Best Hoof Supplements for Horses in 2020

There is an old saying in horse care that says “no foot, no horse.” There are some horses that are born with great hooves and legs, who can live barefoot for their whole lives, never getting footsore or abscessed. These horses are few and far between. 

Many breeds of horses struggle genetically with having weak hooves. Additionally, even though many breeds have good feet in general, there are individuals who have weak hooves or are prone to different hoof ailments. For such cases as these, a hoof supplement may be the best way to strengthen your horse’s hooves. In this article, we will examine the key ingredients to an effective hoof supplement, and look at the best hoof supplements on the market.

Protein is by far the most abundant nutrient in horse hooves, as proteins make up the cell walls in animal cells. Therefore, many manufacturers of hoof supplements add the amino acids lysine and methionine, which are necessary for the production of the proteins in hoof cells. Other nutrients critical to the production of normal, healthy hooves are biotin; vitamin A, E and D; nicotinic, pantothenic and folic acids; and the minerals calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, iodine, cobalt and selenium. Many of these elements, vitamins, and minerals are already present in pastures and grass, but depending on the region where you live, your soil may be lacking in some of these nutrients. If that is the case, adding a hoof supplement can address these issues. Testing the quality of your pasture or hay with your local agricultural office, or requesting a blood draw from your vet can show if your horse is lacking in any micronutrients.

Which of these supplements appeals to you the most?