Commentary
Horses, like us, need proper nutrition for healthy skin and nails (and hooves).
The hoof is a living organ. A horse’s diet plays a crucial role in the quality and durability of the horn that makes up his hooves. Lynn Taylor, PhD, and Ashley Wagner, PhD, shed light on the dos and don’ts of feeding for optimal hoof health in this article.
Today’s diet is tomorrow’s hoof.”
Source: The Horse, June 13, 2022. Link. There is no ideal diet applicable to every horse. Each has its own individual needs. Still, every owner should look carefully at the hoof in the context of overall health, environment, exercise, and diet.
INSIGHTS: Hoof health is an important component in whole horse health. A plethora of supplements exist in the equine marketplace. They may or may not provide any benefit depending on the health status of an animal and the supplement ingredients.
Veterinary teams can provide the best guidance by including hoof exams during semi-annual visits to update vaccinations, as well as reviewing any supplements being given.