Best Hoof Supplement for Thin-Walled TB

[EAY]

My farrier, who is generally skeptical about the value of supplements, recommended that I start my five-year-old TB on some type of hoof supplement. She has big feet but thin walls and when the hoof grows out it tends to spread. I was looking at Smart-Pak's website and they must have over thirty hoof supplements available.

Any recommendations? I saw the thread about Farrier's Formula making fat horses fatter, but since I'm trying to get some more weight on her anyway that would actually be a bonus.

[goeslikestink]

anything thats got biotin in it is good for feet

[stryder]

not just biotin, but other minerals need to be balanced, too.

My Appendix mare had poor hooves. I bought her 18 months ago and put her on Grand Hoof. About six months ago we changed to Grand Hoof + MSM pellets. She has good feet now. I think the addition of MSM is worth the modest increase in price.

[KnKShowmom]

Farrier's Formula and MSM - a

Also check you feeds, Legends Performance Textured has biotin in it also so after a couple of years on it, my thin soled TB is now barefoot and happy!

[LMH]

A hoof supplement is not magical.

The minerals need to be balanced to his entire feed intake.

A proper trim? Now that is magical.

[J.D.]

A hoof supplement is not magical.

The minerals need to be balanced to his entire feed intake.

A proper trim? Now that is magical.

hmmmmmmm?:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Semi75]

I'm not a big fan of FF, first off the recommended feeding is 1 cup per dosage and as you mentioned the calorie issue considering the ingredient list.

There are a few occasions in which we do feed a hoof supplement and we have been very happy with Bio-Bloom. http://www.ker.com/products/supplements/BioBloom The reason I like it is obviously because it works but it is also designed not to interfere with you feeding rations which is important with any supplement.
Depending on the feeding program and the individual horse adequate Biotin and Methionine are produced from within. This is not always the case as some horses do benefit from supplementation.

[Skip's Rider]

There's no simple answer to your question. I also have a TB with thin-walled hooves and have not yet found a supplement that's effective for him. I've used Masters Hoof Blend, Hoofpower, Farrier's Formula, and Glantzen 3. I'm going to try the SmartHoof Ultra by Smartpak. From what a lot of folks say, it's trial and error until you find one that seems to work for your horse. Of course, I'm wondering if that'll ever happen for me!!! Good luck!

[CanterQueen]

Horse Journal did an article in May 2009 on hoof suppliments (www.horse-journal.com (http://www.horse-journal.com)). Some of their recommendations were:

Integrity Hoof (#1 recommended) by Kauffman's Animal Health www.ka-hi.com (http://www.ka-hi.com) $.79/day
Bio-Flax Ultra by Horsetech (horsetech.com) $.78/day
Farrier's Formula Double Strength $1.08/day
Focus HF (also a best $$ buy) $.69/day
Glazen 3 by Horsetech $.87/day (suggested for horses not on pasture)
Grand Hoof by Grand Meadows $.62/day

And yes, they did address mineral levels, boitin, protein and omega-3's.

[EAY]

I noticed that many of the supplements also contain copper and other minerals. I'm feeding my mare Purina Ultium. She is on 24/7 turn-out on fairly decent pasture and in winter has free access to a pretty low quality grass hay. Should I be concerned about overdoing it on some of these minerals if I choose a hoof supplement with them added or are the quantities low enough as to not be a concern?

[cloudyandcallie]

Farrier's Formula and MSM - a

Also check you feeds, Legends Performance Textured has biotin in it also so after a couple of years on it, my thin soled TB is now barefoot and happy!

Let me 2nd Farrier's Formula.

I've tried Next Level (over a year) and Glanzen3 (over a year) and now have been trying what my farrier recommended for years, Farrier's Formula, except I got the smartpak concentrated version, and in a few months I've seen a big improvement in the walls of the hooves and a big increase in hoof growth.

John Ewing's hoof supplement (not available in smartpaks) was the only thing that Previously worked on Cloudy and Callie's hooves.
But it depends on the horse and all other factors. At previous barn, the Next Level supp worked on an Arab with hoof problems. So you have to decide based on the grasses you have, where you live, and the feed and of course your horse's heredity. Too many variables, so try something for a while, and then switch if you see no improvements.

I tried the smartpak version of hoof supplement because it had more of everything in it, but my horse stocked up, even when I split the smartpak between morning and night. But you might try that if you don't want the farrier's formula or John Ewing supplements.

I also started using crossapol externally, and it works. (10$ cheaper per bottle if you buy a case of 12 bottles, btw.)

[cloudyandcallie]

There's no simple answer to your question. I also have a TB with thin-walled hooves and have not yet found a supplement that's effective for him. I've used Masters Hoof Blend, Hoofpower, Farrier's Formula, and Glantzen 3. I'm going to try the SmartHoof Ultra by Smartpak. From what a lot of folks say, it's trial and error until you find one that seems to work for your horse. Of course, I'm wondering if that'll ever happen for me!!! Good luck!

You are right. Keep trying. And go to the John Ewing website. While they don't have it in smartpak, the former "trainers formula" which is now something else, once gave my 2 horses great hooves when we were in a muddy barn situation.

[Seal Harbor]

I have a TB with thin hoof walls. He has been on Grand Hoof pelleted since he was two. He is now 5. Farrier said his feet look great, right when I was going to ask him about taking him off the Grand Hoof, so I asked and he just looked at me and said "Bad idea." So he is still on it and probably will always be. He also uses the little nails on him, when the other farrier used the regular nails it made him ouchy for a few days after being shod. So back to the little nails.

[Nezzy]

A hoof supplement plus Biotin, AND Source micronutrients. Helped my horse- along with Keratex HH.

[JohnDeere]

3RD/4TH/5TH Grand hoof & MSAM.

Poor boy had awful short feet/neglected just to to being poorly. His feet grow nicely & no flaking/crumbling/noting.

Good to know his supps are one of the cheapest! Thanks Horse Journal. I love saving $.