Many factors are responsible for your horse's hoof condition, including environment, previous hoof disease, and poor nutrition. Supplementing with the right nutrients is also important for your horse's hoof health. And because hooves, skin, and haircoat all derive from similar tissue, some hoof supplements can also help your horse achieve healthy skin and a glossy haircoat. Some common ingredients that benefit your horse's hooves are biotin, methionine, and zinc.
Biotin is in the B-vitamin family and it helps with the growth of keratin, a component of hooves. Methionine is an amino acid, necessary for producing and maintaining healthy skin and coat. It also helps the body absorb zinc. Zinc is a mineral that is also an antioxidant (responsible for staving off certain cell damage) that is necessary for the proper production of proteins present in skin, hair, and hooves.
Skin and coat care products often contain essential fatty acids as some active ingredients. Essential fatty acids are specific types of polyunsaturated fats. Two types of essential fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6. Certain Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation. Certain Omega-6 fatty acids increase water permeability to the skin.
Check out the following chart to see which supplements contain the ingredients you want for your horse.
| Supplement | Form/ Base |
Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids* | Biotin* | Methionine* | Lysine* | Zinc* | MSM* | Other Key Ingredients* |
|
Biotin/Methionine Supplement by Equi-Shine |
Powder |
- | 100 mg | 50 mg | - | - | - | - |
|
Focus HF by Source, Inc |
Powder/ A, SM |
- | 6 mg | 3145 mg | - | 141 mg | - | Copper 28.4 mg Iron 28.4 mg |
|
H.B. 15™ Hoof Supplement by Farnam |
Pellets/ A |
- | 20 mg | 75 mg | 125 mg | - | - | Calcium 992 mg Vitamin B6 20 mg |
|
Horseshoer's Secret® by Farnam |
Pellets/ A, C, Y |
605 mg (3) | 7.5 mg | 1,446 mg | 936 mg | 150 mg | - | Copper 50 mg Calcium 1,700 mg |
|
Master's Hoof Blend™ by Farnam |
Powder/ A, S, Y |
- | 20 mg | 1,800 mg | 1,500 mg | 45 mg | - | Sulfur 1,500 mg Brewer's Yeast (6-culture microbial complex) |
|
Mirra-Coat® by PetAg |
Powder/ S, V |
3400 mg (3) | 0.0625 mg | - | - | 28.35 mg | - | Vitamin A 36,000 IU/lb Vitamin B6 1.875 mg Vitamin E 240 IU/lb |
|
Nu Hoof Maximizer™ by Select the Best |
Crumble/ S |
- | 30 mg | 1,800 mg | 2,000 mg | 250 mg | - | Folic Acid 5 mg Copper 25 mg Microbials |
|
Vita-Biotin™ Crumbles by Farnam |
Crumbles/ A, W, V |
- | 6.25 mg | - | - | - | - | Calcium from ground limestone |
| Base Abbreviation Key |
| A=Alfalfa |
| C=Corn |
| F=Flax |
| G=Grain |
| R=Rice Bran |
| S=Soy |
| V=Vegetable Fat/Oil |
| W=Wheat |
| Y=Yeast |
| SM=Seaweed Meal |
| CS=Corn Syrup |