Many horse owners will be familiar with the frustration of lost shoes and cracked, split feet during the summer months. The old adage; ‘No foot, no horse, is just as true as it ever was, so in our latest blog Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at equine hoof care during summertime. Dry weather can lead to a lack of moisture in the foot which can result in poor hoof condition, whilst cracks and splits can often be attributed to the horse’s hooves becoming wet and drying out in the changeable British climate. For your farrier or hoof care practitioner to do the best possible job they need a hoof which is of the best quality attainable and often if the diet is lacking in the necessary nutrients the equine foot can suffer. A balanced diet containing the required levels of carbohydrate, protein, fat and vitamins and minerals is essential to provide optimum hoof health during summertime. Supplements on the market such as Robust Hoof Supplement from Scientific Nutritional Products include key ingredients such as Biotin, Lysine, Methionine, Zinc and MSM which provide the building blocks to healthy hooves. Scientific Nutritional Products breaks down the key ingredients found in hoof supplements... Biotin Biotin is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin vital for the production of keratin, a special hard type of protein that helps form the hoof wall MSM MSM is a naturally occurring form of bioavailable sulphur, often deficient in feedstuff's. It is an essential component of connective tissue, the proteins which make up muscle, joints, skin, hair, hoof horn and keratin. Many people who use MSM themselves report that their fingernails grow faster and are less brittle. MSM has the same effect on the horses hoof. Methionine & Lysine Proteins are made up of amino acids. Most amino acids can be synthesized by the body but methionine and lysine must be provided in the diet. These are vital building blocks in the construction of the hoof. Zinc, Copper & Manganese These trace minerals are essential for the proper functioning of many enzyme systems. They play a part in the formation of keratin and collagen which are vital for sustaining healthy skin, hair, cartilage, bone and hooves. Alongside supplementing the diet it is important to ensure the horse’s diet is rich in fibre by feeding high levels of hay. During periods of lush grass growth it is essential to keep exposure to rich pasture to a minimum so that your horse or pony is not subject to levels of sugar in the diet which are too high. Ultimately, by balancing the right nutritional support with key external applications horse owners can ensure that hooves, and therefore our equines, stay strong and flexible whatever the summer weather has in store for us! For more information about Robust Hoof Supplement or any of the beneficial equine supplements available from Scientific Nutritional Products visit the website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or Tel: 01377 254 900 or 0800 032 7774
