Everything Explained
Feeding for Better Feet
We've all heard the saying "no foot, no horse" and if you've ever owned a horse with poor feet you will know how frustrating it is not to be able to ride because they've thrown a shoe again! There are lots of reasons why horses have poor feet ranging from conformation to poor farriery and so it is important to consider all of these areas as targeting one in isolation may not be effective in making improvements. Diet is fundamentally linked to good health and research has shown that certain nutrients can be of particular benefit to improving hoof growth. Later on we will give you examples of how you can incorporate these nutrients into your horse's diet effectively but first we thought you might like a bit more info on what these nutrients are and how much you need to feed.
Biotin
Biotin is a water soluble B vitamin complex that is commonly recognised as being beneficial for horses with poor hooves. Like other B vitamins, biotin is produced by the micro-organisms that live in the horse's hind gut as they break down fibre. When plenty of fibre is fed, a healthy population of micro organisms can usually provide sufficient biotin to meet the basic requirements of horses and ponies. Poor quality hooves can therefore be indicative of an unhealthy digestive system which may occur due to restricted fibre intake which is most common in performance horses and sometimes good doers. Feeding more fibre is often an easy way to improve hoof quality but this isn't always possible and so supplementing with biotin becomes essential to meet the horse or pony's requirements.
How much biotin?
Several research studies have been conducted to identify the level of biotin that can help address poor hoof horn quality. One study found that 15mg of biotin per day achieved increased hoof hardness and greater growth rates than 7.5mg per day (Buffa et al, 1992) whereas another study found that continuous supplementation with biotin at a daily dose of 20mg improved and maintained hoof horn quality in horses with less than optimum hoof quality (Josseck et al, 1995). This information suggests that between 15 and 20mg per day should help to generate healthy hooves.
Zinc
Zinc is involved in the health and integrity of hair, skin and hoof. Hooves require zinc for the prevention of defective keratin, the tough material found in the outer layers of hoof and skin. If keratin is not properly formed the hoof will be soft and brittle. Research carried out by Coenen (1997) found that horses with insufficient hoof horn strength had less zinc in the hoof horn and plasma than horses with no hoof horn damage.
The form in which zinc is added to feeds and supplements could impact on the quality of your horse's hooves. Zinc is a trace mineral which is vulnerable to interactions with other minerals in the digestive system when in an inorganic form. Chelated zinc is an organic form of the mineral which is achieved by attaching it to a peptide or amino acid. This process improves the absorption of the zinc and so tends to result in better health and condition of tissues such as hooves.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral essential for proper bone development but also required for cell-to-cell attachment in the hoof horn. Calcium is linked very closely with phosphorous and the ratio of these two minerals in the diet is crucial; ideally a 2:1 calcium to phosphorous ratio should exist. In a study conducted at the Royal Dick Vet School by Dr Sue Kempson, two different problems with hoof horn were identified. The first was described as a lack of horn in the outer layers and showed improvement when biotin was added to the horse's diet. The second, described as lack of good keratin attachment, improved only when calcium intake was increased alongside the biotin. In this study the calcium was increased by adding in alfalfa which is a naturally abundant source of highly available calcium.
The most common reason for diets being low in calcium is when high levels of straight cereals are fed which are high in phosphorous. Adding alfalfa when feeding straights is an easy way to help create a better calcium to phosphorous ratio.
Methionine
Methionine is probably the other nutrient most commonly recommended for improving hoof quality. Methionine is a sulphur containing, essential amino acid and is a major structural component of proteins and enzymes in the body.
Healthy Hooves - a holistic approach
The key to healthy hooves is to promote or maintain a healthy horse and that was exactly the thinking behind Dengie Healthy Hooves. Not only does it contain all the key nutrients for creating top quality hoof horn, but it also provides lots of fibre to promote a healthy digestive system capable of providing the horse with all the nutrients it needs. To get the full benefits of Healthy Hooves you need to feed it at the recommended levels which is 1 large Stubbs scoop (500g) for every 100kgs bodyweight. Healthy Hooves is suitable for horses and ponies at rest or in light to moderate work and is approved by the Laminitis Trust as it is the ideal feed for horses and ponies prone to laminitis who have poor hoof quality. As it is a complete feed it can be used on its own alongside forage to create a truly high fibre, cereal free diet. Launched just over a year ago we have had lots of feedback from horse owners and farriers who are delighted with the results.
The concentrated option
Sometimes a supplement is a more practical way of supplying the key nutrients for hoof growth. Natural Vitality Coat & Hoof supplement combines the very best quality ingredients to provide highly bio-available nutrients that improve hoof growth - and we’ve proven it in trials. A study carried out at Bishop Burton College by student Helen Frampton, showed that the average daily growth rate was increased when Coat & Hoof was added to the existing ration - which is how the product will be used in practice. An extra 1mm was grown each day which in the time between shoeings (6-8 weeks) generates an extra ½ centimeter. This means that old nail holes will be grown out quicker and better quality horn will be available for your farrier to nail into.
