Hoof supplements

[Roxylola]

Bon apparently had very crumbly feet in his previous home. Farrier has been to him here and said his feet are OK but will need watching in summer.
His owner put him on farriers formula which has helped as he was struggling to hold a shoe.
I know barefoot might help but it's not a realistic goal for me at the moment. I work 45+ hours a week, I've 2 in work, 5 beds to do every day I don't have the time or energy to get him out of shoes unfortunately at the moment. It's not out of the question forever, I do understand the benefits but it's definitely not feasible at the moment.
So currently he gets alfa oil, a cup of baileys performance balancer, a cup of micronised linseed, a cup or two of saracens releve, and a measure of farriers formula
Small tweaks to feeding welcome - he's getting the same stuff as Charlie basically all low sugar etc. Ideally if I'm buying a bag of feed I'd like it to suit both (low sugar, reasonable levels of protein or oil)
And supplement suggestions, can I do better than farriers formula? I'd like to avoid equimins after the vitamin e saga ideally but if its the best it's the best. Farriers formula isn't cheap- if something works and is more economical that would be good. Someone has suggested Biotrition which looks similar to farriers formula but other options welcome.

 

[HeyMich]

I'm using Progressive Earth ProHoof on mine and it seems to be doing the job nicely.

 

[Michen]

What concerns you time wise re being barefoot out of interest? I spend the same amount of time on my horses feet barefoot vs shod aka picking out, preventative treatment for thrush. Putting on boots for hacking is the only faff but it takes the same amount of time as putting on brushing boots...

Re foot supplement Bear did really well on Equimins hoof mender- I loathe to give them money but it really is good. And they do a money back guarantee on it.

 

[Roxylola]

Booting for hacking is the main one - I hack a lot. Also we're on and off stones a lot round the yard so that's a concern. Also, we've very limited turnout in winter so I'm not sure there would be enough movement to get any benefit

 

[Michen]

Sure understand. But it really is less than 2 mins for me to get four boots on and you might find yourself spending longer than that getting the farrier back if he's repeatedly pulling shoes! Bear went through a phase of pulling a shoe a week his feet were so crumbly it was a nightmare logistically. Could you take them off in spring so he can get the feet strong over summer and autumn then shoe again in winter if you end up being forced down the barefoot route?

But assuming you can maintain the feet shod, I'd still personally use Equimins. Annoyingly.

 

[Burnttoast]

It is worth testing your grass and/or forage for mineral levels. You might find that it's relatively ok, but the last three locations I've tested the grass at the levels have been really out of whack in different ways and it makes a big difference to hoof quality and general health. I use Forageplus for testing and balancers/minerals.

 

[HelenBack]

Mine gets a similar diet to yours with the performance balancer and linseed. I add a little bit of Progressive Earth Pro Laminae balancer or whatever that's called. I'm not sure he really needs it but it's not the full amount and I'm loathe to drop it out in case it makes a difference.

He is barefoot now and had terrible feet in the summer when shod. He's been barefoot over two years and his feet just keep getting better so not sure how much it's down to the diet and how much taking the shoes off. I do understand your reluctance to take them off at the moment though.

The only thing I will say is mine seems to be better with a pelleted balancer than just the powdered stuff even though a lot of barefoot fans don't like them.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Check your balancer ingredients against the Farrier's Formula, you may find you are doubling up. We have pretty poor pasture and I used FF for a couple of years. Switched to Equilibra and the mild laminitis cleared up completely - still can't work out if FF was the issue, as I don't think our pasture is good enough. My lad has never been shod, and would happily hack all day. He has normally worked barefoot, but was booted during really wet weather as this softened his hooves. Cavallo Simples with pads in are quick and easy - if you find them a bit roomy, use a nappy as a sock.

 

[Roxylola]

I'm not totally anti barefoot, and certainly plan at least at the end of summer for him to have 8-12 weeks holiday out of shoes. It's a funny situation in that he's mine but not and I'm wary of making big changes to management for now at least.
What he has is working OK if I can do a bit better without big changes that's my first route

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Bon apparently had very crumbly feet in his previous home. Farrier has been to him here and said his feet are OK but will need watching in summer.
His owner put him on farriers formula which has helped as he was struggling to hold a shoe.
I know barefoot might help but it's not a realistic goal for me at the moment. I work 45+ hours a week, I've 2 in work, 5 beds to do every day I don't have the time or energy to get him out of shoes unfortunately at the moment. It's not out of the question forever, I do understand the benefits but it's definitely not feasible at the moment.
So currently he gets alfa oil, a cup of baileys performance balancer, a cup of micronised linseed, a cup or two of saracens releve, and a measure of farriers formula
Small tweaks to feeding welcome - he's getting the same stuff as Charlie basically all low sugar etc. Ideally if I'm buying a bag of feed I'd like it to suit both (low sugar, reasonable levels of protein or oil)
And supplement suggestions, can I do better than farriers formula? I'd like to avoid equimins after the vitamin e saga ideally but if its the best it's the best. Farriers formula isn't cheap- if something works and is more economical that would be good. Someone has suggested Biotrition which looks similar to farriers formula but other options welcome.

Only two I found work

Equimins Hoofmender

formula4feet.


.

 

[poiuytrewq]

For cheap and cheerful and definitely helped my TB and his rubbish feet the Equimins biotin is one of the few that contains no alfalfa. It’s really helped my horse, obviously over time.

 

[Roxylola]

For cheap and cheerful and definitely helped my TB and his rubbish feet the Equimins biotin is one of the few that contains no alfalfa. It’s really helped my horse, obviously over time.

Remind me, should I be avoiding alfa? They all like it, I've attempted to reduce it for Charlie for his mallanders previously, it's made no difference to that and I've struggled to find anything instead that works in terms of energy/protein etc that he likes and doesn't cost £££s

 

[vhf]

I've found different hoof supplements work for different horses and in different environments. Agree re Equimins, their Hoofmender was a game-changer for current was-tricky-now-barefoot one. But back on Progressive Earth at the moment! My 2 have similar diets and are both unshod but farrier and horses both agree, one would never settle unshod in work while the other is happiest that way and takes care to remove anything else we might provide...

Re alfalfa, that one seems to be 'horses for courses' too.

 

[Birker2020]

Bon apparently had very crumbly feet in his previous home. Farrier has been to him here and said his feet are OK but will need watching in summer.
His owner put him on farriers formula which has helped as he was struggling to hold a shoe.
I know barefoot might help but it's not a realistic goal for me at the moment. I work 45+ hours a week, I've 2 in work, 5 beds to do every day I don't have the time or energy to get him out of shoes unfortunately at the moment. It's not out of the question forever, I do understand the benefits but it's definitely not feasible at the moment.
So currently he gets alfa oil, a cup of baileys performance balancer, a cup of micronised linseed, a cup or two of saracens releve, and a measure of farriers formula
Small tweaks to feeding welcome - he's getting the same stuff as Charlie basically all low sugar etc. Ideally if I'm buying a bag of feed I'd like it to suit both (low sugar, reasonable levels of protein or oil)
And supplement suggestions, can I do better than farriers formula? I'd like to avoid equimins after the vitamin e saga ideally but if its the best it's the best. Farriers formula isn't cheap- if something works and is more economical that would be good. Someone has suggested Biotrition which looks similar to farriers formula but other options welcome.

I'm feeding Happy Hoof/Healthy Hooves depending on what feed merchant I go to and I also coat the soles of the feet and frog with Eucalyptus mixed with Iodine once a week and twice a week or when I can get hooves dry I put on Keratex Hoof Hardener on the outside of the foot.

I'm not convinced the hoof hardener works though because he has a chip with a nail sticking out of it which I'm hoping the farrier can bang back in at the weekend.

 

[SBJT]

Biotin and flaxseed. It’s done much more for me than the FF and was much cheaper.

 

[maddielove]

I fed the Science Supplements 4Feet plus when trying to get my mare to grow out a hoof injury, it helped it grow from coronet to ground in about 8 months which is pretty good going.

I'm now feeding one of the ForagePlus balancers (LaminaePlus) and I am also really impressed with her hoof quality. Due to the injury she spent some time out of hind shoes last year and she was very footsore for a few weeks, decided to give her a break from hind shoes at the start of this January and she's not been nearly as tender as she was last year, now walking out across a sharp stone path every morning without issue. In hindsight I wish I had switched to this sooner!

 

[shortstuff99]

I would be careful feeding the performance balancer, mine are all barefoot and I really struggled to keep them not fat and not footy on it.

I switched to equimins and now they're never footy.

 

[Orangehorse]

I have been using the Progressive Earth Pro Balance for years and years, originally on the advice of my hoof trimmer.

Mine is not longer barefoot, but I continued with the pro balance, for various reasons and they both have good feet and don't get mud fever.

 

[Roxylola]

I would be careful feeding the performance balancer, mine are all barefoot and I really struggled to keep them not fat and not footy on it.

I switched to equimins and now they're never footy.

Thanks that's interesting, he's not getting recommended levels of it (which is a whole other concern re vitamin levels etc)
I could just take that out and feed the releve, linseed and alfa tbf. He gets it because I have it already for Charlie. He's not fat though, and Charlie definitely isn't fat, even in spring or summer

 

[poiuytrewq]

Remind me, should I be avoiding alfa? They all like it, I've attempted to reduce it for Charlie for his mallanders previously, it's made no difference to that and I've struggled to find anything instead that works in terms of energy/protein etc that he likes and doesn't cost £££s

Not if they are all ok on it no. It can apparently cause sensitivity in some horses hooves. If your are happy on it no reason to change.

 

[shortstuff99]

Thanks that's interesting, he's not getting recommended levels of it (which is a whole other concern re vitamin levels etc)
I could just take that out and feed the releve, linseed and alfa tbf. He gets it because I have it already for Charlie. He's not fat though, and Charlie definitely isn't fat, even in spring or summer

I think it would be worth trying without it or swapping for a different vit/min supplement.

 

[Roxylola]

I've ordered Pro hoof - seems a good all round spec with a focus on foot nutrition from what I can see.
I'm coming towards the end of my farriers formula now so he'll have a good 4 weeks on it before my farrier is next due.
Hes only been with me since new year so it's all still a bit try it and see. He's very unfit, he lacks stamina and hasn't hotted up at all when he has a day or two off. He wasn't in much work and I think was just getting a token feed with his farriers formula previously. He's not changed weight wise currently, I can certainly cut out the baileys and see if it makes any difference to his energy etc

 

[HelenBack]

Thanks that's interesting, he's not getting recommended levels of it (which is a whole other concern re vitamin levels etc)
I could just take that out and feed the releve, linseed and alfa tbf. He gets it because I have it already for Charlie. He's not fat though, and Charlie definitely isn't fat, even in spring or summer

I think this is a good example of it being horses for courses as mine is neither fat nor footy on the performance balancer and when I swapped him to Forage Plus his hoof quality deteriorated. He also went too thin but I think that was the overall diet as well. Anyway, I think maybe it just depends on the individual horse and his or her underlying needs. I think you're right not to change too much at once though otherwise you won't really know what works and what doesn't.

I miss the days of Mollichop and pony nuts and a bran mash as a treat!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When my stallion had soft soles I started him on alfalfa pellets, not for the feet, just for general condition and his feet improved immensely.

 

[Roxylola]

I miss the days of Mollichop and pony nuts and a bran mash as a treat!

So much this!
Charlie refused to eat forage plus balancers, even if I only added a tiny bit. He's the pickiest cob I've ever known - I am hoping Bon will actually be a bit more straightforward to feed than he is! At present he's been fine with everything I've given him and cleans his bucket every night.

 

[daffy44]

I think this is a good example of it being horses for courses as mine is neither fat nor footy on the performance balancer and when I swapped him to Forage Plus his hoof quality deteriorated. He also went too thin but I think that was the overall diet as well. Anyway, I think maybe it just depends on the individual horse and his or her underlying needs. I think you're right not to change too much at once though otherwise you won't really know what works and what doesn't.

I miss the days of Mollichop and pony nuts and a bran mash as a treat!

I couldnt agree more, all my barefoot horses have done extremely well on Alfa A, and one of them is thriving on a performance balancer, I think it really is down to the individual horse, and I would never change more than one thing at a time (however tempting it can be!) because it gets too difficult to know what is or isnt making a difference.

 

[Roxylola]

Problem with feet as well, you can be some time in before you find something has made a difference (for good or bad) and then if its for bad then it's months to fix ??‍
I'm (slightly) hopeful that at least our not very good grass shouldn't be too terrible come summer turn out. I'm pretty good at managing weight at least though and I like to see a lean horse so there's that

 

[Gloi]

I use progressive earth pro balance and Alfa a oil. Mine has never been shod and grows nice feet though I boot for longer rides.

 

[paddy555]

equimins hoof mender was the one product that taught me you can get good quality feet and good growth. Now I use equimins AC and have no growth or quality problems.

From having a shod horse who came shod many years ago with very crumbly feet and summer was a nightmare then the only solution I have ever found to crumbly poor feet is to get rid of the shoes. If you don't want to transition to BF then boot. I took crumbly feet that the farrier in the end couldn't shoe as there was not enough of them to a year later after shoe removal having feet perfect in growth and quality. That horse was transitioned to BF and was trotting over road gravel out of choice.

 

[Caol Ila]

My horse is on Agrobs Weisencobs and ForagePlus balancer. Seems alright. He likes the Weisencobs. He got hot on Alfafa and thinks micronised linseed is poison. He was on Pink Mash for a couple months, but he wasn't wild about it. He would pick at it but never finish. Might change to the Progressive Earth balancer once I'm out of ForagePlus, as it seems to be preferred by the HHO collective.

I boot him up for rocky trails, as he's still a bit footy over sharp rocks. I have Viper Renegades, and I don't think they're that faffy to put on. Takes about a minute per boot, and I hack 99.9999% of the time. Barefoot seems like less faff than shoes, and this is my first barefoot riding horse, ever. No losing shoes. No seedy toe and crumbling nail holes. And it's way cheaper.