Nutrition for Hoof Health
There’s no denying some horses have lucked out in the genetic lottery with indestructible feet. But if your horse isn’t one of these and struggles to grow a good hoof in spite of regular trims, a good exercise program and a sparklingly clean, dry stall, there may be more you can do, starting with looking into the nutrients that grow healthy feet from the inside out. However, since a horse’s hooves only grow about 1/3 of an inch per month, it can take up to a year to see if nutrition changes are helping hoof health.
The first place to focus is on simple nutrients, such as energy (calories). An underweight horse must direct
his energy to the most vital organs, so hooves and
coat can suffer as a result. An obese horse is at higher risk of laminitis, which is very destructive to feet in both the short and long term.
There are dozens of micronutrients present in a horse’s diet. It’s best not to fiddle with them except under the guidance of an equine nutritionist, as imbalance and excess can cause more problems than they solve. For most horse owners, feeding good-quality hay (or pasture) with a concentrate or ration balancer formulated specifically for horses and fed per label directions is the safest way to balance vitamin, mineral and protein input.
If you are curious to learn more about how nutrition can help contribute to hoof health and how, focusing on specific nutrients, then read on.
