When the horse’s hoof meets the ground, concussive force is created. The horse is designed to absorb the concussive forces by the structures of the foot and leg, when the ground is very firm, excessive concussive forces travel back up through your horse’s feet and legs.
One of the main structures to consider is the foot. There is an incredible amount of movement in a healthy hoof. When the hoof meets the ground, the entire hoof capsule expands and the heel opens, when the foot lifts, the same structures contract. In dry conditions the hooves loose moisture, this is when the condition of the feet begin to deteriorate, affecting your horse’s ability to absorb concussion and therefore, passing the forces on to other structures.
Feeding the horse with essential Vitamins and Minerals means you are providing the best nutritional support for the feet and associated structures.
How can we Help?
All our supplements will provide exceptional levels of support but if you want to go the extra mile then IMMUN-OCEAN PERFORM is your supplement of choice.
Vitamin E helps build keratin, which is the major structural protein in the horse’s hooves, coat, and skin. Vitamin E maintains hoof growth and strength. Hooves require zinc for the prevention of defective keratin. Chelated zinc is an organic form of the mineral, which is achieved by attaching it to a peptide or amino acid. This process improves the absorption of the zinc.
Biotin is a water-soluble B Vitamin, which is produced by the micro-organisms that live in the horse’s hind gut as they break down fibre. Poor quality hooves can therefore be indicative of an unhealthy digestive system. Feeding more fibre isn’t always possible so supplementing with Biotin is essential to meet the horse’s requirements.
Lastly MSM (methylsufonylmethane) is an organic sulfur with high bioavailability. It is a component of glucosamine and collagen which are necessary to maintain healthy connective tissue and cartilage. Horses with arthritis, poor hoof condition, or aging horses are likely to benefit from MSM supplementation. MSM has benefits for heavily exercised horses by minimizing oxidative damage and inflammation allowing their muscles to recover quickly.