Feed/supplements for brittle hooves?

Question

i have a 10 year old apha gelding. i will be moving to CA w/him in a couple months. dryer more consistant climate. ihe will be, most likely on alfalfa hay. i would love any suggestions for a supplement which would help his brittle hooves. e is curently on lmf and a pure biotin supplement. it worked great for awhile, but with the crappy off and on weather in WA his feet are back to cracking and throwing shoes. i have him barefoot at the moment. thanks for any advise and maybe what has worked best for you.

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Answer 1

We use "Grand Hoof" supplement for our horses..wouldn't trade it for anything...love it.  My vet and farrier both love what it has done for my thin walled, thin soled QH.  Has improved that horses' haircoat too.  Both horses have done well on it.

Answer 2

Think about it.  If your current supplements every worked "for a while" , why aren't they working now.  You say the cracks started with weather changes.  Doesn't it make sense that the weather changes are the culprit since that is what has changed in his life - not to mention the shoes.  You will always have cracking, flaking feet if you put shoes on your horse.  Shoes are so restrictive and prevent natural movement and flexing of the hoof - not to mention that you are constantly adding new holes to his feet on a regular basis.  The sole and frog can never normalize because they are off the ground.  You can buy all the supplements on the market and they will not be as beneficial as a balanced diet and good hoof care.  Hoof dressings, oils, etc. are not recommended.  You want your horse's feet to be hard and strong.  Does it make sense to attempt to soften your horse's feet??? No.  Your horse is a beautiful boy and he looks very healthy.  I would be concerned about giving him straight alfalfa only.  He doesn't look like he needs the calories or the protein.  It's good he is barefoot.  If is feet have enough time to heel (months from now) perhaps you will be able to leave him without shoes.  Since you will be living in an arid climate, he should be able to heal his feet with time and have rock crushing feet.  Find a professional that will support your efforts and get him a good barefoot trim (this is different from trimming for a shoe).  That will allow him to be as good as he can be.  Good luck.

Answer 3

Pretty Horse!!! I have 6 horses so I know some things about horses I've read hoof oil harden's the hoof. Hope this helps!!!

Good Luck!!!!!

Answer 4

I am a huge fan of being barefoot...if your horse does not REQUIRE shoes.

Use this time to evaluate how he is doing without the shoes.  If his feet improve and have no cracks...yet develope them WHEN he wears them...then try and live without the shoes...unless you absolutely need them for whatever kind of riding you are doing.  Or the terrain of course.

Beautiful horse...

Answer 5

I used to think the same way you are thinking now: that there must be a supplement out there that will cure my horse's dry, cracked feet. Let me tell you what I have learned the hard way. Horse's feet crack because they are not healthy. They are mostly not healthy because they are shod. When you shoe a horse, you drastically disable the function of a hoof and their hooves do not work the way they were designed to. I won't get deep into the structure of a hoof but there is blood floating around in there and if it can't move through the hoof properly you get a hoof that isn't healthy, ie: cracking, chipping...etc. My horse used to have the same problem. Since I've gone barefoot with him, his hoof walls have shined up and I haven't seen a new crack. (He was very prone to verticle cracks up the toe wall) I looked at your horse and he looks like a perfect natural hoof candidate. I would highly recommend the change! It makes for a healthy, uncracked hoof. Take my word for it.

Answer 6

Farrier's Formula and a hoof dressing called Hoof Moist.

Answer 7

We have used Grand Hoof for many years, and have had a good experience.  Barefoot is fine, if you aren't on hot pavement or really rocky ground.