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The Problem with Compounded Feeds in the Equine Diet

Energy needs vary widely between individual horses and must be addressed separately from other nutrient requirements. Nutrient requirements should not be fulfilled by a fixed percentage of the amount of feed the horse consumes. With compounded feeds, the added nutrients (proteins, minerals, vitamins, salt, etc.) are force-fed into the horse at indiscriminate amounts in order to meet the energy requirements and to maintain body weight.

Feeding Compound Feeds by Weight

Increasing or decreasing a compounded feed based on weight maintenance of the horse cannot provide the required nutrients at the low feeding levels without over-supplementation of the nutrients at the higher feeding levels.

Excessive supplementation of any nutrient, even if it is not toxic, requires metabolic and organ functions to eliminate it from the body. This is a waste of valuable resources whether in the form of enzyme activity, energy, or organ usage such as the kidneys.

Compound Feeds VS Life Data Forage Balancer Chart
Compound Feeds VS Life Data® Forage Balancer

Inadequate Supplementation of Nutrients

Inadequate supplementation of nutrients unrelated to energy often results from low consumption levels of compounded feed. This can occur with a voluntary decrease in feed intake due to illness, injury, etc., or with the caretaker’s feeding restriction to control obesity, metabolic syndrome, etc.

Probably the most perplexing example of the problem of linking energy with the other nutrients is how to manage the diet of a highly conditioned horse on idle days or injury lay-up days. There is a risk of over-supplementation if a complete feed is continued at high levels. If the feed is reduced, there is a risk of creating a nutrient deficiency. It is advantageous to be able to adjust caloric intake to meet the horse’s energy needs without compromising basic nutrients.

The Balancing Solution: Life Data® Forage Balancer

Life Data® Forage Balancer provides balanced nutrition when fed with pasture, hay, and whole oats. Grass hay or pasture should be considered the basic diet for the horse. The demands of additional work, along with reduced grazing time, require the inclusion of concentrated energy and other nutrients in the diet. Oats are the best solution for this purpose. Our research and experience indicate that the combination of grass hay and oats requires the least supplementation to balance the diet.

Feeding Oats with Life Data® Forage Balancer

Oats provide the best grain foundation to add to Life Data® Forage Balancer because of their energy content, palatability, amino acid content, starch digestibility, fatty acid ratio, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and lower phytate content. Oats are an exceptionally good source of energy because the nutrients contained in oats are efficiently utilized in the production and burning of calories.

Hay Provides Bulk, Oats Provide Energy, and Life Data® Forage Balancer Provides Nutrients

The demands of additional work, along with reduced grazing time, require adding concentrated energy and other nutrients to the diet. Oats are the best solution for this purpose. Our research and experience indicate that the combination of grass hay and oats requires the least supplementation to balance the diet. Oats provide the best grain foundation to add to the diet-balancing pellets because of their palatability, amino acid content, starch digestibility, fatty acid ratio, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and lower phytate content. Oats are a good source of energy because their nutrients are efficiently utilized in the production and burning of calories.

Salt

Salt should be given separately, usually on a free-choice basis. Giving a salt and mineral mixture, such as a mineral block, can lead to excessive mineral intake. Hay provides the bulk, oats provide the energy, and the Life Data® Forage Balancer pellets provide the nutrition.

Improved Feed Efficiency

Life Data® Forage Balancer Advantages

  • Most Horses will Require Less Feed due to Increased Feed Efficiency
  • Balanced nutrition translates to high digestibility and lower by-products in the fecal matter and urine
    • Less fecal matter and urine output
    • Reduces the labor required to maintain the stalls
    • Reduces bedding expenses and the space that must be dedicated to disposal of the used bedding and feces
    • Creates a cleaner facility, thereby reducing insect annoyance and the ability of flies to propagate
  • Balanced Nutrition Increases Bone and Connective Tissue Strength, Leading to:
    • Healthier bones and joints
    • Improved hoof quality
    • Glossy hair coat

Compound Feeds VS Forage Balancer and Whole Oats:

  • Compounded feeds can contain ingredients that cake together:
    • Creates feed delivery problems from storage bins
    • Messy residue in feed troughs
    • Insect or rodent attraction
  • Whole grains such as oats are clean and easily administered:
    • Whole grains have excellent flow characteristics
    • Results in cleaner equipment
    • More palatable and easy to consume
    • Horses rarely leave residual oats in the feeding bucket
  • Whole grain feeding requires the horse to use the teeth as a grinder:
    • Helps maintain proper dental health and reduce dental spurs
    • Improves feed digestibility by stimulating salivation and salivary mixing with the grain
  • Life Data® Forage Balancer pellets are fed based on nutrient requirements that are independent of energy requirements, thereby preventing nutrient deficiencies or nutrient excesses
  • The caretaker has the tool to dramatically vary the caloric intake – reducing calories for obesity control, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or increasing calories for work, hard keepers, cold weather, etc. while at the same time providing optimal nutrition with the Life Data® Forage Balancer

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Whole Oats and Horses with a History of Laminitis

Whole Oats

Laminitis and colic are often the result of undigested starch entering the caecum of the horse where it is broken down and fermented by microbes. It is this fermentation process along with alterations in the gut flora that produces the toxins that enter the bloodstream and damage the sensitive blood vessels within the hoof.

Horses with Acute Laminitis

Although horses with acute (active) laminitis should not be fed whole oats, there is increasing awareness that horses that have had a history of laminitis in the past can be safely fed whole oats. This is due to the fact that the starch in oats is highly digestible. The starch in oats is quickly broken down into sugars in the small intestines and absorbed long before reaching the caecum. 

Dietary Changes

When changing the horse’s diet, it is important to avoid sudden adjustments. Feeding smaller portions more frequently is safer and easier to digest than infrequent, larger meals. The average 1000 lb. horse should not receive more than 5 lbs. of a grain per feeding.

Horses with a history of laminitis and recovery can usually be given oats without concern.

1st: Give a supplement that will balance the hay or pasture diet.

2nd: Feed the whole oats as a calorie source to maintain proper weight and body condition.

Recommended Forage Balancer and Hoof Supplement for Horses with a History of Laminitis: Life Data® Forage Balancer and Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength

Recommended for Horses with Acute or Chronic Laminitis: Life Data® Lamina Formula and Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
Developer of Farrier’s Formula®

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Carbohydrates in Farrier’s Formula® Hoof Supplements

Sugar Cubes

Confusion abounds in the reporting and interpretation of Non-Fiber Carbohydrates (NFC) and Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) in equine diets. Several years ago, many forage and feed testing labs removed NSF reporting and added NFC, leading to confusion about the distinction between the two.

Non-Fiber Carbohydrates VS Non-Structural Carbohydrates

NSC, Non-Structural Carbohydrates, if reported by the forage testing labs, is either chemically measured in the lab or, more commonly, calculated mathematically. The calculation is typically WSC (water-soluble carbohydrates) plus Starch. Some testing labs use direct chemical analysis. Therefore, comparing NSC values reported by different testing labs may not lead to an accurate assessment. Many labs no longer include NSC reporting in their analysis reports. If the horse owner or equine nutritionist is interested in NSC and it is not reported in the analysis, the figure can be calculated by adding the percentages of reported WSC (water-soluble carbohydrates) and Starch.

Farrier's Formula is Low in Sugar

NSC of Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength

For Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength, a lab has reported WSC at 5.8% and Starch at 4.2%; therefore, the sum of the two, or NSC, would be 10.0%. These numbers can vary slightly due to laboratory testing methodology.

The Advantage of Non-Fiber Carbohydrates Analysis

NFC, Non-Fiber Carbohydrates, is a better means of carbohydrate analysis than NSC. The two values are not the same. NFC is an estimate of carbohydrates that are readily digested and absorbed and includes pectin, a carbohydrate not counted in NSC values. NFC is calculated by subtracting the percentages of Crude Protein (CP%), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF%), Crude Fat (Fat Ether Extract %), and Ash (Ash%) from 100. Laboratory NFC measurements in supplements and feedstuffs will likely replace NSC. The NFC measure is usually higher than the NSC.

NFC of Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength

There are no added sugars or molasses in Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength. The amount of NFC consumed per serving is insignificant when compared to the level consumed in the daily ration of hay – even if the hay is soaked. Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength is 12.2% NFC. Therefore, contains 10.4 grams of NFC per 1/2 cup (85 grams) at the recommended feeding level. As a comparison, a horse consuming 20 lbs. of grass hay with 15% NFC consumes 1,364 grams of NFC daily! Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength contributes an insignificant amount of carbohydrates when compared to the forage diet and/or most other feedstuffs and supplements.

Carbohydrate Content of Life Data® Products

Carbohydrate Chart for Life Data Products
Click to Enlarge
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Managing Wet/Dry Hooves

Horse taking bath in summer

Summertime Hoof Management

Summertime is when horses are most likely to be bathed and hosed off frequently. It is possible to keep your horse cool without damaging the hooves through the wet-dry cycle. Most importantly, do not use products on your horse’s hooves you would not use on your hands.

Phospholipids

Horse’s hooves, as well as human skin, have a layer of dermal tissue that contains compounds called phospholipids. These compounds have a segment that repels water and a segment that attracts water. These compounds also allow the penetration of oxygen. Therefore, the use of a product that contains phospholipids to allow the hoof to repel water in wet conditions and conserve water in dry conditions is recommended.

Stay Away from Caustic Chemicals

Do no use products that prevent oxygen from passing through the hoof wall. When oxygen is ‘sealed out’ from a non-sterile area it creates a perfect environment for hoof destroying anaerobic micro-organisms. Avoid caustic materials such as formalin (formaldehyde), iodine crystals, copper sulfate and solvents such as acetone and turpentine. Greasy products which block oxygen should also be avoided.

Recommended Hoof Topical:

Farrier’s Finish®

Farrier’s Finish® is a liquid hoof topical that destroys the “hoof eating” microbes that cause white line disease and thrush. It also helps maintain correct hoof capsule moisture balance in excessively wet or dry conditions.

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
Developer of Farrier’s Formula®

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Sulfur Over Supplementation in Horses

Why is Sulfur Important for Horses?

The connective tissues of all mammals are rich in the mineral sulfur. The skin, hair, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and hooves of horses are composed of connective tissue. Collagen is the protein of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in the mammalian body. Sulfur, an important component of collagen, is required for both joint health and, in horses, healthy hooves. One dietary source of sulfur is methionine. Methionine is an essential amino acid that the body can convert to another “sulfur-containing” amino acid called cysteine.

Farrier Hot Shoeing Horse
*Sulfur is abundant in the hoof. The “rotten egg” odor produced during hot-shoeing is the smell of sulfur gas resulting from burning the sulfur – rich connective tissue proteins of the hoof.

Once converted, cysteine provides the sulfur “welds,” or crosslinks, necessary for healthy collagen and, thus, a strong connective tissue infrastructure. The lack of sulfur, or methionine, in a horse’s diet is known to lead to structural weakness in the:

  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Bones
  • Joints
  • Hooves

However, too much sulfur in a horse’s diet can lead to over-supplementation, weaken joint strength, and affect hoof quality.

How does Over-Supplementation Occur?

Many hoof supplements contain sulfur in the form of the amino acid methionine. The added methionine balances the relative deficiency of methionine in the typical equine pasture and hay diet. Most equine joint supplements contain MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, which contains around 34% sulfur. Sulfur over-supplementation can result from feeding a hoof supplement with methionine along with a joint supplement containing MSM. Excess sulfur in the diet has been shown to impair the proper absorption of copper. Copper, along with vitamin C, is necessary for collagen formation and the development of healthy connective tissue for strong hooves and joints.

Equine Sulfur Over Supplementation

How can Over-Supplementation be Avoided?

There are other negative effects of over-supplementation, and it is generally not a good idea to give more than one vitamin/mineral supplement to a horse. If the horse has joint problems in addition to hoof problems, joint supplements without additional sulfur can be given in addition to the hoof supplement. Avoiding supplements that duplicate nutrients is key to reducing the risk of over-supplementation. Providing a single balanced supplement, backed by research and years of proven effectiveness, is recommended and can lead to a healthier, happier horse.

Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint

Farrier's Formula® DS Plus Joint

Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint is formulated to provide nutrients to help build strong connective tissue, improve hoof and coat quality, and give support for the joints without creating the over-supplementation and added expense that occurs when feeding a hoof supplement and joint supplement separately.


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Feeding for Hoof Health

Factors that Affect Hoof Health

  • Genetics
  • Farrier work
  • Type of environment
  • Work intensity
  • Microbial invasions
  • Nutrition
Feeding for Hoof Health

Nutrition’s Role in Hoof Care

In this article, we want to focus on the role that nutrition plays in hoof health.

Consider the following scenario, where two horses are:
1. In the same environment and barn
2. Fed the same diet
3. Working at the same level
4. Competing in the same discipline
5. Trimmed by the same Farrier
6. Cared by the same person
However, one has healthy feet, and the other has poor-quality hooves.

Dietary Factors

In the case above, since all factors are the same, we may want to take a closer look at nutrition. Even though both horses are receiving the same diet, their genetic makeup plays a big role in how nutrients are absorbed and utilized.

When horses have poor feet due to dietary factors, it can be hard to determine the exact cause. However, you can assume that your horse is: 

  • Not receiving the correct nutrients
  • Absorbing nutrients insufficiently
  • Another dietary factor is interfering with nutrient utilization

It is of great importance to maintain correct ratios between all nutrients to prevent one nutrient from interfering with the absorption and utilization of another. When balancing diets it is just as important to prevent excesses as it is to correct deficiencies.

Hoof problems? Where should you start?

1. Provide hay and/or pasture as the basic diet
2. Provide a quality hoof supplement
3. Provide free-choice loose salt
4. Allow access to fresh, clean water

If your horse does have a noticeable hoof problem, and you begin a nutritional program to solve it, you should see a positive difference emerging from the coronary band within 8 to 10 weeks. If not, you should re-examine your nutrition and management program immediately with the help of an equine nutritionist.

Farrier's Formula, Farrier's Finish, Life Data Hoof Clay

Recommended Hoof Supplement: Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength

What should you avoid?

1) Avoid using several supplements
o Most supplements, when fed in conjunction with others, can lead to over-supplementation, nutrient interferences, and even create toxic levels of some ingested nutrients. Ask your veterinarian if it’s safe to feed one supplement with another.

2) Avoid high-bran diets
o Wheat, rice or other grains

3) In the vast majority of cases biotin alone is not enough to correct poor hoof quality.
o There are many other nutrients that affect hoof quality.

The key is fortifying hoof health without producing nutrient excesses or deficiencies. When choosing a hoof supplement, ask your farrier which one does he or she recommends. Chances are, it’ll be Farrier’s Formula®: the #1 recommended hoof supplement by Farriers in the United States.

Dr. Frank Gravlee

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
H. Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS
Equine Nutrition Consultant

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Case Report: Laminitis

Summary

A 13-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was treated for severe laminitis with Animalintex poultices, Farrier’s Formula®, Pegasus Laser Therapy, and Soft-Ride Boots, which allowed for the growth of new hoof walls after the old hoof walls had rotated away and sloughed off. These therapies to increase circulation and provide nutrition to the hooves were successful in returning the gelding soundly to his previous level of work after 18 months.

Punctured
Right Hind Sole 07/02/2012

Introduction

Laminitis in its most simple definition is inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof wall. The cause however can vary from trauma, to grain overload, to toxins, and beyond. This case study is meant to show that even the most severe of cases have a chance of survival and return to work if we attempt to help the body heal itself rather than use our traditional treatment regimes. However, the key to success relies on the presence of a willing and diligent owner, veterinarian, farrier, and above all a patient that is willing to be treated.

Left Fore Medial
Left Fore Medial 07/18/2012

Nutrition

In conjunction with antibiotic treatments, he received daily Probios. Free-choice grass hay was available at all times. Daily ration consisted of ½ cup Life Data® Forage Balancer. Hoof supplement consisted of 1/2cup Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength. Fresh water was also available at all times.

Hoof Resection
Right Hind Wall Resection 8/20/2012

Results

  • Hooves remained intact and grew at an increased rate.
  • The hoof wall that was present at the onset of the laminitic episode rotated away from P3 on each hoof. (see Left Fore Medial 7.18.2012).
  • The dead soles were removed at the beginning of the 3rd month of treatment. (see Right Hind Sole 7.2.2012).
  • The outer hoof walls detached at 4.5 months of treatment. (see Right Hind Wall Resection 8.20.2012).
  • New hoof wall grew in at the correct angle and did not associate with the old hoof wall. Hooves continued to grow and at 11 months all hooves had grown to touch the ground. (see Right Hind Lateral 3.30.2013). He remained tender on the front hooves but was able to have his back boots removed at that time.
  • At 18 months aluminum Natural Balance shoes were applied to his front hooves and he was able to trot off sound.

Right Hand Lateral
Right Hind Lateral 03/30/2013

Discussion

The combination of Animalintex poultices, Farrier’s Formula®, Pegasus Laser therapy, and Soft-Ride Boots led to a full recovery of a horse that should not have survived. Animalintex poultices allowed for debris and waste products to be removed from the body without the need to recirculate through the body. Farrier’s Formula® provided the nutrition needed for increased hoof growth. Pegasus laser therapy allowed for increased circulation to get the nutrients where they were needed most, as well as provide pain relief from standing in the “founder stance”. Soft-Ride Boots provided support and protection to the bandaged hooves as well as increasing circulation during the times he did choose to stand.

Recovered Hoof
Right Hind Lateral 05/29/2013

E. Jones Williams, DVM
Stable & Stock Veterinary Services, PLLC
Watertown, TN USA

Hoof Recovered from Laminitis

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Nutrients that Influence Hoof Health

Modern Horses Grazing

The nutritional demands of domesticated modern horses are much different than the nutritional demands of wild horses. A myriad of feedstuffs and supplements have been developed and marketed in reaction to these changing needs. While proper supplementation can provide numerous benefits, insufficient or excessive supplementation of any nutrient can be detrimental for hoof health.

Amino acids

Methionine, proline, glycine, and glutamine are some of the amino acids that are major protein building blocks of healthy connective tissue (hooves are primarily composed of connective tissue). An imbalance of the amino acid ratio leads to inefficient protein production.

Tyrosine and Iodine
The amino acid tyrosine and the mineral iodine are components of thyroid hormone. A deficiency of either of these nutrients can lead to low thyroid function, obesity, and poor hair coat and hoof quality. The relationship between tyrosine, iodine, hoof problems, and obesity is very strong.

Methionine
Methionine is important for the proper utilization of lipids and for building the sulfur crosslinks that add strength to connective tissue. Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is commonly deficient in grasses and grains.

Vitamins

Vitamins are necessary for many metabolic processes and the general health of the horse and the hooves.

Vitamin A
Either an excess or deficiency of vitamin A can result in poor hoof quality and predispose the invasion of microorganisms into the hoof wall, creating a hoof defect pattern in which the outer hoof wall flakes off. Hair-like projections emerging from the hoof wall or the sole of a horse’s hoof is also an indicator of Vitamin A excess or deficiency.

Vitamin A Deficiency in the Hoof

Vitamin C
Vitamin C, along with copper, serves as a catalyst in the formation of strong and healthy horn. Supplementation of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is traditionally believed to be unnecessary in horses. However, research conducted by Dr. Frank Gravlee, founder of Life Data Labs, established that stabled or stressed horses often have minimal blood levels of ascorbic acid and can therefore benefit from vitamin C supplementation.

Biotin
Biotin is necessary as a coenzyme for a multitude of metabolic functions, and is significantly important in the proper growth and strength of connective tissue. Supplementation of biotin is safe because it is a water soluble vitamin, which means biotin is not stored in the body in any significant amounts. Biotin is found naturally in pasture grasses and in many feedstuffs fed to horses. Hindgut microbes normally manufacture sufficient biotin to meet the horse’s daily requirement.

Minerals

Minerals are responsible for the structural integrity of the body, energy production, immune health, and perform other functions such as co-factors for enzymatic and metabolic reactions.

Copper
Copper is a mineral that is an important component of a multitude of metabolic functions. A copper deficiency leads to a number of abnormal conditions, including defects in the pigmentation and strength of the hooves. Forages can be copper deficient, especially if grown in high rainfall areas.

Zinc
Zinc is a mineral required for the healthy maturing of keratin – a major component of the outer layers of dermal tissue. Proper keratin formation is important for wound healing, skin health, and hoof structure. Zinc can be present in less than ideal levels in forages.

Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium provides the adhesive “welds” between cells. Excess phosphorus in the diet can interfere with calcium absorption. In the presence of hoof problems, bran should not be fed. Whether it’s from wheat, rice, oats or other grains, bran contains phytates. Phytates block the absorption of calcium predisposing the horse to a calcium deficiency and other mineral imbalances. Calcium deficiency results in crumbly hoof horn.

Sulfur
Sulfur is required to build the strong cross links necessary for healthy hoof horn. However, excessive sulfur interferes with copper metabolism leading to weak connective tissue structure and poor hoof quality.

Selenium
We are unaware of a selenium deficiency causing poor hoof quality. A selenium deficiency in horses will lead to other problems, such as muscle deterioration, long before any effects could potentially develop in the hooves. However, horses supplemented with excessive selenium develop a lack of structure in the hoof horn. The excess selenium replaces the stronger sulfur bonds, resulting in weak hoof horn. As selenium toxicity progresses, the outer hoof wall becomes brittle, noticeable horizontal rings appear, pain develops at the coronary band, and the outer hoof wall may slough.

Selenium Toxicity in the Hoof

Fatty Acids and Phospholipids

Fatty acids and phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine) add strength and pliability to connective tissues of the hooves, are critical for healthy moisture balance, and are necessary for a healthy, shiny coat. Phospholipids are important for healthy cell membranes.

We are faced with the nutrition challenge to fortify the horse’s hoof health without producing nutrient excesses and/or deficiencies. When choosing a hoof supplement, ask your farrier which one they recommend. Chances are it’ll be Farrier’s Formula®, the #1 recommended hoof supplement by Farriers in the USA.

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
H. Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS
Equine Nutrition Consultant

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Factors That Affect Hoof Quality

Factors that Affect Hoof Quality

Hoof wall defects can develop from one or more contributing factors. To name a few, hoof wall quality can be influenced by genetics, environment, microbes, trimming, and nutrition.

1. Genetics

Breeds such as Thoroughbreds are genetically predisposed to thin hoof walls and soles, which increase vulnerability to trauma and cracking. Midline toe cracks can occur in any breed as a result of a genetically related weak laminar attachment of the hoof wall to the coffin bone.

Broodmare and Foal
Promoting Hoof Health Begins at Conception

2. Environment

Horses exercising on hard ground or pavement are predisposed to hoof wall cracking due to the higher shock forces on the hoof walls. Also, hooves that often move from wet to dry environments are particularly susceptible to hoof wall cracking. Lastly, the trauma of stepping on hard or sharp objects will generate cracks – especially cracks that form in the bars.

3. Hoof Eating Microbes

Hoof eating microbes require a nutrient-rich environment that is lacking oxygen to flourish. The several different species of bacteria and fungi that have been isolated from infected hooves all have one thing in common – they thrive on the sulfur-containing collagen of the hoof wall. Nail holes and hoof defects provide organisms with easy entry, while wet environments soften the foot and set the stage for microbial invasions. These anaerobic organisms weaken the hoof wall structure. Leading to crumbling, chipping, and cracking.

4. Proper Farrier Trimming

Quarter cracks that start at the coronary band and extend downward are often associated with excessive loading on one side of the hoof wall. Proper farrier trimming and/or shoeing will balance the stresses on the hoof wall and lessen the shocks leading to cracks and hoof wall separations.

Farrier Trimming Horse's Hooves
Maintaining a Regular Farrier Schedule is Essential for Hoof Health.

5. Nutrition

Whether from wheat, rice, oats or other grains, bran contains phytates. Phytates block the absorption of calcium predisposing the horse to a calcium deficiency and other mineral imbalances. Calcium is important in providing the “glue” for cellular adhesion in the hoof tissue. Calcium deficiency is often a result of diets high in bran and results in weak, crumbly hoof horn.

Supplementation and Hoof Quality

Excessive dietary sulfur can result from MSM supplementation. Excess sulfur interferes with copper metabolism, leading to weak connective tissue structure and poor hoof quality.

Horses supplemented with excessive selenium develop a lack of structure in the hoof horn. The excess selenium replaces the stronger sulfur bonds, resulting in weak hoof horn. As selenium toxicity progresses, the outer hoof wall becomes brittle, noticeable horizontal rings appear, pain develops at the coronary band, and the outer hoof wall may slough.

Growing Out Hoof Wall Defects

The majority of horses will “grow out” hoof wall defects if:

1) The causative factor is identified and avoided (if possible).
2) The horse receives good nutrition and/or a hoof supplement.
3) The defects are treated with non-caustic topical protectants.

Farrier's Formula Hoof Supplement
Farrier’s Formula® Ushered in the Concept of Feeding for Hoof Health!

Recommended Hoof Supplement: Farrier’s Formula®

For outstanding hoof nutrition, use Farrier’s Formula®: the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers in the USA. Farrier’s Formula® will strengthen the hoof wall to inhibit future cracking and hoof defects, and will also increase the growth rate of the hoof horn to overcome existing cracks.

Recommended Hoof Topical: Farrier’s Finish®

To protect the hooves from “hoof eating microbes” and from wet/dry conditions, use Farrier’s Finish®: a hoof disinfectant and conditioner that unlike other products, does not contain harmful chemicals. Farrier’s Finish® destroys the microbes which cause white line disease, thrush, and crumbling hoof wall. It also supports correct hoof capsule moisture balance in excessively wet or dry conditions.

Farrier's Finish® Hoof Topical Applied to Hoof
Farrier’s Finish® Protects the Investment You Make in Hoof Quality

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc.
Developer of Farrier’s Formula®
H. Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS
Equine Nutrition Consultant

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Treating Laminitis and Founder: The Veterinarian and Farrier Relationship

Laminitis and founder is a complicated systemic disease that severely affects a horse’s feet. For the best chance of success in the management and treatment of the disease, veterinarians and farriers must work together. The horse owner assumes the economic responsibility to attempt to restore a horse to health and, therefore, has the choice to engage cooperative caregivers.

Vet and Farrier Relationship

Look for Recommendations

When interviewing farriers and vets, ask each of them if they have someone they routinely work with on laminitis/founder cases. If they cannot name someone they can recommend, keep searching. You are looking for a team that can work together with you to solve a complex and potentially deadly problem.

Aspects of the Problem

Farriers may understand the mechanical aspects of the problem, but not the medical aspects. Veterinarians may understand the medical aspects, but not the mechanical. A combination of the two treatments is necessary to solve a horse’s problem when it is foundered. The cause must be determined and the swelling, pain and systemic conditions must be treated by the veterinarian. The farrier must provide the bone column support while the horse grows a new hoof.