote for F4F - it is the only thing that has made a difference to the wussey TBs feet. We tried a lot of other things as well to no avail. Kevin Bacon hoof dressing seems to be good in the summer too.
 
i use NAF biotin, if you dont feed the right amount it is useless. i used it on my highland x after recommended by my farrier, he has triangle feet and huge chunks out them, shoes would fall of in days! Biotin pure was the only thing that worked for me, scoop n half everyday. farrier commented last time he was here how strong his feet were!
 
Naf Profeet has worked wonders on my TB

His feet were so bad he was losing shoes every 2-3 weeks, now they stay on 6weeks no probs. My farrier recomended it and he has been really pleased with results, NAF also do a hoof rub product with eucalyptus which i just rub on around the top of the hoof every day.
Higly recommended!
 
I assume that they are currently rather dry? If so, then soak them for a short time every day, just plain water.
When feeding a supplement, you should feed for at least twelve months so you get a complete top-to-toe regrowth of horn.
 
Thank you all. F4F seems to get the vote.

I have tried the NAF Profeet, which smelt like sewage and my mare wouldn't eat her feed with it in - I don't blame her!

So will ask the F4F people for a sample rather than fork out and then find she won't eat that either!

Shoes going back on, on Thurs, though they're looking rather more triangular than they were a week ago -eek!
 
My Tb wouldnt eat Profeet to start with either, i added a handfull of mint to every feed and now he loves it!! Definately worth a try as id tried everything before and nothing had made any difference at all. The Profeet really has made a massive improvement to his feet.
 
Plusvital is a really good dressing that i have used, designed 4 irish racehorses it is fantastic and really helps, might try F4F myself, sounds v good!
 
I'm a NAF profeet convert and i'm 'mrs........ i can't work', as in past i have tried all sort of stuff and it's been money down the drain F4F, FF biotin list goes on........

BUT i do have to say they do seem to of improved with Profeet BUT you do need still to have carefull management IMO and i had my first season hunting where i did lost a shoe, which is unheard of, so it must be doing something!!!
 
Try Geletine powders from the supermarket! One a week, Try a small amout first, to make sure your horse will not react to it, shouldn't do none of mine new and old have ever been alergic. Bacially Jelly is good for bone and skin and trust me it works. Let us know.
 
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