Feeding For Better Feet

Part 2 of our Hoof Series - Understanding the supplement labels

Better feed makes better feet, so the saying goes. More and more owners are paying attention to type and quality of feed their horses are eating in attempt to improve their horses feet.

The hoof wall is created by cells strengthened by a protein called Keratin. The cells grow down from the coronet at the rate of about 1cm per month. To grow effective hoof, the horse's diet must contain certain nutrients.

Sulphur
Each nutrient play a different role in providing optimal health in the horse. Sulphur for example is essential for all cells and is concentrated in skin, hooves and hair. The laminae in the horses hoof are held together be disulphide bonds. The coronary band at the top of the hoof requires sulphur to be able to produce good quality, strong hoof. Without it, hooves are poor and prone to cracks and breakage.
Unfortunately sulphur is lost during the drying and processing of hay and concentrates. Adding a bio-available (which means digestible) source of surphur such as MSM, to the diet has shown to improve both hoof growth and horn quality. Some sources of sulphur also appear to attract water and therefore moisturize the hoof resulting in better hoof quality and growth rates.

Biotin
Biotin is one of the B vitamins. Horses who have a tendency to have the hoof horn crumble away at the lower edges of the wall have responded to supplementation of Biotin over nine to 12 months. It is also effective within the hoof, strengthening the white line and the lower part of the hoof wall. Biotin is contained in many feeds such as oats and barley, however it is not easily digestible. The horse requires high levels of a digestible form of Biotin required for hoof repair and a supplement is often recommended for horses experiencing this problem.

Methionine and Cysteine
These are sulphur-containing amino acids are the building blocks of keratin found in the hoof. Methionine is an essential amino acid, which means it must be provided in the diet. They influence strength of the hoof horn. There is a direct relation between hoof horn hardness and relative cysteine content. The body can make Cysteine out of Methionine.

Zink
Zink is important in all healthy tissue and is often included in supplements. Horses with poor feet are usually lacking in several nutrients. If you have a horse with poor quality feet you might want to consider a broad spectrum supplement.
If your horse is showing no sign of improving the quality of hoof even if it is growing faster when feeding a good quality foot supplement one should consider other reasons.

Cracking brittle feet can indicate White Line disease.
In the earliest stages of the disease, there is only a noticeable change on the ground surface of the hoof or foot, which is a small area that looks powdery near the place where the hoof wall meets the sole. It might stay just in this location, but it also might progress into a much larger
area of the hoof. This disease might show up in only one foot or up to all four. It always begins with a separation that occurs between the wall of the hoof and the sole. It might happen in either the toe area, the quarter of the foot, or the heel. The process itself will actually remove the part of the hoof that is meant to protect it, and this will open the door to bacteria and fungus. These bacteria and fungus that will enter the hoof of the animal are those that are found every day, in every environment. Once the white line has been damaged, the bacteria and fungi will enter, destruct and deteriorate the inner wall of the hoof.

Even though the causes might not be completely known, there are several things that might contribute to this separation of the hoof wall and sole. These include moisture that is excessive, feet that are unbalanced, trimmings that are improper, a hoof angle that is acute, conformation problems such as club foot, concurrent hoof problems, infections that are chronic, and also a trauma that is direct.

White Line Disease might also occur in a secondary fashion, along with chronic laminitis. It doesn't pose a threat to the soundness or health of the horse until the damage is already done. After everything has happened, this is when the horse will appear to be lame.
There are some early warning signs with this disease that you can look for. These include tenderness in the sole when hoof testing is done. Also, there might be things such as an occasional heat in the hoof, a flattening of the sole, or the forming of a dish alongside one side of the hoof. You might also see a bulge on the opposite side of the area that has been affected, growth of the hoof wall that is slowed, consistency of the hoof wall that is poor, or a hollow sound if you tap the outer wall of the hoof. Ask your vet about treatment options such as stockholm tar.

Maintaining good hoof condition in your horse depends on a combination of frequent skilled attention from the farrier and feeding a well balanced, good quality diet. This gives the necessary mineral, vitamins and amino acids and is your best bet for keeping your horse healthy and sound this winter.

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