hoof supplements

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I have 16 hh 9yr TB exracehorse and she has very flat feet  but doesn't have the strongest hoof walls.She has just been taken off of shoes and I am going to try therapeutic hoof boots, but she is sore a couple days after a trim. Is this normal and  is there any hoof supplement that you would recommend to strengthen her hoof walls? Or perhaps a hoof dressing?
  Thanks!
    Jamielyn

ANSWER: HEY JAMIELYN...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

I understand your deliema on a daily basis in my practice. Thorobreds
by nature ( more than not) have flatter or convex soles and tend through genetics to have thinner hoof walls.

I can help you in a couple directions because 85% of my practice is
lameness and veterinary farriery. First...hoof supplements WILL help
because no matter how well you feed, amino acids are the key player
in breaking down and allowing the body to utilize proteins,fats and
carbs. Using; such as biotin or one amino acid or vitamin WILL NOT
do the trick !! So for sure, feed a supplement and stay on it for awhile or indefinitely. It can only improve your horse's health.
I recommend and use Hoof Rite (Cave Creek, Az./Dr. Jan Young), Horse
Shoers Secret (Farnum) as two very good supplements.

If you have a good farrier, I hope he/she is not taking any sole or leaving the hoof capsule where the horse bears all its weight on the sole itself. Flat footed horses tend to be more sensitive after trimming if extra hoof is not left for "comfort".

Use "hoof boots" as little as possible. They tend NOT to let the hoof capsule "toughen-up". Hoof conditioners are better than dressings.
YES...there is a difference. Most dressings have a lot of petrolium
products ...where as conditioners will penetrate better and ARE NOT left on the "outside of the hoof" to be rubbed off later...which is a waste of money!

One last thing...Iam NOT a "shoe seller"...I have always said the "best shod horse is a barefooted horse". As a last resort...if you plan to ride alot, you MAY have to go back to a good wide-web shoe with NO SOLE PRESSURE !! A qualified farrier will relieve the
sole pressure in the shoes and protect the hoof for comfort and less
soreness between trimmings or shoeings. Some of my "colleages" who advocate "barefoot trims" no matter what, will disagree...but there are horses that do stay sensitive all their lives. So shoeing is good for them as is the owners!!

I think I've covered what you asked and wish you the best!!
Thanks again...
Joepaul  Meyers,C.J.F.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much! I kinda wanna be a farrier now, it sound interesting,but im not all that great at Geometry! One last thing, what kind of conditioner do you reccomend? And she tends to bend her front left pastern lower than her right, is that normal or is she imbalance because she went lame March 08 and had a mild case of laminitis in opposite foot in Nov. 07.
  Thanks!
      Jamielyn

Answer
HELLO AGAIN...

Yes the difference in her pastern angles could VERY WELL BE the lameness/laminitis. Many times there will be a "slight contraction"
in the deep digital flexor and cause one limb to be more upright.

As far as quality hoof conditioners...there are a few on your farm supple shelves. Of course...I feel I have the "best on the market"!!
Mine will completely penetrate in 2/3 hrs. after application and is also antiseptic. It has been used on every kind of hoof and even fresh wounds. They healed right up!

You can order it from my web-site or depending where you live, I
have 3 distributors right now in 3 states and plan on expanding to about 7 more in the future. Go to www.ironhorseforge.net

Thanks again...
Take Care,
Joepaul