Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.
Below you will find Part 1 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.
Q: Folks talk about the need for feeding biotin for growing a quality hoof, but what about other ingredients that are needed in hoof supplements?
By Bryan Waldridge, Kentucky Equine Research
A: Although some studies support biotin supplementation, research on other ingredients commonly included in hoof supplements is needed. It is important for owners to realize that dietary supplements are not a quick fix, and imbalances in the mineral content of a horse’s diet can wreak havoc on the hoof.
Key nutrients in hoof supplements include the vitamin biotin, the amino acids methionine and lysine, and the minerals zinc and copper.
Scientific studies have clearly shown the benefit of biotin supplementation. It is routinely advised to offer 15-20 mg of biotin per day for 6 to 9 months to improve hoof health.
To maximize hoof health, the overall diet, environment and genetics of the horse must be considered.
Information courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit equinenews.com/newsletters to subscribe to The Weekly Feed, the company’s equine nutrition newsletter.
Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is brought to you by W.F. Young Co. (Absorbine). 
Like many significant achievements, Absorbine® grew out of humble beginnings—and through the tenacity of someone willing to question the status quo. In this case, it was a young woman in late 19th-century Massachusetts: Mary Ida Young. Her husband, Wilbur Fenelon Young, was an enterprising piano deliveryman who relied on the couple’s team of horses to make deliveries throughout the Northeast. Inspired by Mary Ida and Wilbur’s vision, Absorbine® has continued to add innovative products throughout the years — products used every day by horse owners around the world. Which is why, since 1892, we’ve been The Horse World’s Most Trusted Name®.
Click here to read Part 2 of the May 15, 2015 installment: Is there a need for including iodine in the horse’s diet for development of a high-quality hoof?
Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.