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Posts: 1261
  
| I have a 5 year old race bred mare out of an appendix dam that has those typical TB feet, really don't grow much, shaped funny and flake off badly. My last farrier suggested Lysine, which I added within the last two weeks. My new farrier suggested horse shoers secret but looking the ingredients the only thing it has that she's not already getting is biotin. It said it had biotin, L Lysine, omega 3s, copper and Zinc. But her ration balancer (LMF SS NW formula G) has pretty much all that, then she also gets chia seed and now with the added L Lysine I am not sure if I should also add this to her diet, just add some biotin or see if the Lysine starts to help? |
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Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
| I put my mare on Enrich and her feet are a night and day different but it really isn't a "hoof supplement." I have had really good luck with SmartPak's SmartHoof Ultra and the regular SmartHoof. There are a couple others I have used in the past but I keep coming back to those when I need to. Good ol' flax is great as well. |
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Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
| I was scrolling through and found this thread. Might be something in there already
http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=472627&posts=17&start=1 |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | My horses feet grow great on Animal Element Foundation Detox. If my farrier is not out right at 6 weeks they are too long. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Not sure if you already have good quality protein, but that would be my only suggestion, feeding wise, if you are not already. You pretty much have a good program going. It will take awhile so don't look for results really fast. If you will pull the shoes and trim for about a few months, that will help stimulate healthy feet more than anything.
We don't feed hoof supplements because you can get any benefit they have with a really strong diet, for much less. Anything good for the hooves is also good for hair and general health as well, so that is an added bonus.
Edited by Tdove 2016-07-20 1:15 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| Tdove - 2016-07-20 11:12 AM
Not sure if you already have good quality protein, but that would be my only suggestion, feeding wise, if you are not already. You pretty much have a good program going. It will take awhile so don't look for results really fast. If you will pull the shoes and trim for about a few months, that will help stimulate healthy feet more than anything.
We don't feed hoof supplements because you can get any benefit they have with a really strong diet, for much less. Anything good for the hooves is also good for hair and general health as well, so that is an added bonus.
They get a big flake of Alfalfa at night, along with grass hay and other stuff. So I think she's getting enough protein. She hasn't had shoes on in some time. She didn't have any on when I got her in Febuary, she came off the track in December so that's probably the last time she had them. I thought I had a good farrier but turns out they weren't balanced at all so I have a new guy but he says her heels are way too low but she just doesn't grow much and I want her to grow so he can get her correct! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | It's spendy but Platinum Performance makes my horse's feet groooow. I fed a full dose for 6 months and now I've tapered back to half dose (1 scoop). I hear the glanzen products are very similar though. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | If he says her heels are low, i can't say I agree with that. Heels are supposed to be low. I take all the heel off all of mine. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Tdove - 2016-07-20 7:00 PM If he says her heels are low, i can't say I agree with that. Heels are supposed to be low. I take all the heel off all of mine.
Took me a while to figure this concept out. Maybe they are underrun? |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| Tdove - 2016-07-20 7:00 PM
If he says her heels are low, i can't say I agree with that. Heels are supposed to be low. I take all the heel off all of mine.
He said they need to be at 55 degrees and she's about 4 to 5 degrees short all the way around except her one front foot which was at 55 degrees. I don't know much about it but he seemed knowledgable and has a great reputation.....I have photos but they are hard to post here. He thought the swelling was due to her walking on her heel bulbs as well as not being balanced. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 432
| CA Trace Minerals |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest |  I have seen on several horses that the Perfect Horse "E3Live" makes strong hooves. I have a gelding with thin walls and sole and after a year no more clips needed. This Blue Green Algae makes the whole horse glow with health.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Texas | Our farrier has us feed Clovite.... it is not as expensive as the hoof stuff but it works great and it is good for their coat...
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| cbh - 2016-07-21 3:34 PM
Our farrier has us feed Clovite.... it is not as expensive as the hoof stuff but it works great and it is good for their coat...
Clovite, I haven't heard that name in a long time! It's been around forever. Are you happy with the results? |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| My farrier just did my horses this morning and he said the best hoof supplement is a balanced foot!! If your horse is balanced and shod correctly no need to feed a darn thing! |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| Well the problem is she isn't and she doesn't have enough foot to get there right now ?? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | I'm in the same boat as you OP. Just got one that came to me with bad feet. He's thrown 3 shoes now and keeps ripping wall off. Once the shoes are gone his feet practically fall apart. The wet weather is making it worse. My farrier wants me to try Farrier's Formula double strength. I just ordered some and am hoping it combined with my farrier will help until the feet grows out some and the weather drys up. But it may be a long battle for a bit. I'm comtemplating some easy boots or soft rides but I don't know if they'd be better or worse for the wet muddy ground right now. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | There is no set angle that is perfect or agreed upon. "Most" horses with hoof issues are that of long toe and underslung heels. Is this the issue with your horse? If so, an underslung heel is impossible to stand up by trying to let it grow. Anywhere from 45 to 55 is acceptable. I think you are doing all you can and sometimes it just takes awhile. Breeding and environment is probably a factor too. Some horses just have poor feet compared to others. Horses feet like being dry and getting a lot of use. Horses in wet conditions just standing around on soft dirt have a harder time making a strong foot. From your description, I don't think any supplement beyond what you are already doing will make much difference. Good Luck!
Edited by Tdove 2016-07-22 10:26 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | Tdove - 2016-07-22 10:01 AM
There is no set angle that is perfect or agreed upon. "Most" horses with hoof issues are that of long toe and underslung heels. Is this the issue with your horse? If so, an underslung heel is impossible to stand up by trying to let it grow. Anywhere from 45 to 55 is acceptable. I think you are doing all you can and sometimes it just takes awhile. Breeding and environment is probably a factor too. Some horses just have poor feet compared to others. Horses feet like being dry and getting a lot of use. Horses in wet conditions just standing around on soft dirt have a harder time making a strong foot. From your description, I don't think any supplement beyond what you are already doing will make much difference. Good Luck!
T dove is right here. Cornell University did a study on biotin supplements for hoof growth. The results were "no change in one year" on the horses that were already on a properly balanced diet. Quality protein in the proper amount will provide a better result. Lysine, Methionine and zinc along with a low grain diet using quality roughage will grow better feet than any biotin supplement added to an improperly balanced diet. The bottom line take away here is this. Feet grow slowly, even when a proper diet is fed, and slower yet with a bad basic diet. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | A lot of foot problems are actually fungal infections in the white line, especially if you live in a wet climate. I would try soaking in White Lightning and vinegar once a week and try to keep your horse in a clean dry area for at least 12 hours a day. I also like to paint the sole frog and nail holes with Coppertox before they go out in a wet area. You would be suprised how much a horses feet will change in a couple of months if you do this.? You do need to use a soaking bag for the WL, you don't use much liquid, its the fumes that do the job so it needs to be sealed up for 45 min. This won't make the foot soft. |
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