Hoof Supplements

Which supplements can promote hoof growth in horses?

Hoof health is of the utmost importance for a horse's resilience, performance and overall health. This is because the hooves form the foundation of the horse's body. If they're poorly cared for, cracked or soft and brittle, this can have a negative effect on the horse's movement. The vitamin biotin plays an essential role in hoof health. It forms keratin, which supports the formation of the horn and thus hoof growth. Minerals like zinc, manganese, calcium and copper ensure the strength and stability of the horn. That's why it's important to ensure a balanced and nutrient-rich feeding plan so your horse gets all the necessary nutrients. In acute stages, when the horn is particularly brittle, a deficiency has likely been present for some time, but only became visible later. These severe deficiencies can be compensated for with complementary feed for healthy hooves. We offer hoof supplements that contain concentrated, high-quality biotin as well as zinc, copper and methionine.
If you'd like to learn more about nutrition for healthy hooves, we recommend our guide on supplements for horses.

Which supplements help with brittle hooves?

Poor horn quality is evident through brittle, cracked hoof walls or a soft horn that wears down quickly, resulting in the horse walking on its sole and becoming more sensitive. Hoof oils and pastes, however, cannot easily strengthen the horn. The causes of brittle hooves often lie deeper than meets the eye. Like the skin and coat, hooves are an indicator of metabolic health: toxins and deficiencies are reflected in the quality of the hooves.
In order to strengthen brittle hooves, you'll need to get the metabolism up to speed first. This includes supporting the liver and kidneys in detoxification, and supporting intestinal function so all the important nutrients can be absorbed. The next step is to treat acute nutrient deficiencies causing brittle hooves with biotin supplements. Zinc supplements can also be beneficial. In our online shop, you'll find supplements containing biotin and zinc in pellet or powder forms to bridge any nutritional gaps.
At Kramer Equestrian, you can buy supplements for healthy hooves from top brands such as Original Landmühle and ATCOM - from pelleted feed, to herbs and powders, to liquid supplements for horses. Because these are high-dose complementary feeds for horses, they should only be administered according to the specified feeding recommendations.
In addition to feed, you can also use hoof care products to strengthen the hoof wall.
You can find more information about the relationship between hoof quality and horse health in our guide: What the condition of your horse's hooves says about its health.

What are the proper feeding guidelines for a horse with laminitis?

Laminitis is not always caused by obesity and poor nutrition. There are different types of laminitis, and therefore different triggers. We provide detailed information about these in our guide on laminitis.
In acute and chronic laminitis cases, it's crucial to pay close attention to the horse's diet to reduce the strain on its metabolism, restore hormonal balance and flush toxins from the body. This requires striking a balance between diet and exercise. Horses with laminitis should not be fed large amounts of concentrated feed, as they cannot process the starch it contains. It's better to limit the feed components to hay and a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement to provide all the nutrients the horse needs while reducing the strain on its metabolism. If you can't do away with bucket feed entirely, choose a grain- and molasses-free concentrated feed that's better suited for horses with laminitis.
At Kramer Equestrian, you can purchase supplements for metabolism from Original Landmühle, specifically designed for the sensitive metabolism of horses with laminitis. Once all the acute nutrient deficiencies have been corrected, you can feed your laminitis-prone horse a vitamin and mineral supplement designed for horses with sensitive metabolisms.