What's the best supplement for brittle hoof walls? (Also in veterinary))

sandi_84

sandi_84

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My mum's horse keeps loosing his shoes because his hoof walls are brittle. A chunk of wall came off the time before this and this time his hoof looks pretty smashed up

What would you reccomend?
 
What is the feeding regime, most hoof problems are related to lack of minerals/vitamins.
Sometimes the shoes are not being changed often enough and they come loose then tear off. Ask your farrier for advice as he will know the horse and the local area.
I would recommend Equimins Hoof Mender Supplement just because I know their stuff is very good.
The trouble is that it takes four to six months for hooves to grown in from coronet to sole, but there will be a general improvement in a few weeks.
I don't think anyone can be absolutely sure which is the best for any individual as there are so many variables in the diet and the grass throughout the UK.
It is possible to get the forage analysed and a special mineral mix made up, but while you think about that I would suggest you start on the supplement.
 
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Miss L Toe said:
What is the feeding regime, most hoof problems are related to lack of minerals/vitamins.
Sometimes the shoes are not being changed often enough and they come loose then tear off.
I would recommend Equimins Hoof Mender Supplement just because I know their stuff is very good.
The trouble is that it takes four to six months for hooves to grown in from coronet to sole, but there will be a general improvement in a few weeks.
I don't think anyone can be absolutely sure which is the best for an individual as there are so many variable in the diet and the grass throughout the UK.
Click to expand...

Ok, so he's being fed sugarbeet and pony nuts (also haylage whilst stabled) when worked but if he's not been worked he's just allowed to munch on the grass in his field.
His shoes are re-done regularly every six weeks but even more so atm because they keep coming off, like every 2-3 weeks just now.
I know it'll take a while for any suppliment to kick in but I thought it'd be worth thinking about for the long run because my poor mum is spending a fortune having the farrier come out every few weeks :cool:
 
sandi_84 said:
no idea, sorry :cool:
Click to expand...

If it's the normal, cheaper beet then it's molassed.

The nuts will be molassed.

Adding that to the sugar in the haylage and the high sugar in the grass at the moment......

that might be too much sugar added together, which never equals a strong hoof.

Might be worth switching to unmolassed beet and changing the nuts to a high fibre, low sugar one as part of the approach.
 
Diet to start with - no cereals, low starch, low calories etc (basically barefoot diet = healthy hoof diet)

And Keratex Hoof Hardener - amazing stuff :)
 
Try just standing him in water for 10 minutes a day, his feet are probably very dry. A bit of cod liver oil in the diet will help the feet but the benefit will take a long time to grow down
 
I agree with Shysmum regarding the hard feed and using Keratex Hoof hardener. Roughage is more important though (as much grazing as possible and ad lib hay/haylage when stabled).

I've tried Farrier's Formula for approximately 2 years, and my horse's hoof quality was still poor. When I switched to Formula 4 Feet, it made a huge difference (not brittle/cracked any longer) and he never cast a shoe any longer.

Due to the huge amount of vitamins, minerals etc. in Formula 4 Feet, it also serves as a general supplement and therefore one option is to feed only e.g. Speedibeet/ Kwikbeet/ Purabeet with the Formula 4 Feet added to it.

(Obviously a good farrier is crucial too!)
 
Oberon said:
If it's the normal, cheaper beet then it's molassed.

The nuts will be molassed.

Adding that to the sugar in the haylage and the high sugar in the grass at the moment......

that might be too much sugar added together, which never equals a strong hoof.

Might be worth switching to unmolassed beet and changing the nuts to a high fibre, low sugar one as part of the approach.
Click to expand...

hmmm must check that next time i'm at the yard then *goes away feeling a bit daft for not knowing already*

Thanks everyone will let mum have a read of the thread so she can make up her own mind what to do :D
 
Don't suppose anyone could suggest a good low sugar/ high fibre base type feed such as a chaff that supplements can be added to please?
 
That said, I just have Shy on a very low calorie feed balancer, have done for the past six months, and his hooves, coat and hair are better than ever. :) He was so messy with his Healthy hooves ;)
 
NAF Profeet made the most incredible difference to my old boys feet, went from barely keeping shoes on 5weeks to 8weeks and went up a shoe size!!! Amazing stuff
 
Probably not as only connie cross but check out my post on hoof wall separation syndrome.
Sorry cant do link from iPad!
 
When I changed to my current farrier in Feb/March last year, he commented on what rubbish feet my horse had (said he was struggling to be able to nail shoes on at all) and suggested feeding seaweed and rosehips. Following advice on here, I also added linseed (I don't like feeding cod liver oil to horses, it's made of fish!), brewer's yeast and magnesium oxide. I feed yea-sacc too when required. In January this year, my farrier asked me what I'd been feeding as the horse now has good, strong hoof growing down. Result :)

Same farrier also told me that part of the problem was my previous farrier rasping off so much hoof wall at each shoeing that it was damaging his feet. That was apparently a major cause of his feet being so weak. Current farrier only rasps to roll his toes (which he needs), nothing else. So in response to the OP - check that your farrier isn't rasping all of the hoof wall off! Farrier also told me to apply Kevin Bacon Hoof Dressing daily, which I do and it helps a lot.
 
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