Holistic Hoof Care
By Kate Jones BSc(Hons) Nutritionist at NAF.
There’s no truer saying in the horse world than “No foot, No horse.”
As horse owners we are all familiar with the frustration of a lost weekend’s riding because our horse has lost a shoe. Bad feet are a common problem. Your horse’s best ally for any hoof problem will be the farrier, so be sure that your farrier is someone you trust and can work with, this way your horse will only benefit.
However, is it all down to our farriers, or can we, as caring owners, help support and maintain the health of our horses feet? David “Slim” Symons, FWCF (Hons) of Hereford School of Farriery certainly believes we can. Says ‘Slim’, “For your farrier to do the best job he can of shoeing your horse, he needs a quality foot to work with. Diet is an important factor in achieving this, it goes without saying if the horse is lacking in his diet, the hoof quality is likely to suffer. If the supply of nutrients reaching the foot is deficient, quality new horn cannot be laid down. This is when a correctly formulated feed supplement can be so helpful.”
So how do we know which is the best product to choose? Here are some useful guidelines….
Biotin, one of the B vitamin complexes, is, perhaps, the single most important nutrient in supporting healthy hoof growth. Historically research had shown that 15mg Biotin fed daily was sufficient for foot growth. More recent research shows indicates that the figure is more likely to be 15-30mg daily, with the size of the horse being significant. Trials on horses around 450kg found 20mg necessary for healthy feet, while trials on heavy horses needed nearer 30mg per day. With an increasing trend for larger riding horses (600kg+ is not unusual in warmbloods) it is clear that a good hoof supplement needs to be flexible, to provide for all needs, from Shetlands to Shires! So, ensure the level of biotin in the product you choose suits your horse - as a guide, for a general riding club type horse of 15 -16.2hh I would recommend 24mg per day for optimum hoof growth.
However it is important to remember that biotin cannot benefit the horse when fed alone. It must be formulated together with other essential nutrients, otherwise the horse’s system cannot assimilate and reap the benefits of the nutrient. These include the Methionine, Calcium and Zinc. So, when choosing a hoof supplement first check for these necessary ingredients and also look for a broad spectrum of naturally sourced amino acids and essential fatty acids; and a rich supply of sulphur, for example, in the form of MSM. Hooves are heavily dependant upon sulphur for strength and integrity - a clear indication of this is in the pungent smell of burning hoof which we normally associate with hot shoeing, which is the smell of burning sulphur.
Furthermore, in recent years the role of antioxidants has been highlighted in all areas of health, and hoof health is no exception. Why should antioxidants be important to the feet? Because the hoof is simply a form of keratin – just like the coat, mane and tail, and together they all form the “dermis”. The dermis itself, as the largest organ in the body, is the first to reflect general health – therefore poor hoof condition is often simply a reflection of a physically stressed system and this is where the power of antioxidants come into play. In selecting a hoof supplement that supplies a concentrated antioxidant complex you are taking a much more holistic approach to the nutritional care of the hoof, by not only utilising targeted ingredients such as biotin and sulphur, but also supporting total systemic health.
Remember the adage “patience is a virtue”! Supplementing for hoof health may take around nine months until a completely healthy foot is seen. However a good product will show a benefit in the new horn growth at the top of the foot to the foot which you should be able to see after about six weeks. It’s a good idea to get into the habit of taking a photographic record of the feet each time he’s shod – this will help you and your farrier monitor progress.
Hoof health is not only about diet however, management plays a very important part. Use of the correct hoof care applications can be a lifeline.
Water and hydration levels are imperative to hoof condition – and it can be a bit of a balancing act. The hoof wall is made up of a particular type of keratin known as hard keratin (like our nails) which is quite a rigid structure. Hoof wall keratin needs to be rigid to withstand the pressures of weight baring and coping with different terrains that it is subjected to. However too rigid (dry) and the wall will crack, as stress will concentrate in certain points and it doesn’t have the flexibility to adjust. Think of how easily a dry, dead branch snaps when you bend it, compared to how pliable a young spring shoot is. Too wet and the nails become soft and lose strength – just like our nails if our hands spend too long immersed in water! Research has found that the rigidity, and therefore strength, of the hoof wall keratin varies more than any other mammalian keratin (i.e. wool, nails, horns, coat etc) depending on the environmental levels, from as low as 5% water by weight in drought conditions, to over 40% in high humidity.
Environmental conditions can place huge pressures on hoof condition. As our horses obviously stand on their hooves wherever they are, be it in wet mud or on a dry shavings bed, these can be extreme. So what can we, as caring horse owners, do to help? We can select hoof care applications, specifically formulated to balance the environmental conditions, and apply regularly (once or twice ad day) to try and maintain consistent hydration, which will result in consistently strong hooves.
If your horse shows signs of dry hooves prone to cracking and splitting, then the use of a daily water based moisturising product will provide hydration which can soak in, rather than rapidly evaporate. Remember, the hoof wall naturally hydrates itself from the inside out, so the outer layer that we see is naturally the driest part and therefore the best place to apply a moisturiser.
Conversely in the wet weather soft walls and soles become a common issue. If your farrier feels that the walls are soft, or you see such signs as soft, flaky soles, then regular use of a hardening product which will seal in moisture but not allow excess softening is recommended.
Living in Britain our weather is never boring and seldom constant! Add to that the pressures of standing in dry bedding, or out in wet mud, and it is recommended to keep both moisturising and strengthening products at hand to use as and when appropriate. Using a combination of a high specification nutritional hoof supplement together with the correct applications for the given conditions will help us all stamp out bad feet forever and make lost shoe days a thing of the past!
Recommended NAF Products: PRO FEET Liquid, PRO FEET Powder, Hoof Moist, Hoof Rub Ointment and Rock Hard. For further information or advice please call the NAF Freephone Advice Line 0800 373106 or e-mail info@naf-uk.com
