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I'm needing a good supplement for hooves and joints

2K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  loosie 
#1 ·
I've only ever fed Majesty's Hoof wafers and biotin crumbles for supplements but I've wanted to start my 6 year old mare Chanti on a good supplement for her hooves and her joints. Her left front hoof tends to crack due to an injury to it when she was very young and all around I think her hooves could be much better. She seems to be a little off or stiff some days, not really lame, just not 100% and I'd like to trail ride her more and do some showing with her, the joint supplement will just be a precaution. I need something that she's going to eat, she's not a picky eater, and it needs to be affordable. Not something that'll last 2 weeks and cost me $35 lol.
 
#3 ·
She's on pasture turnout 24/7, on about 6 acres but grass is still pretty scarce. Thius weekend we'll probably buy a round bale of Bermuda and they have unlimited access to hay.
I'll get the tag from the bag of grain and check the nutrition on it, I need to weigh their grain anyways.
 
#4 ·
Balancing her overall diet will help a lot. If she still needs a hoof supplement on top of that, I have had VERY good luck with Source Focus HF. I saw a good 50% faster growth with tigher/harder foot at the top with a mare who had separation that I was trying to grow out quicker.

For joints, I have had good luck with Corta-Flx. bigdweb.com has good prices on it and had a promo for a free qt with the purchase of a gallon. A gallon lasts about 4 months at around $80, so it's a good value.
 
#5 ·
I agree that balancing her diet for the whole horse, not just her feet or joints is the important thing - after all, hooves are just a part of her & just like skin or hair. Keeping her on a low starch diet is perhaps even more important, as is not allowing her to get too overweight.

Along with diet & nutrition, if she's not being trimmed well or otherwise has more mechanical type hoof probs, this could be the cause of the cracks & sensitivity. If you would like any specific advice & opinions, hoof pics & more info would help us.
 
#8 ·
I really like the hoof supplement I have my horse on even though it doesn't have the quality seal. Flex-n-Action. I have been using it for about two years nit, I believe. I can definitely see a difference when she is on and off of it! It is a really good price for what is in it, even though it is pretty basic. I can't tell you about hoof because I don't use a hoof supplement.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for all the replies and I agree about the importance of having a good farrier.
I was going to get the farrier out this Friday but then I remembered I had an orientation day at the college so it'll be next Friday or Saturday. The only thing I'm concerned about is he didn't go to school for it. Another farrier in the area that I used to use, but quit using him years ago, taught him and then he went and got certified with the Working Farriers Association but since he's the only one I could find we'll give him a shot but if he trims and shoes anything like his teacher I suspect he'll only be out once.
I'm still looking for another farrier in the meantime. Wish my old farrier would do it full time but I think he works on the boats and he isn't home much, but he did tell me he would do my horses for me. He is awesome and he's really the only one who went to school for it and he has so much patience with them.

I did have them on Superhorse 14, which was 14% protein, 2.50% fat and it had calf manna added, but now I have switched them to Ozark Trails 14. It is a pellet but still 14% protein, 2% fat and 22% fiber. It doesn't have the molasses that the superhorse had but it's a complete feed which I think may help since there's not much grass out here yet.
I'm trying to find hay to buy also since the last hay we had delivered was very bad and after the colic scare I'm not fooling around with poor quality feed, hay, or anything.

I will try to get good pics of her hooves later today. I know there are some problems with them, the right front toes out more than the left, there is more wear on the outside edge of the hoof wall on the fronts, she's flat footed on the fronts which makes her prone to bruising, longish toes in front and thrush that has seemed to stick around all winter because it's been very wet. Her back feet look great, not cracked, no long toe, no uneven wear, and her feet aren't flat.
I do the best I can at just keeping her toes trimmed, I've studied it but I'm nowhere near professional. I'll also post pics of Sundance's hooves, I'll do a before/after trim comparison.
 
#12 ·
The only thing I'm concerned about is he didn't go to school for it. Another farrier in the area that I used to use, but quit using him years ago, taught him and then he went and got certified with the Working Farriers Association but since he's the only one I could find we'll give him a shot but if he trims and shoes anything like his teacher I suspect he'll only be out once.
Of course we can all learn more on the subject & the more someone understands the principles the better. So saying, I guess it depends where you go to school as to what you learn & whether it makes you good, bad or indifferent. Here in Oz, farriery is unregulated and I don't know the proportions, but many farriers are not formally schooled. From what I've seen, that doesn't seem to necessarily say anything of their knowledge or skill tho, because they seem to only learn the superficial stuff in the courses anyway & pick up most of their true knowledge out in the field. I've known a few fantastic self taught farriers and some rotten 'professional' ones. That said, your last comment above would make me hesitant. While I don't believe all that call themselves 'barefoot trimmers' are good any more than I think all farriers are bad, if you have a reasonable understanding about it & can find a good 'barefoot' person, that may be best.

I will try to get good pics of her hooves later today. I know there are some problems with them, the right front toes out more than the left, there is more wear on the outside edge of the hoof wall on the fronts, she's flat footed on the fronts which makes her prone to bruising, longish toes in front and thrush that has seemed to stick around all winter because it's been very wet.
Yeah, good pics will help. Toeing out & uneven wear may or may not be due to the trim, but is likely other body issues are contributing at least. Flat footed(make sure you protect her feet when necessary to avoid those bruises & allow her to move properly) & long toes are no doubt part of the prob leading to cracks, thrush, etc. Ensuring she's on a healthy diet & kept a good weight and getting her feet in shape should also get/keep her joints in good shape.
 
#11 ·
Ok, got the tag off the new bag of grain.
It is called 14% Ozark Trails.

Crude Protein:14%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 22%
Calcium:1.0-1.5%
Phosphorus: 0.6%
Copper: can't tell, tag ripped, but I it's either 7.0 or 70 ppm
Selenium:0.3 ppm
Zinc:250 ppm
Vit. A:4000 IU per pound

A full average size coffee can weighs 3 lbs. As of yesterday they are getting 6 lbs of grain, with about 4 tbs Fat supplement added, which is mainly soybean oil and wheatgerm oil and Vit. E.
Nutrition info for this is:
Crude Fat: 98%
Linoleic Acid:48%
Vit. E: 100 IU/lb

The grain label says for an idle horse weighing 800-1000 lbs they should get 14-16 lbs of grain per day?! Holy cow! That just seems like a lot to me.
It is a "complete" feed and says it can be used to meet all the forage needs. The only problem I have with it is it is pellets and Chanti bolts her grain and then the pellets swell. I'm worried about her choking but I may start wetting it a little, just not sure how she'd like that.
 
#13 ·
Ok, got the tag off the new bag of grain.
It is called 14% Ozark Trails.....
The grain label says for an idle horse weighing 800-1000 lbs they should get 14-16 lbs of grain per day?! Holy cow! That just seems like a lot to me.
It is a "complete" feed and says it can be used to meet all the forage needs. The only problem I have with it is it is pellets and Chanti bolts her grain and then the pellets swell. I'm worried about her choking but I may start wetting it a little, just not sure how she'd like that.
What are the ingredients? Yeah, of course the maunufacturers will tell you to feed lots - they want you to buy lots!:wink: I presume to 'meet all the forage needs' it must be predominantly made from chaff/hay? Is there a prob with feeding chaff/hay instead of this? Regarding your horse bolting it, everything's best fed little & often, but also putting a couple of bricks or large rocks in her feed bin should help slow her down.
 
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