Feed advice

[HairyCoblet]

4 year old cob in light work (very light!)
Currently fed 1 small scoop course mix, 1 small scoop Alfa a oil and a supplement of garlic during summer.

He's managing ok on this, looking nice and filled out but his feet seem to be cracking. Is there something I could change/add to help his feet?

 

[Tern]

If it were me he'd be on nothing except maybe a handful on chaff with supplements in.. You could either shoe him or buy some Kevin Bacon.

 

[NellRosk]

If it were me he'd be on nothing except maybe a handful on chaff with supplements in.. You could either shoe him or buy some Kevin Bacon.

Noooo! Sorry but I have to disagree with this. If you add a vit and min balancer this will support his feet. I started feeding my mare the pro balance from progressive earth (sold on eBay) when she was about 2 with a small amount of low sugar chop and speedi beet and now at 5 years old she has rock hard feet and doesn't need shoes. You can add micronised linseed (just half a cup if he's fat or more if he needs to put a bit of weight on) and this will help his feet too and add a wonderful shine to his coat. Also Kevin Bacon is just animal fat, I use it for shows as it makes the hooves look shiny and pretty but it does nothing for hoof health.

 

[wench]

Personally I'd ditch the "course" mix and alpha a oil, horse is in light work, shouldnt need a lot of feed, and put on a lo-cal balancer with a hoof supplement, and start using a hoof dressing. I've used cut heal hoof heal, and absorbine, and both have made a difference to the horses hooves.

 

[Tern]

Also Kevin Bacon is just animal fat, I use it for shows as it makes the hooves look shiny and pretty but it does nothing for hoof health.

Just my view of it, someone is going to disagree! KB is recommended by Farriers and people swear by it - I've never needed to use it however.