When it comes to equine care, hoof health is critical. “No hoof; no horse” is a saying every horse owner knows well. Maintaining strong and healthy hooves during the Mid-Atlantic region’s cold months can present many challenges. Here we look at specific nutrients and general management tips that contribute to maintaining hoof health.
Key Nutrients for Hoof Health
1. Strong Amino Acid Package –
· Provide a diet that contains adequate levels of amino acids to satisfy minimum daily requirements.
· Adding a diet balancer is an easy way to ensure amino acids requirements are being met.
· Essential Amino Acids cannot be created by the body and so must be consumed in the diet.
· Lysine, Methionine and Threonine are considered essential amino acids, as well as, the first limiting amino acids; meaning they are the most likely to be deficient in the diet.
· When lysine levels are inadequate, the cells in the body cannot produce proteins or utilize other amino acids effectively. This can create quality and development issues with the muscles, hooves and coat.
· Methionine has been proven to support biotin absorption; without proper levels of Methionine, biotin can not be absorbed and utilized by the body.
2. Biotin –
· Biotin is a B-vitamin that is essential for keratin production; Keratin is a protein that makes up the hoof wall.
· 20mg/day is the therapeutic dose for Biotin
3. Zinc & Copper –
· Zinc plays a role in the formation of keratin
· Copper supports the development of connective tissues in the hoof
· The proper balance of these two minerals is essential for the overall health and development of the horse.
4. Vitamin A –
· This vitamin, while crucial for a variety of general health functions in the horse, has been linked to aiding in the maintenance of healthy skin and hooves.
7 Tips for Healthy Hooves Throughout Winter
1. Provide a Well-Balanced Diet - Provide a diet that contains adequate levels of amino acids to satisfy minimum daily requirements. Adding a diet balancer is an easy way to ensure amino acids requirements are being met. If further support is needed, consider supplementing with hoof health specific supplements that offer additional biotin/methionine to the diet.
2. Maintain Regular Farrier Care - Work closely with a farrier to determine the individual needs of your horse(s). Regular trimming and farrier care, even during off seasons, are essential to hoof health.
3. Inspect Hooves Frequently – Picking up your horse’s feet and inspecting them daily gives you a solid base of your horse’s normal and allows for early detection of problems.
4. Keep Hooves Clean – During your daily inspections, use a hoof pick to clear out packed debris; thus, alleviating unnecessary pressure, increasing oxygen exposure to the sole and frog of the foot and giving you a clear/complete look at each hoof.
5. Shield from the Environment – As advised by your vet and/or farrier, apply hoof-specific topicals to counter the effects of the environment such as moisturizers, anti-fungals or hoof hardeners.
6. Manage Their Dwelling Spaces – Provide clean, dry footing in high traffic areas such as stalls, run-in sheds and areas surrounding their feed, hay and water. This may require regular movement or rotation to keep the grounds of high traffic areas from deteriorating. Maintaining cleanliness and installing appropriate footing or floors can, also, be detrimental to providing a healthy environment for hooves.
7. Encourage Movement and Exercise – This is a case-by-case scenario that should be advised by a veterinarian in the event of lameness, illness or any other extenuating circumstance. In general, horses were created to be grazers. They move about a lot in the course of every 24 hours in search of quality forage and eat many small meals during that time. Consequently, movement and exercise play a vital role in the overall health and well-being of the horse. Exercise stimulates blood flow and circulation which is important for healthy hooves.
