A suitable feed/feet supplement?

babyjay · A suitable feed/feet supplement?

Hi!

Quick history.. Took Jays shoes off end of Feb 09 (Jay is a 6yo ISH 15.3hh mare). There was no reason, only I just had a 'hunch' thinking she could do it (yet I have no previous experience of going BF)! I also didn't like the way she moved with shoes on despite having a very good farrier. Plenty of ups n downs during the transition but hey we are still sticking with it and appear to have come out the other side as already a whole new foot has grown come 6mths Smile

Now we have hit October I have noticed the growth has slowed up abit. OR, could it be the increased work she is doing? Or both? Confused

I am somewhat concerned how she will cope just when we are starting to do some proper stuff again (autum hunting, hunter trials and anything inbetween).
I loath boots so not particularly wanting to look down that route, be a serious last resort if I do.

So to help with growth would this supplement be suitable?
http://www.gwfnutrition.com/info_pdf_flyer/farriersaid.pdf
I have used it before on shod horses and saw a very noticable improvement in horn growth and quality.
Jay is on a very natural diet - 24/7 turnout (for now but soon will be in at nights over winter). Token feed is a handful of dried grass, and a handful of oats with a broad spec supplement (365 complete by equine answers to be precise). she is a very good doer!
But I was thinking changing the 365 to the farriers Aid for winter.

Any advise or suggestions please. A good move or bad move? or is the current 'token' diet wrong in the first place?. I am not hot on the scientific aspect of ingredients unfortunatley, only know about avoiding compound feeds, cereals and molasses.
This is a huge learning curve for me and am trying to do right within the limited circumstances (grazing fields no paddock paradise etc) and will be stabled at nights come colder wetter weather.
Having survived spring and summer, autum and winter will be new challenges for us and I hope we can do it Surprised

Nic

You'll find a huge amount here about feed and diet Smile

Happy trawling Wink

Most barefoot horses in reasonable work grow a hoof capsule in 4-6 months, so what you are seeing is about right. Hooves don't slow down growth because of increased work - the reverse in fact, and my horses, which work hardest through the autumn and winter carry on growing at the same rate all year round.

Have a look at previous threads and you'll find lots of good suggestions about what to feed!

N

brucea

Looks like a rather fancy packaging for seaweed, some minerals and cereal/soya based filling? Personally I wouldn't want to feed the collagen, probably derived from animal sources, to my herbivore.

babyjay

So feet don't slow down regardless of time of year then? Intresting, and good Smile

horsesfirst

First of all - good for you Very Happy

Congratulations on starting the journey and welcome to the Forum.

Best thing would be to get the Feet First book and follow the diet in there. It is palatable, economical and effective Very Happy

You will also find other helpful pointers.

I think most of the experienced people on this forum would not attribute lack of foot growth to the season or to increased exercise. More like the reverse as most find that so long as diet et al are in place increased exercise stimulates the foot to grow.

It is possible to wear the feet down too much if you suddenly increase the work load and surfaces without allowing adjustment time. Equally if you suddenly stop the exercise or change to soft surfaces you will find you need to trim more regularly. - At least that is what happens to me with mine.

As an example my old horse regularly did 50+ miles a week on the road - rough stuff too. And I still had to get her feet trimmed. Her feet never slowed down in winter, but then neither did her exercise. I don't think the Houston Mounted Police have any issues either and they do 8 hours a day in the city.

I am sure other people will have lots more examples too.

Once again - good for you and go buy the book (no I don't get commission) Very Happy

babyjay

Thanks for the welcome Horsesfirst Smile

I have spent the spring/summer transitioning and so riding was being done but it was a limited and slow increase. For a while she could only do every other day for approx 1hr.
Now we can go out every day for 1hr+. This is on varied terrain, road, tracks, turf etc.
To date has been 2x 3hr stints autum hunting, though is abit footy next day on gritty hard surfaces. Last went autum hunting monday, she's ok but I felt best not to take her out and do too much in the week, so rode in school and then hacked out today (thurs). We have a HT this weekend and although not so concerened about that as all turf I do feel cautious regards the wear on her feet.
They are looking their flatest ever and her hind heel bulbs have well and truely blended smoothly to the heel buttresess (I think that is right). I know heel landing first is good but I am not used to seeing them like this this much! Shocked

I would like to reduce her grass intake but the facilities just don't allow and they're not mine, and moving is not a practical solution either arghhh Confused

lazeearabians

Why do you loath boots?

I did the same this year with my endurance gelding - his shoes came off in June, right in the middle of our competitive season. I didn't want to stop competing so he got fitted out in Easyboot Gloves and carried on regardless. We completed 40 miles rides sucessfully in them and were aiming for a 50 miler but our season got interrupted due to an injury to my own foot. The Gloves have been brilliant. I also rate the Renegades and did a few rides in them successfully.

I do train as much as I can at home bootless but I'm very pro boot if they are needed and at the moment wouldn't compete without them. Maybe in the future when he is fully transitioned we will be able to compete bootless but I will always have the boots to hand to put on if necessary during the ride. For longer rides next year (hopefully race rides if I can get qualified) I'm also considering the Easyboot Glue-ons. Endurance riders in the States have had fantastic results this year using the Glue ons, including the American National 100 mile championship winner and a very high percentage of high place finishers in the Tevis Cup, which is the toughest endurance race in the world.

babyjay

Nic

I am with Babyjay - boots for hunting are an absolute no-no, both because of safety and practicality. I know they can work well for endurance, but the terrain is different hunting - as is the time of year, of course, so much worse ground conditions often. Plus personally I would not be happy jumping in boots, again because of safety.

N