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.
*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.
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 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.
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.
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.
J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc. H. Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS Equine Nutrition Consultant
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Right Hind Lateral 05/29/2013
E. Jones Williams, DVM Stable & Stock Veterinary Services, PLLC Watertown, TN USA
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 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.
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
There are twenty amino acids known that make up the building blocks for mammalian body protein. Approximately one-half of the amino acids are essential (this means the body is unable to make those nutrients; therefore, the nutrients must be ingested). Methionine is an essential amino acid that can be converted to cystine by the body.
Cystine and the Horse
Cystine is important because it furnishes the sulfur crosslinks that are necessary for healthy collagen, thus strong hoof infrastructure (hoof, skin, hair, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage). A certain quantity of essential amino acids can be manufactured by the micro organisms in the hind gut of the equine.
Methionine
Most hoof supplements containing methionine is the DL-methionine form. L-methionine is the biologically active form amounting to approximately 50% of the total DL-methionine. A supplement containing 6,000 milligrams of DL-methionine would contain 3,000 milligrams of the biologically active L form. There is no data on the equine requirements of methionine; however, the average requirements for other species converted to the metabolic size of a horse amounts to approximately 3,000 milligrams of L-methionine per day.
Because methionine is readily converted to cystine by the liver in mammals it is necessary to supplement only methionine to fulfill the methionine/cystine requirement.
J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc. Developer of Farrier’s Formula®
A forage balancer is a supplement that fortifies a horse’s forage-based diet with essential nutrients. It helps provide a balanced nutritional profile for your horse by supplying vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids that are often lacking in most equine diets. A true Forage Balancer does not contain added calories, sugars, or carbohydrates. It acts as the feeding program for the horse, eliminating the need to feed compound feeds. This gives horse owners more control of calorie intake without risk of over- or under-supplementation. With a Forage Balancer, horse owners can feed horses individually and adjust calorie intake to meet the energy requirements of each horse.
What Type of Horses Can Be Fed a Forage Balancer?
A Forage Balancer Can Be Utilized For Any Horse
A Forage Balancer can be utilized for any horse, regardless of age, breed, or activity level. Easy Keepers, Hard Keepers, backyard leisure horses, and Performance Horses would all receive the nutritional benefits of a quality Forage Balancer. Forage Balancers are especially recommended for easy and hard keepers to help maintain body condition.
Mares and Growing Horses require additional nutritional support compared to the average horse. Feeding a Forage Balancer formulated specifically to support Broodmares and Foals is recommended to help support fetal growth, lactation, and weight management. The unborn foal also receives nutritional benefits when fed to the Broodmare.
Horses with Metabolic Issues, such as Insulin Resistance, Cushing’s Disease, and/or Laminitis, do not need a Forage Balancer. Specialized formulas are available for these horses. These formulas replace a forage balancer to provide nutritional support for these Metabolic issues.
Complete Feeds VS Forage Balancer
No forage provides every nutrient your horse needs. For example, wild horses must roam long distances to meet nutritional requirements through grazing. The domesticated horse is limited and only receives nutrients from the pastures and forages that horse owners provide. This is where a Forage Balancer comes into play, fulfilling the nutritional gaps in the natural equine diet.
Complete Feeds May Contain Excess Fats and Sugar
Many horse owners utilize Complete Feeds or products that combine a complete feed with a Forage Balancer in their feeding programs. Complete Feeds are easy to use, affordable, and provide energy for the horse. However, they may contain excess fats and sugar and often lead to a diet rich in fats and carbohydrates. Complete feeds also adhere to the “all-in-one” concept, tethering calories and nutrients together. This creates opportunities for over- or under-supplementation, when horse owners adjust feeding levels to manage body condition. This most commonly occurs when feeding Easy Keepers and Hard Keepers.
A true Forage Balancer does not tether nutrients and calories, making it easier to maintain body condition. The average backyard horse and Easy Keeper can be sustained alone on Forage and a quality Forage Balancer. Whole oats, copra, beet pulp, and/or vegetable oil can be added for horses requiring additional calories, such as Hard Keepers and Performance Horses.
Benefits of a Forage Balancer:
Brings the Horse Back to its “Basic” Forage Diet
Separates Calories from Nutrients
Low in Calories, Starches, and Carbohydrates
Reduces the Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Increases Feed Utilization of Hay and Pasture
Helps Maintain Proper Body Condition Score
Helps Manage Calorie Consumption
Eliminates Feeding Complete Feeds
Recommended Forage Balancer for Adult Horses
Life Data® Forage Balancer
Life Data® Forage Balancer, formerly Barn Bag® Hay and Pasture Balancer, fortifies the natural diet of the adult horse regardless of activity level. It is low calorie, low starch, and can be fed alongside Farrier’s Formula® for additional nutritional hoof health support. The average 1,000 lb. horse would be fed ½ standard kitchen measuring cup daily. Visit our website for additional information, feeding instructions, and ingredients.
Recommended Forage Balancer for Broodmares and Foals
Life Data® Broodmare and Growing Horse
Life Data® Broodmare and Growing Horse Pelleted Feed Concentrate is a source of required daily nutrients for all broodmares and growing horses. It allows the horse owner to separate the calorie requirements for gestation, lactation, or growth from other nutrient requirements. Proper feeding during gestation and growth results in a healthier horse! Visit our website for additional information, feeding instructions, and ingredients.
Recommended Formula for Metabolic Syndrome Horses
Life Data® Insulin R Formula
Life Data® Insulin R Formula supports insulin-resistant horses by supplying active ingredients to assist with glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, insulin action, and help reduce inflammation. It also supports proper metabolism to encourage weight control and general health. For horses with:
Is There a Correlation Between Excess Selenium and Insulin Resistance, PPID, or Laminitis?
Life Data® has performed whole blood testing on horses in our in-house lab utilizing whole blood trace mineral ICP-MS analysis. Our research showed that Insulin Resistant, PPID (Cushing’s Disease), and laminitis-prone horses are consistently higher in some nutrients and lower in others compared to the average healthy horse.
Selenium Excesses in Whole Blood
Selenium is one of the whole blood minerals that test higher than average in most horses with a metabolic condition such as insulin resistance or PPID. The research at Life Data® has not determined the basis or mechanism leading to higher selenium whole blood levels. Higher than average whole blood selenium levels may or may not be related to selenium intake. However, as a precaution, Life Data® does not recommend giving an Insulin Resistant or PPID horse any feeds, ration balancers, or supplements containing selenium. Almost all fortified feeds and balancers contain selenium.
What Does Selenium Do for the Horse?
Selenium is required in the diet for normal metabolic functions and is naturally present in forages. Unless the forage or hay is grown in a selenium-deficient area, the horse will not likely be selenium deficient.
Excess selenium in the diet, usually through fortified feeds or supplements, will substitute for the stronger sulfur bonds in connective tissue, leading to weaker tissue. This excess can negatively impact hooves, skin, hair, and ligaments.
Nutrition for Horses with Metabolic Conditions
Life Data® has formulated several specialty equine products based on our Whole Blood Research. When our research shows that nutrition may benefit horses with a condition, a formulation is produced for field trial testing. Low or high whole blood element levels are often either positively or negatively correlated with other nutrients such as other trace minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. The formulations for these conditions are designed to bring the high levels down and supplement the low nutrients. The formulation is not a treatment for a condition and is not intended to replace veterinary-prescribed therapeutics.
Life Data® Products for Specific Equine Conditions
Life Data® has developed three specialty products to help metabolic horses:
These formulations address the differences found in our whole blood testing. They do not contain added selenium and will replace ration balancers and/or complete feeds. They are also formulated to be given along with Farrier’s Formula® for additional support to the connective tissues of the ligaments, skin, joints, and hooves.
The most basic explanation when discussing Insulin Resistance in horses is that we are dealing with an insulin problem within the horse. When a horse consumes carbohydrates, the pancreas is triggered to produce and release insulin. Insulin regulates and lowers glucose levels in the bloodstream by assisting the transport of glucose into the cells. When we have an Insulin Resistance problem, the cells become resistant to the action of insulin. As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas secretes more insulin in the attempt to regulate blood sugar. Blood glucose levels begin to rise along with insulin levels when the pancreas reaches the limit of insulin production.
Horses at Risk of Insulin Resistance
Although all horses are at risk of developing insulin resistance, factors such as age, diet, exercise, and genetics can increase the risk. For example, certain breeds are more conducive to developing insulin resistance. These breeds include:
Morgans
Pasa Finos
Andalusians
Arabians
Peruvian Pasos
Mustangs
Ponies
Minis
Donkeys
Another example is the average age of these horses. If we look at the correlation between age and Insulin Resistance, horses in the 5-15 age range are predisposed to the development of Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance is a metabolic issue, so diet and weight also play a significant factor. Horses that are overweight with a body condition score (BCS) between 7 and 9 or who receive diets rich in sugar and carbs have a higher risk of developing Insulin Resistance than a horse who receives regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Clinical Signs of Equine Insulin Resistance
Horse with a Body Condition Score of 8
Since Insulin Resistance is a metabolic problem occurring within the horse, it may be difficult to see the signs of a problem. A common warning sign that can be associated with the development of Insulin Resistance is an obese horse. Other signs we can look at include:
Fast weight gain
Inability to lose weight
Fatty deposits on the body of the horse
Development of a “cresty” neck
Loss of topline
Increased appetite
Excessive thirst and urination
Inflammation
Frequent bouts of laminitis
Laminitis & Insulin Resistance
Most Insulin Resistant horses are prone to bouts of laminitis. This can be attributed to the abundance of fat tissue, which is extremely common in insulin-resistant horses. In overweight horses, research has uncovered evidence that there is an “insulin resistance” hormone factor produced by the excessive adipose (fat) tissue that contributes to the cells’ inability to uptake glucose from the bloodstream. Adipose tissue may also contribute to higher cortisol levels. The high glucose and cortisol levels are inflammatory and therefore predispose the horse to laminitis. We highly recommend including a quality hoof supplement in the diet of these Insulin Resistant horses
Preventing Insulin Resistance in Horses
The first ten years of your horse’s life often sets the stage for the development of metabolic conditions. Horse owners should start providing the correct nutrients and a balanced diet to the horse at conception. This balanced diet must be continued throughout the horse’s life to maintain health and prevent future metabolic problems. Other factors that can help prevent the development of Insulin Resistance:
Regular work and/or exercise
Maintaining a healthy body condition score
Feeding grass/hay with a quality hay balancer
Refraining from feeding “sweet” feeds or treats
Caring for the Insulin Resistant Horse
There is no cure for Insulin Resistance, but we can help make the life of these horses as comfortable as possible. The first step in this process is to examine the horse’s current diet and develop a feeding plan that will assist the horse in dropping excess weight. This new diet will be focused on reducing the number of sugars and carbs the horse consumes daily. This means no sweet feeds, limited treats, and no grasses with high fructan. Grasses likely to have high fructan content include:
Fertilized and growing pastures
Pastures stressed from drought or frosts
Grazing in the afternoon and evening
Tall fescue and ryegrass
Monitored grazing, dry lotting, and grazing muzzles may also be necessary depending on the horse and pasture.
Adding exercise to the horse’s daily routine is the next step. If the horse is not accustomed to exercise, it should be introduced slowly, 2-3 times a week, and built up over time. Eventually, we want the horse to exercise daily with body condition steadily improving.
Supplementation for Insulin Resistance
Supplementation is vital for horses with Insulin Resistance, especially when we begin cutting calories from the diet. We want to cut calories without cutting the horse’s required daily nutrients. If the horse’s diet is not balanced nutritionally, we are not providing the support needed to maintain our horse’s health.
As mentioned above, a quality hoof supplement is essential for insulin-resistant horses to help improve hoof wall density. A denser hoof wall is more resilient to the effects of laminitis and may reduce the risk of founder. One good option is to utilize a hay and pasture balancer alongside a hoof supplement to replace the missing nutrients from the low-calorie diet. Another option is to use a quality hoof supplement and a supplement specifically formulated to support horses with Insulin Resistance.
Life Data® Insulin R Formula and Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength
Life Data® Recommendation
Farrier’s Formula® Double Strength and the new Life Data® Insulin R Formula work in conjunction to support horses with Insulin Resistance by supplying active ingredients to assist with glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, insulin action, and help reduce inflammation. Life Data® Insulin R Formula also supports proper metabolism to encourage weight control and general health.
Have you ever considered the substantial influence the health of our horse’s hooves and joints have on one another? For example, can poor hoof quality negatively impact joint health? Can a joint injury add extra strain to the hoof? It is easy to look at our horse’s health from a narrow perspective, only considering the problem at hand. When it comes to the longevity and comfort of the horse, we need to look at the whole picture. The horse’s joints and hooves function together in its movement and balance. When one is afflicted, the other is often affected as well.
Effects from offloading, poor nutrition, hoof balance, terrain, and body condition accumulate over time, weakening the horse’s extremities and creating real problems in the horse’s locomotion. These influences become even more important for older horses, who are more susceptible to joint pain, arthritis, and hoof problems such as laminitis. In part one of this blog, we will discuss the impact that body condition and nutrition have on the health of the hooves and joints.
Overweight Body Condition
Obesity continues to be a growing problem in the horse community. Approximately 50% of the horse population in the United States is considered overweight. It is almost guaranteed that an obese horse will eventually develop hoof and/or joint problems. The additional weight increases the strain and pressure heaped onto the hooves and joints. The excess weight will also boost the risk of problems developing when combined with unbalanced hooves, frequent exposure to hard terrain, and offloading. In addition, most of these horses also do not receive enough exercise or balanced diets. This sedentary lifestyle does not provide the needed exercise to maintain joint strength and quality. Providing an imbalanced diet only adds to the problem. Nutrient and caloric excesses in the diet are typical in overweight horses and can have many consequences on the health of the hooves and joints. Common problems that can occur in obese horses are:
The most impactful move horse owners can make to reduce their horse’s body weight is to return to the “basic diet” of the horse. Remove all complete feeds, sweet feeds, and treats from the horse’s diet. Utilize grass and hay as the cornerstone of your horse’s feeding program. We also recommend including a quality hay and pasture balancer, such as Barn Bag®, for nutritional support. This approach allows horse owners to control the number of calories their horses receive while still providing the essential nutrients the horse requires. Adding regular exercise to the horse’s daily regime is also extremely important. Start slow and allow the horse to build up to the new activities. The last thing you want to do is cause an injury by pushing your horse too hard and too fast.
Nutrition & Supplementation
The health and quality of your horse’s hooves and joints are reliant on proper nutrition and a balanced diet. In fact, poor hoof quality is one of the first signs of poor nutrition. The hooves, skin, hair coat, and ligaments supporting the joints are all made of connective tissue. If the hooves are impacted by poor nutrition, all other connective tissues of the horse will suffer, including the joints. Although nutrient imbalances can develop in any horse, overweight horses are highly susceptible to imbalances and the resulting hoof and joint issues.
Nutrient deficiencies and excesses in the diet will hinder the development of hoof and joint quality. One example is a deficiency in Vitamin A which creates a hoof wall defect where the hoof wall “flakes” away. Another perfect example is sulfur. A deficiency of sulfur-containing amino acids could lead to structural weakness of the ligaments, tendons, joints, and hooves. However, too much sulfur in the diet can have a negative effect on connective tissue strength. When hoof and joint quality are poorly affected by nutrition, we can expect:
Providing a balanced diet supported with essential nutrients will have one of the most significant impacts on your horse’s hooves and joints. Adding a quality hoof supplement to your horse’s feeding program will also benefit all dermal tissue of the horse, including the hoof and the connective tissue of the joint. A hoof supplement will build, improve, and support hoof quality to make it more resilient to many hoof problems.
Horse owners can also utilize a joint supplement to support joint health further. Although, feeding a hoof supplement with a separate joint supplement can have risks of sulfur over-supplementation. To avoid over-supplementing, utilizing a combo product to support hoof and joint health, such as Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint, is highly recommended. Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint is balanced to support the hoof and joint without the risk of over-supplementation. Starting horses on Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint from an early age is also a great preventive measure.
Farrier’s Formula® DS Plus Joint
Prevention Versus Treatment
Preventing a problem is always better than treating a problem. Protecting and building quality hooves and joints begins at conception. Waiting to tackle a problem until there is a problem can be time-consuming, costly, and have lasting effects on your horse’s health. The key to prevention and extending the longevity of your horse begins with:
Although nutrition and weight management are major factors in hoof and joint health, there are other factors that still need to be considered. In part 2 of “Correlations Between Equine Hoof and Joint Health,” we will dive further into this subject to discuss offloading, terrain, and unbalanced hooves. Contact us if you have any questions about this article or the supplements mentioned. Consult with your farrier and veterinarian immediately if you believe your horse has a hoof or joint problem.
The number of horse’s affected by Cushing’s Disease (PPID) is steadily increasing in the United States as the horse population is living longer. Unfortunately, there are still many unanswered questions revolving around Cushing’s Disease and how it impacts the horse. Cushing’s Disease falls into the same category of diseases as Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance in that the extent of the problem is relatively “new” to the equine industry. Continued research into the disease and other metabolic problems must be conducted before we can fully understand the full extent of these diseases. What we do know about equine Cushing’s Disease can be used to help identify the disease early and assist in improving the overall quality of life for affected horses.
What is PPID in Horses?
PPID, or Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, is another name used to identify Cushing’s Disease. Breaking down the name, PPID, helps us better define what is occurring in the Cushing’s horse. For example, “Pituitary” refers to the gland that is being affected in the horse. The pituitary gland in the horse is only as large as a prune and is located at the base of the brain and produces hormones in response to brain signals. The word “dysfunction” relates to the dysfunction occurring in the small middle region of the pituitary gland (Pars Intermedia). This dysfunction effects the inhibitory function of the gland, resulting in the excessive production of the hormone ACTH. The excess ACTH stimulates the adrenal gland to overproduce cortisol. High levels of circulating cortisol lead to a multitude of problems.
Signs of Cushing’s Disease in Horses
The average horse with Cushing’s Disease is around the age of 15, when signs of the disease appear. It is estimated that the disease will impact approximately 30% of the population of horses who are 15 years of age or older. It is beneficial for horse owners to watch for any signs of Cushing’s Disease, especially if they have an older horse, so that it may be diagnosed in the early stages. Early identification can make the disease easier to manage and increase the quality of life of the Cushing’s horse. Below is a list of early signs:
Increased lethargy
Regional shaggy hair coat
Delayed shedding
Loss of topline
Regional fat pockets
Abnormal sweating
Recurrent laminitis
Recurrent hoof abscesses
Cushing’s Disease can progress slowly, but the advanced stages can also develop unknowingly. These advanced stages are much more severe and have a greater impact on the horse’s health. Symptoms of the advanced stages of Cushing’s include:
Dull hair coat
Poor shedding
Exercise intolerance
Round abdomen (potbellied appearance)
Muscle atrophy
Regional adiposity
Poor performance
Loss of topline
Increased thirst/urination
Blindness
Delayed healing
Laminitis
Hoof abscesses
Suspensory ligament/tendon laxity
Feeding a Horse with Cushing’s Disease
A horse’s diet plays a major role in every aspect of the horse’s overall health. As such, feeding a proper, balanced, and basic diet to a horse with Cushing’s Disease is one of the most beneficial lifestyle changes to make. Many horses with Cushing’s will struggle maintaining a normal weight, either developing an overweight or underweight body condition score. In either case, horse owners must be mindful of the calorie, carbohydrate, and sugar intake their horses consume daily. The addition of a quality hoof supplement is also recommended to help in the recovery of many of the hoof related issues that often develop from Cushing’s Disease. Below is our recommended feeding routine for horses with Cushing’s.
Grass/Hay
Be mindful of the sugar in the grass
You may consider limiting grazing
Allow grazing only in the morning to early afternoon hours
If the horse is overweight, consider a dry lot.
Additional Calories (Only for Underweight Cushing’s Horse)
Avoid carbohydrates
Remove all “Complete Feeds”
Shredded sugar beet pulp or copra (coconut pulp)
High in Fiber
Low in Carbs
Good option for underweight Cushing’s Horse
Soaking prior to feeding helps prevent choking and excess sugar
*Overweight horses will not require additional calories*
Designed specifically for the support of Horses with Cushing’s
Life Data® Adrenal Formula
By conducting blood analysis research, Life Data® has discovered many correlations in horses diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease. Life Data® Adrenal Formula was formulated using this research and will provide additional support for horses with Cushing’s. The active ingredients may help improve the function of the adrenal gland, improve metabolism, regulate thyroid hormones, and reduce the effects of Cushing’s. It also provides essential antioxidants and helps rebuild healthy connective tissue. Life Data® Adrenal Formula is designed to help promote:
Normal adrenal gland function
Improved glucose metabolism
Rebuilding of healthy connective tissue
Regulation of thyroid and adrenal hormones
Treating Cushing’s Disease in Horses
Unfortunately, no cure for Cushing’s Disease has been found. If you believe your horse may have Cushing’s Disease, it is important to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian can conduct yearly tests to evaluate your horse’s condition and provide medication to assist in regulating symptoms. Providing proper nutritional support along with Farrier’s Formula® and Life Data® Adrenal Formula can also assist in relieving the effects of Cushing’s Disease. If you have any questions regarding proper equine nutrition or any of the products mentioned, please contact us.
