Feeding programmes for horses with poor hooves

Because it is quite a potent antimicrobial and disrupts the gut flora which is very important if you are a horse, I think such effects mean it has no place in a horse's diet. It is also well know for making itchy horses itchier.

Yes to salt, added, they don't get enough from a lick, had real trouble getting mine to have even a pinch before feeding the agrobs though and he did at least survive (and he isn't that bothered by licks either!)
 
Interesting about the garlic. I don't feed it anyway but I know lots of people are keen on it and some feed companies add it in so I just wondered.

The salt is an interesting one too. Before we moved to the coast my guy would go through his salt lick like nobody's business but now we're next to the sea he's not really bothered. I guessed there was probably just more salt in the soil and the environment generally. I've no problems with bunging some in his feed though, especially as I already have some in the feed room. He's generally not fussed and will eat up with or without salt, apart from the days in the summer when he goes on hunger strike and then I can put in whatever I want because he's not eating it either way!
 
My tb had shocking feet. And over the years we have literally tried every hoof supplement (will have owned her 18years next march). She is currently fed a balancer, copra coolstance and Alfa a or dried grass. Feet have never looked so good ... oh and I took her shoes off 4 years ago and studied equine podiatry.
Aim for a healthy gut and the horse can look after it's own hoof growth (ie make its own biotin).
Infection and flare caused a lot of her hoof problems ... so make sure you are looking at that especially since your horse is shod.
Adding salt is actually helping to sodium potassium balance that gets messed up on a lot of fields that are fertilized with npk. Horses tend to get more potassium so we need to balance it by adding salt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top