Feeding for hoof health?

[Wheresthehoofpick]

This dry weather is playing havoc with our horses hooves. We slapping on the Kevin bacon.

Farrier has today advised feeding linseed to my ISH. I've just started him on double strength Farriers formula for a 2 month boost. Was then going to go back to biotin from Mole Valley.

My other two Are a 15hh Cob and a 12.2 pony.

Can I feed them linseed and biotin for hooves too in a handful of Happy Hoof? They are in a small paddock. Grazing 24hrs. Ridden most days. Neither have had laminitis. Cob can be a fatty.

 

[be positive]

Linseed is good but biotin is unlikely to help, if their feet are not in good condition you need to be feeding for hoof health all year not just when they start to have problems as by then the parts that are breaking are around 8 months from when they were being formed, so what is going on now is more due to lack of the correct diet last autumn than the dry weather now, the weather will not help but neither will changing their diet for 2 months and then stopping the vits/ mins.

One here was on the same FF as yours, he came with it as that was the only supplement his previous owners could get him to eat so we stuck with it but his feet were not as good as they should have been, he is now on Equimins hoof mender, about 12 months continual use, his feet are better than they were, he is rock crunching and needs a bit more trimming than he used to so is obviously growing better and faster than before, he gets linseed all year as well, the key is to find what works and keep them on it so the foot grows stronger and consistently other wise is is a waste of money as the feet will weaken once they stop getting it.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Thanks for that.

The plan on the FF for a short boost came from my farrier - I absolutely agree that this is a long term plan. Hence trying to get it right now for long term gain. The ISH is newish to me.

The other's feet are fine. I am looking at giving them longer term support as they are going to be working more on rockier ground.

Both my farriers have recommended biotin - I am really interested to know why you think that doesn't work?

Someone else told me to feed gelatin.

There's so much advice. I am a willing ear and just want to get it right.

 

[Pinkvboots]

The diet needs to be right but I think your main problem is the hooves are too dry, Kevin bacon will actually stop moisture getting in best thing is to wet the hooves with water everyday.

 

[PSD]

My farrier also swears by biotin, friend of mine has had her mare on it for around 6/7 months now after her feet were in a rubbish way and the difference is amazing. Does wonders for their coats too - as does linseed.

 

[be positive]

The 'experts' seem to be of the opinion that horses generally get plenty of biotin naturally and that unless you know they are lacking it is not considered to be as beneficial as it used to be, a well balanced supplement of mins/ vits, something with no added iron, is now thought to be the best approach for the needs of horses in the UK, there is a lot of research being done and farriers are often a bit behind the times unless they are very interested in barefoot.
Some of the improvements may be due to other changes to the diet/ management/ new home and some may have been low in biotin and did require a boost, I would not feed gelatin to a horse, feeding any animal product does not feel right when there are plenty of other options.

 

[Leo Walker]

Horses can manufacture their own biotin. You need a no iron, high copper and zinc supplement. I wouldn't waste a penny on FF. Equimins Advance Complete costs me about £20 a month and made a dramatic difference to my mares feet, and she had good feet before we started!

 

[PSD]

Horses can manufacture their own biotin. You need a no iron, high copper and zinc supplement. I wouldn't waste a penny on FF. Equimins Advance Complete costs me about £20 a month and made a dramatic difference to my mares feet, and she had good feet before we started!

I see you mention the Equimins a lot, is it good stuff? I need doom goodness going into my 2 year old and was going to put her on suregrow (she’s on pink mash at the min) but you can see we have zero grass so she needs something and I don’t really want a high starch/sugar diet for her.

 

[ester]

yup a healthy horse should be making it's own biotin, I think it's only in hoof supplements because people now expect to see it there.

PSD lots of barefooters use equimins advance complete, including myself albeit it did match my (old) forage analysis pretty well too. It is a bit low in magnesium so I add that separately.
It was much much easier than mixing my own supplement and the mare will take the pellets by hand (it's a small amount compared to other pelleted balancers).

 

[PSD]

yup a healthy horse should be making it's own biotin, I think it's only in hoof supplements because people now expect to see it there.

PSD lots of barefooters use equimins advance complete, including myself albeit it did match my (old) forage analysis pretty well too. It is a bit low in magnesium so I add that separately.
It was much much easier than mixing my own supplement and the mare will take the pellets by hand (it's a small amount compared to other pelleted balancers).

That’s good to know, I may get some to add to her pink mash. I don’t want anymore weight on her but as you can see there’s nothing in the grass at all!

 

[ester]

It's essentially a bif of linseed + everything else.
I treat Frank as metabolic and very happy to feed it.

 

[Shay]

There is peer reviewd reseach to indicate that biotin assists hoof horn quality

Zenker, W & Josseck, Henriette & Geyer, Hans. (1995). Histological and physical assessment of poor hoof horn quality in Lipizzaner horses and a therapeutic trial with biotin and a placebo. Equine veterinary journal. 27. 183-91. 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb03061.x.

but the reasearchers do accept that the correlation may not be causal. There is simply too much unknown about the interaction of nutrition and horn strength. Horses do produce thier own B complex vitamins - but in the hind gut. Vitamin absorbtion is in the foregut. Although the science is improperly understood there is strong evidence that some horses do benefit from bio available biotin in feeds. Non peer reviewed reseach appears to suggest biotin alone is not sufficient but must be fed in combination with a range of other minerals and amino acids.

Without wanting to write a scientific essay- although I can if wanted - for some horses there is evdence that hoof supplementation makes a difference. The exact composition remains open for debate; the variation in findings probably being accounted for in the variation in mineralisation in forage.

But what is clear is that you will not see changes in hoof quality for 7 - 9 months after feeding. Putting one on a 2 month intense boot will do nothing but produce expensive wee. Similarly feeding biotin alone. You need to include the correct balance (all but impossibleto acheive without forage assessment) of Methionine, cystine, zinc and copper.

It is a bit trial and error - but a trial you have to stick to for at least a year before deciding that it doesn't work. But is is worth pursuing. I have a connie with really poor hooves. I have had good results with Maxahoof but having used it for three years - and done the research- I plan to ring the changes and switch for a year and see what happens. (Maxahoof has no copper..) I'm currently torn between Equimins hoof rescue and Formula4feet.

 

[Leo Walker]

I see you mention the Equimins a lot, is it good stuff? I need doom goodness going into my 2 year old and was going to put her on suregrow (she’s on pink mash at the min) but you can see we have zero grass so she needs something and I don’t really want a high starch/sugar diet for her.

My 2yr old is kept in a similar situation and has pink mash and equimins and grass nuts if he needs extra. It matches the average UK grazing profile. I've got photos somewhere that show the difference in mine on and off it. Its fairly dramatic

 

[Leo Walker]

It is a bit trial and error - but a trial you have to stick to for at least a year before deciding that it doesn't work. But is is worth pursuing. I have a connie with really poor hooves. I have had good results with Maxahoof but having used it for three years - and done the research- I plan to ring the changes and switch for a year and see what happens. (Maxahoof has no copper..) I'm currently torn between Equimins hoof rescue and Formula4feet.

I'd very carefully check the ingredients of both, and it will be easy to pick one. It also doesn't take a year. You can see the improvement in new horn growth within a couple of months. But I agree with you that a couple of months of supplementation is a total waste. Sadly farriers seem to know ess than nothing about nutrition in mot cases.

 

[PSD]

My 2yr old is kept in a similar situation and has pink mash and equimins and grass nuts if he needs extra. It matches the average UK grazing profile. I've got photos somewhere that show the difference in mine on and off it. Its fairly dramatic

thank you, I was looking into suregrow but the starch levels are slightly too high for my liking and I don’t really want to pile the weight on her at such a young age

 

[TheSpottyCobby]

Biotin did nothing for mine, but he's been on the equimins advance complete for coming up to 6 months now and the difference in his feet is amazing. We also have a lot of natural water sources and my pony spends quite a lot of time in them so gets plenty of moisture into his feet when its dry of his own accord

 

[Follysmum]

Have noticed a massive difference since using Equimins advance complete. I have used simple systems total eclipse but seaweed not recommended after having FP analysis, tried the FP individually made up bespoke but horses would touch in the summer, then tried progressive earth which wasn’t too bad. Now have 3 on Equimins after struggling with feet and mudfever on and off for months and they are significantly improved so will definitely stick with this.

 

[ester]

Good to hear it is helping others, I know 'we' end up recommending it a lot, especially for those who area bit fussier about minerals in their powdered original form (and making your own does make your kitchen look like you are cutting drugs for sale )

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

So... to conclude.

Long term programme of supplements.


Equimins advance rather than the foot mender version is recommended. It has linseed in. So no need to add that.

Would this take the place of any other balancer - I am a bit confused after reading the contents of all the different stuff!

 

[ester]

you may still want to add linseed, as they just use it as the 'base' more than an ingredient. I've always fed some, the amount dependent on whether hunting or living a life of leisure lol.

Yes takes the place of any other balancer.

 

[Frumpoon]

Is the equimins palatable?

I bought the pro earth copper and zinc supplement and my lot won't touch it

 

[ester]

Usually comparatively. They will also usually send samples.

 

[Frumpoon]

Sorry me again, can somebody explain what the linseed does for feet?

Will micronised linseed powder do the job?

 

[be positive]

Sorry me again, can somebody explain what the linseed does for feet?

Will micronised linseed powder do the job?

Linseed is good for skin and horn quality, they also tend to love it so if they are fussy and on a diet I find it is almost enough to carry the supplement without anything else added, I use micronised linseed, not sure whether it comes in powdered form it is still obviously the seed with some powder/ finer bits where is has broken down when treated.

 

[PSD]

Is the equimins palatable?

I bought the pro earth copper and zinc supplement and my lot won't touch it

tried mine with half a scoop of the powder today and she didn’t bat an eyelid. Mixed with with her mash, soaked nuts and brewers yeast and she scoffed the lot

 

[Frumpoon]

Linseed is good for skin and horn quality, they also tend to love it so if they are fussy and on a diet I find it is almost enough to carry the supplement without anything else added, I use micronised linseed, not sure whether it comes in powdered form it is still obviously the seed with some powder/ finer bits where is has broken down when treated.

I guess I'm worried about feeding to an already curvaceous pony

 

[be positive]

I guess I'm worried about feeding to an already curvaceous pony

I have the same concerns but am still giving a token as they are more inclined to eat the essential supplement and have left it without the linseed so it is a case of having to, they are now only getting the tiniest feed, it is almost a joke as I measure spoonfuls of soaked grassnuts, 2 each for the fatties, plus a 1/4 of a mug of linseed possibly slightly less, with the Equimins, it is probably not much more than 1/2 mug in total and I feel rather mean but they seem to appreciate the meagre quantity and I know they will be inclined to leave it if there is no linseed unless it is a bigger feed, no problem eating up in winter when they are allowed a slightly more generous quantity.

 

[Frumpoon]

Good ideas!!! Many thanks

I've also asked equimins if I can buy a small sample to see

 

[ester]

Frumpoon when out of work I have been able to feed 0.5-1 mugs a day without any issues with weight gain. (had up to 4 mugs when hunting )
I also treat him as metabolic but do like him to have some quality protein as well as the omegas.

 

[PSD]

Frumpoon when out of work I have been able to feed 0.5-1 mugs a day without any issues with weight gain. (had up to 4 mugs when hunting )
I also treat him as metabolic but do like him to have some quality protein as well as the omegas.

where is the best place to get the linseed? Is it still Charnwood? (I think that’s what they’re called anyway)