Which hoof supplement?

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Equi

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My little mare is foot sore on the hard ground. Shes being treated as emergency lami just as a precaution (deep bed, no feed, 12hr soaked hay) until the vet comes out but farrier doesn't think there is lami and suggested a supplement, and even if she has lami it would not hurt to have one either.

She also gets soft hooves which an oil from the farrier has helped, but i worry she doesn't get enough internally because shes not really fed hard feed apart from fast fibre and hay is all soaked etc.

SO there is the three ones here to choose from:

Farriers formula
Formula 4 feet
Equina keragard

Shes a miniature shetland/horse so all should last a good while due to the amount she would need, but which do i try?
 
No, i picked those three because my "research" threw them up as the best ones with all the ingredients needed. What was the problems with your boys hooves? My mares got soft ones but they never crack or chip but the sole can get soft. Farrier has said he would like shoes on her to get it off the ground, cause she can tend to get gravel stuck in the soles when shes having a very soft day. I asked about hoof boots but he said they would not be good for her as they would make the feet sweat and make the hooves softer.
 
None of those. You want a no iron, high copper and zinc supplement. Equivita, Forage Plus and Progressive Earth all do good quality supplements designed to balance average UK grazing :)
 
FrankieCob said:
None of those. You want a no iron, high copper and zinc supplement. Equivita, Forage Plus and Progressive Earth all do good quality supplements designed to balance average UK grazing :)
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Agreed! None of the above you mentioned.... Barge. Pole. A long one!! Sometimes, too broad a supplement is as bad as nothing at all. Sometimes, nothing at all can be the only thing you need in my mares case!!

TEN also do iron free supplement.
 
Howcome no iron then? Does it not help the bloody supply? Shes on nothing and that isn't working so i believe she needs something else.

Im in ireland, if that make any difference to the type of grazing lol
 
My boy had very crumbly, weak hooves when I got him, so overhauled his diet and also gave him the supplement. He is barefoot now and his feet are better than ever. Hoof boots might be worth trying though, never heard of anyone having issues with sweat making them softer?!
 
Nor have I so as it came from a farrier I just took it with a pinch.

I'll have a look at the other two mentioned, thanks folks :)
 
The prices of forage analysis is quite a lot. Anyone know if it is really worth it (considering I have her in soaked hay and restricted grazing)

Can't decide now between forage or progressive or equivita!
 
I'll ask the vet before I make a choice. I have someone who's an expert (works for one of the brands in my op) who is urging me to choose one of those three but then there is the iron issue you have all mentioned.

Tough one. I'll leave it to a higher power! Lol
 
I wouldnt rely on vet advice! Mine went on and on and on about biotin, because I wasnt specifically adding it, although it was more than covered by the supplements I fed. Vets arent always great on nutrition!
 
That's true. I don't want to buy the wrong one though. I suppose it's good that I'm starting from zero as she's only getting soaked hay (fast fibre stopped now until I see vet.)

just want to help the little spud as best I can.
 
equi said:
That's true. I don't want to buy the wrong one though. I suppose it's good that I'm starting from zero as she's only getting soaked hay (fast fibre stopped now until I see vet.)

just want to help the little spud as best I can.
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If you want to do the best you can then have an analysis done of your hay and grass. Send it to forage plus and they will make a specific one for you to balance your grazing and hay. You can't do better than that.
 
I've enquires about it at the local agri place. I could not really afford to get it done by forage plus this month :(
 
I used to feed my horse pro hoof from progressive earth. Really good all round supplement and noticed a big difference in hoof quality and 'footyness'. I have now changed to equi vita pro b. The spec in this is the same as pro hoof but is cheaper. I chose the pro b version as yee sac is added and I wanted more support for the digestive system. However there is a cheaper version without and also versions with further added extras if required. I believe they do bespoke supplements if you contact them.
 
Vet has confirmed a mild onset of lami but I caught it very early and she's almost walking normally now so just continue as I am and limit turn out over summer. She has been tested for ems and cushings so results to come!
 
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