Feeding for Feet - HELP!

Captain Bridget

Captain Bridget

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Started a thread recently in tack room about my share horses feet and pulling shoes.

So now I need to work out what feed would best benefit his hooves?

He is a 16.1hh TB, a bit of a poor doer over winter, he's currently out 24/7 on grass.

Last winter he was fed Alpha A (the yellow one!) and pasture mix with speedi beet.

What feeds or supplements would be best for him? I don't want anything that will hot him up as his exercise may well be restricted over winter if the weather/ground is bad.

We got some of our hay this week and chopped it up into chaff, obviously this doesn't have any of the stuff that's in bought chaff but it's a lot cheaper! Would this be suitable to continue feeding along side other things?
 
Home made chaff is 100x better than bought chaff with added extras (oil, mollasses, flavourings, preservatives etc), I so wish I could get my hands on a chaff maker lol!

If you (or the owner) don't want to get your forage analysed, you will need a basic all round forage balancer (e.g. like Forage Plus Winter Balancer). For condition during winter feed unmollassed sugarbeet and micronised linseed. "Pasture mix" is not low sugar or cooling by any means.

Just for information, some horses react badly to alfalfa (lucerne), and it can make their feet sensitive, so (personally) I would try to avoid it if at all possible.
 
The chaff cutter is an ancient machine, made me feel like a victorian farm hand! As we've got that I doubt we'll be buying in any chaff so shouldn't have to worry about alfalfa in that.

Are there any specific mixes or something that would be suitable? Presumably high fibre, low sugar. Is there anything I want to look out for in feeds that I will want/not want?
 
I have a mare who developed laminitis and in spite of swift and correct action went down hill rapidly. MY vet after x-rays, thought she would have to be pts.

She had Forumla for Feet for one month. Spectacular results - the French vet (unfamiliar with the product) was gob smacked.

She has not had lami for two years and after finally finding a farrier who understood how to treat lami, she is finally coming good. I hope to ride her again soon.
 
I really like thunder brooks. its totally organic and although the initial price made me a bit sick in my mouth, i am actually really impressed with how long a bag lasts. if you arent worried about things like nutritionally improved straw being in a bag then go for something like fast fibre and linseed micronised. both low sugar no alfalfa and great for barefoot
 
Lifeorce Formula really made a huge difference to my horses foot growth, and with all the dry weather we've been having people have commented on how good her feet are with no cracks or chips (she's shod front unshod hind) I couldnt recommend it enough!
 
Thanks, I'll have a look into those brands. We found out today our farrier won't be doing the horses anymore as it's too far for him to travel so we'll be looking for a new one, hopefully one that can understand his feet and how to help them.

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to feed, what type of feed are the things suggested? Eg mix/something that has to be soaked/supplement.
 
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the thunderbrooks is a feed that needs a bit of water. take a look at the website. i was feeding lots of supplements but it has everything in it so pre and pro biotic, magnesium, linseed, vit e everthing i was feeding separately and its so highly concentrated you only need to feed a small cup a day. It was strange getting my head around the amounts in the beginning but my mare changed shape within a week and she was tonnes shinier despite being on linseed beforeshe also had more energy without being silly and any signs of footiness went. it suits her so im happy oh ad she loves it despite beinga fussy bum
 
another vote for formula4feet, i used it years ago when my horses feet were breaking up one summer and they improved . i stopped feeding it and gradually her feet started to break up again. i put her back on it about 3 months ago and her feet are back to being good she is 22 and i will continue with it for the rest of her life .
 
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