Hoof Health from the Inside Out

 

The old saying 'no hoof, no horse' is as relevant today as it has always been. There are so many products you could buy to keep your horse's hooves healthy that it can be a minefield, so here's a quick look at how supplements can help.

 

Biotin and MSM

 

Many hoof supplements contain these two key ingredients, but what are Biotin and MSM?

Biotin – These are sulphur containing B vitamins that also require zinc, calcium and methionine to complement in order to be effective.

It has been shown that feeding biotin at a rate of 15mg per day for a 450kg horse, for three to nine months is useful, particularly for horses prone to flaking or crumbling hooves. Tracey Lloyd from NAF explains why Biotin supplementation may be important: “The bacteria in the horse’s large intestine produce biotin naturally. However, if the horse is stressed, or has a natural imbalance of good bacteria, this will result in a biotin deficiency.”

MSM – Methyl sulphate methane is an organic source of sulphur easily absorbed by the horse. Sulphur is important for the formation of keratin and was traditionally included in the horse’s natural diet thanks to a varied grazing diet. Sulphur levels in grass are far more depleted thanks to modern land management techniques, grass fertilisation and reduced acid rain levels, so supplementation of sulphur may be beneficial. However, it is also possible to overdose the horse on sulphur, so customers should assess sulphur levels in the diet as a whole before using a supplement.

 

Key Ingredients

 

Broad spectrum feed supplements have become widely available in recent years and can help to ensure the horse is healthy on the inside. This is one important step towards healthy hooves as nutrition plays a vital role. If you are looking to introduce a supplement to help improve your horse's hooves, here's a few ingredients you should look out for.

The amino acid Methionine is vital for hoof growth, but this dietary requirement isn't produced naturally in the horse, so it has to come through diet. A supplement containing Methionine will help to form and strengthen the sulphur-containing keratin parts of the hoof.

Biotin is another name for vitamin B7. This is a 'growth' vitamin, and is present in every living cell. In horses, Biotin is especially valuable for preventing hoof cracks.

Gelatin is present in some supplements. It has a positive effect on hoof growth, the reasons for which remain the subject of much research. Its benefits have been known for generations.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, helps collagen formation. Collagen is present in all structures of the body, such as skin, hooves, tendons and ligaments and is a very important part of keeping limbs and organs in good condition. Vitamin C also helps the horse fight off infection and is a good source of antioxidant.

Choline is also essential in building and maintaining cell structure and will help support the vascular system (blood pathways), liver and kidney function.

Trace elements such as copper and zinc are essential in minute quantities to enable enzymes to function correctly and produce healthy cells in the body – as is selenium. However, many soils and grasses already contain adequate levels of selenium for the horse to function correctly, so feeding a selenium-loaded supplement can be counter-productive as it may result in the loss of hoof capsule.

 

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