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: What is the role of iodine in the equine diet?
By Connie Larson, PhD
Iodine is needed for the synthesis of thyroid hormones that control energy metabolism, growth and muscle sensitivity (the speed at which muscles contract. Iodine is commonly supplied with iodized salt. Iodine levels are higher in forages than in grains.
Both iodine deficiencies and toxicities have been diagnosed in horses. Toxicities have occurred when excessive amounts of high iodine supplements or feeds, including kelp or seaweed that are naturally high in iodine, were fed to horses.
Connie Larson is an equine nutritionist and researcher with Zinpro Corp. in Eden Prairie, Minn. She has been a frequent contributor to American Farriers Journal and a speaker at the International Hoof-Care Summit.
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 April 1, 2017 installment: I recently improved what I feed my horse, so why hasn’t there been any improvement in hoof growth or quality?
Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.