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 2 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.
Q: How can an owner tell if the poor quality of a horse’s hooves is due to a lack of proper nutrients?
By Milton Turner
A: When hooves are nutrient deficient, they not only grow slower, but also are not as strong as they would otherwise be. Nutrient-deficient hooves are usually weakest in the heels and in the quarters of the hoof wall, which means they are more prone to break or collapse under the weight of the horse.
The result can be low-angled hooves, which often affects the horse’s gait, joints, ligaments and tendons. These and other hoof problems caused by poor nutrition can be supported with a well-balanced diet and perhaps a high-quality hoof supplement.
Milton Turner is a farrier and marketing consultant located in the Phoenix area of Arizona.
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 1 of the September 15, 2015 installment: Is there a concern when it comes to hoof quality from feeding excess amounts of selenium?
Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.