Last Updated on December 26, 2022
Do you live in a dry area where hoof cracking is common? Many horse owners face this issue! Thankfully, there are many hoof supplements for horses that can help with this. Just like joint supplements, gastric supplements, and calming supplements, there are supplements that help strengthen your horse’s cracked hooves and keep them healthy!
Sometimes oiling hooves isn’t enough to keep them strong and free of cracks, especially if your horse doesn’t have a full set of shoes.
There are lots of different ingredients that can help strengthen a horse’s hooves and prevent cracking. These include, but are not limited to biotin, amino acids, Omega-3, and Omega-6.
Some best supplements for cracked hooves are meant to be mixed in with a horse’s grain, and some are meant to be fed separately. Some are meant to be fed with every meal, and some are not. There are many different options because every horse and every situation is different.
As always, the best thing to do when you are questioning which one to pick is to consult your vet, or in the case of hoof supplements, your farrier. But, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of what products are out there and how they are used!
In this article, I will be discussing some of the best hoof supplements for horses. Some of these supplements are Platinum Performance Foundation Formula, The Natural Vet’s Hoof Check, Vetoquinol’s Flexadin UC-II, Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret, Life Data Lab Inc.’s Farrier’s Formula, AniMed Hoof Medic, Formula 707 Hoof Health Pellets, and Durvet Biotin Daily.
8 of The Best Hoof Supplements For Horses
Platinum Performance Foundation Formula
One of the best supplements for cracked hooves is Platinum Performance Foundation Formula. The most popular thing about Platinum is that it isn’t just for a horse’s cracked hooves! It’s actually for almost all parts of a horse; their joints, their coat, their digestive tract, and their hooves. Think of it as the horse version of a multivitamin!
While many view this as a good thing, it also means that the supplement isn’t specifically designed to help a horse’s hooves. So, if you’re really looking for something that focuses on your horse’s hooves, this may not be the best choice for you.
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The Natural Vet’s Hoof Check
The Natural Vet’s Hoof Check is a product that encompasses everything that its name implies! It’s a hoof supplement for horses made out of natural ingredients, all renowned for promoting hoof health in horses.
These ingredients include biotin, amino acids, silicon, vitamin E, and other vitamins. This supplement is focused solely on supporting hoof health and hoof strengthening. It can be used on many animals with hooves, including horses, cows, goats, and sheep.
For these reasons, the Natural Vet’s Hoof Check is a very popular hoof supplement! Purchase it directly from the manufacturer at the following link.
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Vetoquinol’s Flexadin UC-II® Hoof Supplements for Horses
Vetoquinol’s Flexadin UC-II®is one of the best supplements for cracked hooves because it promotes cartilage health. Horse’s hooves are made out of cartilage, the same as our fingers and toenails. So, supporting cartilage health will make a horse’s hooves stronger and healthier.
Healthy cartilage also supports a horse’s joints, in turn positively affecting their movement and mobility. So, this is another supplement that doesn’t just support the hoof, but also other areas of a horse’s body.
But, the Vetoquinol’s Flexadin UC-II® is different from Platinum Performance Foundation Formula because it doesn’t support the horse’s coat or gastric tract. It instead promotes bones and cartilage.
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Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret
Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret is a farrier favorite! This pelleted supplement is known for encouraging hoof growth with natural ingredients like amino acids, biotin, Omega-6, and Omega-3.
It comes in multiple different size options so that you can purchase it for a trial or for the long haul. Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret is great for barefoot horses that need to have extra strong hooves.
Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret is available for purchase at almost any commercial farm or feed supply store, like Tractor Supply Co. and Family Farm and Home. It is also available on almost every large equine supply website, and it’s even available on Amazon!
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Life Data Lab Inc.’s Farrier’s Formula
Life Data Lab Inc.’s Farrier’s Formula is a very unique hoof supplement! Like many of the other hoof supplements we’ve discussed, it is made with natural ingredients like amino acids and other fatty acids.
But, unlike other supplements, it can be fed to a horse as a separate and wholemeal, instead of just being mixed in with a horse’s normal meal! Of course, the pelleted supplement can simply be mixed in with a horse’s grain, like other supplements.
But, Life Data Lab Inc.’s Farrier’s Formula is uniquely designed so that, when water is added, it creates a mash-like substance that horses enjoy eating on their own like it’s an extra meal.
Some horses are incredibly picky and won’t eat their grain when they can taste that something has been added to it. My horse is this way! It took me forever to find supplements that he would eat because he wouldn’t eat his grain if he didn’t like the taste of them.
With Life Data Lab Inc.’s Farrier’s Formula, you don’t have to risk your horse missing meals because you’ve made his grain taste funny. Instead, it can be fed to him like a warm mash, which most horses find hard to resist.
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AniMed Hoof Medic
AniMed Hoof Medic is another great option for strengthening cracked and weak hooves. It is known for restoring damaged hooves (cracked or otherwise), and it is also made stateside, in the United States!
AniMed Hoof Medic is another hoof supplement that is easy to come by; most chain farm supply stores will carry it, as well as most equine supply websites. It is also conveniently available from Amazon. However, it is only available in a large 4lb bucket.
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Formula 707 Hoof Health Pellets
Formula 707 Hoof Health Pellets is another great option for picky horses! Like many of the other hoof strengthening supplements, it has natural ingredients like biotins and amino acids.
But, unlike many of the other hoof strengthening supplements, it includes ingredients that are appetizing to horses. Some of these include yeast culture, rice hulls, and dried distilled grains. These things taste good for horses and will encourage them to eat.
In addition, Formula 707 Hoof Health Pellets come prepackaged, so you don’t have to spend time portioning the supplement on your own! You can also conveniently purchase Formula 707 Hoof Pellets from Amazon, though it is a little more expensive than some of the other hoof supplements.
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Durvet Biotin Daily
Durvet Biotin Daily is a simple and pure hoof-strengthening supplement for horses! Instead of combining lots of ingredients into a hoof supplement, Durvet Biotin Daily is primarily composed of biotin, as its name suggests.
Similar to feeding pure MSM as a joint supplement feeding pure Biotin can have faster effects on some horses. But, they are also missing out on the benefits of other ingredients such as amino acids and fatty acids.
This biotin supplement for horses is another supplement that is available at many farm supply stores as well as many equine supply websites. It can be easily purchased from Amazon as well. It’s available at a very convenient price for large quantities.
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Conclusion
As you can see, there are MANY different options of hoof supplements for horses! If your horse’s hooves are cracking, it may be time to strap down and pick one out. A good way to narrow down your search is to consult your vet and your farrier.
They will always have valuable input as to what would be best for your individual horse. They know your horse personally, and can sometimes provide better recommendations than internet research can. However, it never hurts to know what your options are to begin with!
I hope this article helped you better understand what types of hoof-strengthening supplements are on the market today! If so, please share this article, and share with us what your experiences have been using hoof-strengthening supplements!
FAQs
What supplement is good for horse hooves?
What is a hoof supplement? A hoof supplement (also called a hoof ointment) is a topical treatment designed to provide relief from certain symptoms of equine hoof disease. Most commonly, these are pain, inflammation, and heat. Some hoof supplements can also help with the healing of injuries and infections in the hoof wall.
There are many different types of hoof supplements. They vary in their ingredients and the level of active ingredients they contain. The active ingredients in hoof supplements can include biotin, methionine, lysine, zinc, copper and calcium. All of these have a vital role to play in maintaining the health of your horse's hooves and promoting the hoof growth.
Do hoof supplements really work?
Hoof supplements can prevent problems from occurring in the future. They have been proven to help prevent horses from developing hoof horn, which is a major problem in some breeds of horses. Some hoof supplements may also be useful for treating existing problems. They can help to soften and heal the hooves if they are cracked or split. They can be useful when there is an open wound on the foot or when there is an infection in the hoof.
However, it is important to remember that any supplement will not cure a problem and that it has to be given with a bit of care. It will not cause a problem if used appropriately but if it's administered without consideration of your horse's diet or other possible supplements, it can cause an imbalance in the level of nutrients, minerals and amino acids in horse's body. It's best to consult your vet before starting the hoof supplement therapy.
What promotes hoof growth in horses?
To promote the hoof growth you can give your horse supplements with biotin. The biotin is an important nutrient for the metabolism of the hair and skin, and it helps the horse to grow a healthy and strong hoof. First positive result are normally seen after several months of taking biotin. However, be aware that you should not give more than 1 gram of biotin per day for horses, because the liver of the horse can't process large amounts of this nutrient.
Vitamin A is another important element for a healthy hoof. A deficiency of vitamin A can lead to a dry, brittle hoof. Vitamin A can be found in the form of beta carotene in foods like carrots and sweet potatoes.
What hoof supplement has the most biotin?
The supplement with the highest concentration of biotin on the market is Biotin Hoof Blast. It contains 100 mg per 2 oz. of biotin.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin. It is essential for healthy hair, skin and nails, as well as for metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The best known function of biotin is the formation of fatty acids from carbohydrates. A deficiency in biotin can cause poor growth of hair and skin, cracked hooves, and alopecia.
How long does it take for hoof supplements to work?
In general, it can take anywhere between four to six months to be able to see first results of a hoof supplement therapy. However, there are a lot of factors that go into how fast a supplement will work. First, the product you buy must have a decent amount of active ingredient in it to show any effect. Second, if you have a horse that is very sensitive to dietary changes, it can take longer for your horse to respond to changes in diet than it would for a horse that is not as sensitive.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.
