Hoof supplement/feed advice

[SweetDreams]

I have a horse that is doing really well barefoot but her hoof quality still needs to improve, it was recommended to me to try the forage plus winter balancer supplement. Initially she was fine with it when I weaned her on it but has slowly gone off it and now refuses to eat it no matter what I do. Has anyone used any other hoof supplements/balancers with low sugar low starch! Many thanks in advance

 

[SEL]

The progressive earth zinc / copper / selenium one is fed in tiny portions so you might be able to hide the taste / smell better.

Otherwise sometimes it's worth popping them on a mainstream one for a bit (ie tasty pellets) so you're not spending a fortune on powders they won't touch.... been there!

 

[SweetDreams]

yeah it’s very frustrating! I’ve tried all sorts of ways to make her eat it - nightmare! Thankyou!

 

[ponyparty]

I have a tub of Equimins hoof mender (pellets) that my horse wouldn’t eat, if you would like to try I can send it to you at postage cost. They’re supposedly palatable but she got really fussy for a while and just wouldn’t touch them!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine won't eat the powered ones have tried forage plus and progressive earth so they get spillers daily balancer now.

 

[PurBee]

Mine eat almost anything that i mix into speedibeet. I make sure i have enough speedibeet to supplements ratio so the supplement taste gets diluted enough once mixed in. Soaked amount is about 3 double heaped handfuls.
I throw in some ‘taste teasers’ if the supplements are particularly vile tasting - chopped carrot, banana, or a glug of sunflower oil for vit e. …a handful of porridge oats.

Have you tried mixing the powder into a different base meal, like grass pellets, or damp grass chaff? They’d smell green and enticing perhaps. Beet pulp smells quite bland.

 

[Caol Ila]

No amount of tempting feed could convince my mare to eat PE supplement. I've kind of given up.

 

[PurBee]

No amount of tempting feed could convince my mare to eat PE supplement. I've kind of given up.

My 2 were the same with PE powder supplement - and they generally eat anything! I couldnt figure out why as the ingredients aren’t too dissimilar to forageplus powder.

 

[SweetDreams]

I have a tub of Equimins hoof mender (pellets) that my horse wouldn’t eat, if you would like to try I can send it to you at postage cost. They’re supposedly palatable but she got really fussy for a while and just wouldn’t touch them!

Hi yes that would be amazing thankyou! this was the one a barefoot trimmer has advised me so was looking to try! will send you a private message - many thanks

 

[SweetDreams]

Mine eat almost anything that i mix into speedibeet. I make sure i have enough speedibeet to supplements ratio so the supplement taste gets diluted enough once mixed in. Soaked amount is about 3 double heaped handfuls.
I throw in some ‘taste teasers’ if the supplements are particularly vile tasting - chopped carrot, banana, or a glug of sunflower oil for vit e. …a handful of porridge oats.

Have you tried mixing the powder into a different base meal, like grass pellets, or damp grass chaff? They’d smell green and enticing perhaps. Beet pulp smells quite bland.

Yeah I’ve tried all of that too unfortunately! I’ve purchased the emerald green ones and tried that - still no interest, I do personally think the forage plus doesn’t smell the nicest I’ll be honest!

 

[Highmileagecob]

I switched to Equilibra general balancer some years ago, and 29yo Old Dobbin still has good feet. And it is hoovered up in seconds too!