Mag Ox

[Dizzle]

So, a few years ago I was advised by an expert to feed my then horse Mag Ox when I took his shoes off as it help his feet without shoes and make them less prone to sugar related fluctuations.

So, fast forward six years and different pony, totally different sort, a fat native, I pulled her shoes off two years ago as I was pregnant and when she came back into work last spring I added Mag Ox into her feed. She has good hooves and thus far I have avoided putting shoes back on.

Recently I have seen advise that states that the 'Mag Ox' deficiency and subsequent supplementation was based on people misinterpreting one specific study and that actually it's unlikely a horse will be deficient most of the year apart from maybe a brief spell in spring. BUT the person telling me this, had a different supplement to pedal, mostly as a calmer but also claimed it would have the same positive effect on hooves as Mag Ox...

I don't feed it for calming properties as pony is calm with or without, I feed it because I own a fat native pony that lives out all year and probably doesn't get as much exercise as she should. It' cheap enough to feed (probably less than £5 a month).

So, could someone with more brains and knowledge tell me is this the best supplement to add to my pony's diet to 'help' stave off footiness, she is fed grass all year, restricted and muzzled in summer and so far this winter I've not given extra hay and she is gradually losing weight (ready for spring), she gets a handful (and I mean a handful, it measures less than 1/4 of a round scoop) of happy hoof to have aforementioned supplement.

 

[Nudibranch]

I seem to recall a certain supplement advertising in the horsey press making the same claim about mag ox.
If it works for you, keep using it. I don't use it pure, I feed Pro Balance but it does contain a useful level of mag ox. Even my shoe obsessed vet admits mine have good feet! There is a link between magnesium and insulin regulation but I really can't remember specifics. Have a look at Feet First, probably explains it a lot better.

 

[Dizzle]

It was probably the same company, they seem to go against the grain of the larger supplement companies...

I use it pure because it's cheap, and like you, vet and farrier both say that my pony has lovely hooves.

I'll have a look at Feet First, thank you.

 

[criso]

Basically calcium and magnesium need to be in the correct ratio to each other. If either is too high in your hay and grass you can get similar behavioural problems and need to feed the other to balance it out.

The theory behind feeding magnesium is that most forage in the UK tends to be high in calcium and horses are more likely to be short of magnesium as a result. Having carried out forage analyses at several yards I have been at they have varied between high in calcium and incredibly high in calcium so I have fed magnesium. This trend has been repeated with friends in different parts of the country who have carried out analyses.

There are going to be exceptions to this but you are more likely to be short of magnesium than calcium in the UK.