We have all heard the expression "no hoof, no horse," but how seriously do we believe this. It is tempting to take the hoof for granted until problems develop. It takes a horse 8 months to 1 year to regrow a healthy hoof so you want to catch problems before lameness develops or you may have a long wait for soundness to return. The best way to avoid problems all together is to understand how the hoof is constructed and do everything possible to keep it healthy.
The Hoof Capsule
Structure
The outside of the hoof (hoof wall, sole and frog) is like modified fingernail. Both fingernail and hoof consist of flattened cells, filled with a protein called keratin. What is different about hoof is that some of the cells are arranged in tubules, while others remain stacked flat. The tubules run from from the coronary band to the free border of the hoof and the intertubular cells are more or less parallel to the coronary band. This arrangement produces an internal structure similar to fiberglass.
Function
The main function is to protect the inner soft tissues as well as helping to absorb concussion when the hoof strikes the ground. It also suspends the full weight of the horse by it's attachments to the bony column. The hoof must be of good quality to fulfill these functions. If it is to soft it will not protect the inner structures from bruising and if it is too brittle it will crack and split rather than absorbing shock.
Care
Have you ever wondered why some horses have healthy feet no matter what the weather conditions? This is because a healthy hoof capsule will resist moisture and remain resilient even in hot dry conditions. Good quality hooves is an inherited trait but a bad diet and poor management can ruin even the best foot. Top of the list in hoof care is diet. Horses need adequate protein and trace minerals to build a healthy foot. The quality of the protein is critical because certain amino acids such as methionine are especially important. Simply feeding a high protein feed does not guarantee the correct balance of amino acids and in fact excessive protein in the diet can damage the feet. If the diet is higher in protein that what is needed the extra protein is excreted in the urine. A horse on too high a protein diet will urinate more causing a wet stall and the ammonia in the urine is caustic to the hooves. Most adult horses do not need more than a 10% protein diet. Trace minerals such as sulfur are also important for hoof quality. These trace minerals must come in a form that is digestible for the horse. Most free choice mineral blocks or powders are designed for cattle not horses. Also some minerals are more expensive than others so most formulated supplements have more of the cheap minerals and less of the expensive ones. This can throw the horses mineral balance off creating deficiencies even with adequate intake. There are numerous supplements on the market which claim to improve hoof quality. The only ones I have had consistent results with have been Farrier's FormulaT and Simplexity Blue GreenT algae. In some very bad cases I have even combined these supplements and gotten results. If your horse is on a good whole grain diet and a good supplement but still has bad feet you may want to add a probiotic such as FastrackT. Biotin is a vitamin which is essential for healthy hooves. The beneficial bacteria in the horses large intestine produce this vitamin for the horse. If your horse is stressed or for whatever reason does not have good bacteria he will be deficient in biotin. It is much better to maintain healthy bacteria than to try and supplement single nutrients. If your horse still has bad feet despite good feed it is necessary to look at his assimilation of nutrients. The best way to address this is through homeopathy. Homeopathy will improve your horses digestion by bringing his whole system back into balance. Excessive vaccination is one of the most common causes I find for poor assimilation of nutrients.
Management
Hooves are easiest to maintain under dry conditions as it is easier to add moisture to the foot that take it away. Repeated wet and dry cycles are the hardest on the hoof. Try to keep your horses feet as dry as possible and if that is not possible keep the foot as clean as possible. A soft foot is more prone to infection from bacteria and fungus in contaminated bedding. Feed a good quality whole food diet and supplement as needed. Consider a homeopathic consultation if your horse continues to have hoof problems despite good management.
About the Author
Madalyn Ward, DVM, owns Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is certified in Veterinary Homeopathy and Equine Osteopathy. Memberships include American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinay Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. She has authored several books and publishes the monthly newsletter, “Holistic Horsekeeping.”
Contact
Madalyn Ward DVM
11608 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
303-575-1170
www.holistichorsekeeping.com
www.horseharmony.com
www.horseharmonytest.com
www.yourhorsebook.com
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