Equine hoof health is paramount to our horse’s health and wellbeing, there is a well known link between what we feed and foot growth quality. In our latest blog Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at the connection between nutrition and our horse or pony’s hooves and how to best feed for optimum foot health.
Hoof health is affected by a number of factors. Aspects such as hoof shape due to our horse’s genetics are hard to change but environmental factors and nutrition can be hugely altered to have a positive influence on overall foot health. The combination of proper hoof care with an experienced farrier or trimmer and optimum nutrition can really help a horse or pony develop and maintain the best hooves possible.
A well-balanced diet will contain the nutritional elements needed for optimal hoof growth but each equine will vary in their need for certain ingredients depending on their forage and grazing quality, their age and the exercise level which they are undertaking.
Our horses, just like us, really are 'what they eat' and it is essential to ensure the horse’s diet is rich in fibre by feeding high levels of quality hay and grass. The protein level of the diet is important as the hoof structure itself is primarily composed of keratin which is a form of protein. Proteins are comprised of amino acids and sufficient levels of Methionine and Lysine in the diet, essential amino acids, are vitally important for hoof health. A healthy diet should also contain adequate levels of fat which help prevent bacteria and fungi entering the hoof horn.
Other beneficial nutrients include Biotin; a B vitamin which is vital for the production of keratin which helps form the hoof wall. Trace minerals; Copper, Zinc and Manganese are essential for the proper functioning of many enzyme systems and play a part in the formation of keratin and collagen which are important for sustaining healthy skin, hair, cartilage, bone and hooves. Finally MSM is a naturally occurring form of bioavailable sulphur, often deficient in equine diets. It is an essential component of connective tissue, the proteins which make up muscle, joints, skin, hair, hoof horn and keratin. Many people who use MSM themselves report that their fingernails grow faster and are less brittle and MSM has been shown to have the same effect on the horse’s hoof!
Robust Hoof Supplement from Scientific Nutritional Products includes the key ingredients such as Biotin, Lysine, Methionine, Zinc and MSM which provide the building blocks to good strong foot health. For more information about Robust Hoof Supplement please visit our website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or call Freephone 0800 032 7774
