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42/ APRIL 2019 THE RIDER


Equine Wellness: Health and Nutrition with Jean Klosowicz, Superior Equine Health and Nutrition Inc.


Hoof Health and Soundness: Five Critical Components


Jean Klosowicz Equine Nutrition Consultant & Educator


Whether we shoe our


horses or leave them barefoot, we all want our horses to have healthy, strong and beautiful hooves don’t we? But are we blinded when we expect our farriers/trimmers to make them that way? Chips, rings, flares, white line disease, thrush, etc. are not just cosmetic issues that a farrier can sweep away. Many times it comes from is- sues deep within the horse on a cellular basis. Owners need to pay attention to the diets and the horse as a whole to con- front the common problems of the hoof. If you take a holistic approach it will start to make sense and you will quickly dis- cover that all the systems play an interactive role in overall horse health, including hoof health.


There are FIVE KEY


COMPONENTS that must work together to achieve a healthy hoof. They include proper nutrition, digestive sup- port, good trimming and bal- ancing of


the hooves,


inflammation management, and good stable management practices. When you have a good handle on all five areas your horse’s hooves will dra- matically improve, and im- prove very quickly too! Again, it’s not about farrier/trimmer,


just it the includes


your involvement and strategic actions in these five key areas that are collectively and equally vital for good hoof


quality products and forage, but if the digestive tract and micro- biome are unbalanced, it will be a waste of money and time. A history of colic, ulcers, loose stools, or gas problems are symptoms of digestive failure. Once this issue is resolved, body condition, hoof health and accelerated hoof growth are achieved very quickly. In some cases, entire hoof regrowth can happen in 4 months.


health and soundness. Proper Nutrition - what does this mean? It means provid- ing your horse with good qual- ity forages (hay and pastures) to provide the essential nutri- ents for strong hooves and good hoof growth. More specifically it means the total diet should provide good “quality” protein such as the sulfur containing amino acids (methionine, cysteine); essen- tial minerals like calcium, cop- per, zinc, selenium; vitamins like Vitamins A, B (including Biotin, Pyridoxine, B12 and Folic Acid) and E; and Essen- tial fatty acids ie Omega 3’s from pasture or flax if on hay. While other nutrients play in- tegral roles in maintaining health I am listing the ones that are most predominant when it comes to hoof health. It is equally important to look at ra- tios too when it comes to min-


eral balancing. Some owners feed lower quality forages and believe supplementing with feeds and supplements (with inorganic minerals) will yield good results. However, studies have shown better quality hoof wall and growth at a faster pace is best achieved using a higher quality forage and or- ganic supplements. Common signs of nutrient deficiencies include: thin walls, slow hoof growth, weak horn and con- nections, soft feet, abscesses, sole hemorrhages, cracks, over-drying of hoof, rings, thrush, and laminitis.


Digestive Support: Digestive Health is “extremely” impor- tant to the horse. The digestive system needs to be balanced in microbes and healthy in order to digest the food and equally important absorb nutrients. You can feed the very best


Good Trimming and Hoof Balance: Proper trimming and hoof balance are critical for hoof health. Shoes should be removed for a period of time until hoof health is restored, hooves trimmed and balanced, and allowed to expand and be stimulated for good growth. You need to start from ground zero. If your horse shows signs of soreness, use boots and pads immediately. Eventually this will subside as the hoof tough- ens, as so trims and balance are properly executed. A good place to start is to follow the works of Pete Ramey or a men- tor of this caliber. Frequency of barefoot trims should be 4-6 weeks and never longer. But sometimes shorter. For some owners that do their own trim work,


trimming every 1-2


weeks is possible by just using a rasp. Positive changes in hoof capsule are best achieved bare- foot, as metal, glue, pads or ap- plied wedges are not as successful.


Inflammation Management: In the cases of painful hoof con- ditions,


like laminitis or


founder, inflammation is very obvious. But in other cases in- flammation is not so obvious. Horses that are heavy in BCS, easy-keepers prone to insulin resistance and metabolic resist- ance, have digestive issues or leaky gut conditions, are actu- ally dealing with ‘primary’ sources of inflammation. Until


these internal issues are re- solved or properly managed, hoof health will continue to be compromised and white line disease, wall separation, etc. will continue.


Stable Management: The horse hoof is designed struc- turally to be in constant move- ment. If the horse is confined in a stall for most of the day, everyday, for non-medical rea-


ist, hoof care specialist and sta- ble manager), set the bar high and look beyond the accepted standards of care to achieve real results for healthy hooves! If you have any questions,


sons, then the hoof cannot func- tion as well compared to a horse that is in pasture or in routine motion. The healthy hoof is also designed to handle differ- ent terrains and conditions, and can handle them with ease. However if horses are repeat- edly subjected to wet, muddy conditions or even worse, stand- ing in urine/manure environ- ments regularly, then hoof health can begin to deteriorate. Daily cleaning of hooves, pro- viding protection to hoof struc- tures when needed, resolving issues quickly like thrush, main- taining cleanliness in the envi- ronment, and encouraging daily turnout and exercise all con- tribute to healthy hooves when combined with the other four factors above. The next time you examine


your horse’s hooves, see where improvements can be made. Work together with your team of professionals (vet, nutrition-


please send an email to superi- orequine@gmail.com.


Reference: National Research Council Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th ed. 2007. Photo Credits: Hygain.com.au


and www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk


Cheers! Jean Klosowicz, Equine Nutri- tion Consultant & Educator Superior Equine Health & Nu- trition Inc. 338 Hwy 638, Bruce Mines, ON P0R 1C0 cell: 705.260.0293, email: su- periorequine@gmail.com facebook: @SuperiorEquine


All articles are for general


information purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, or pro- vide a diagnosis for your horse.


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