Horse Hoof Care
When conversations turn to horse hoof care, they often center on farriers, trimming schedules, shoeing decisions, and environment. While each of those elements plays an important role, they address only part of the picture. Healthy hooves are not built solely from the ground up; they are grown from the inside out. Nutrition is the quiet workhorse behind strong hoof horn, resilient hoof walls, and overall soundness.
A horse’s hooves reflect its internal health much like a mirror reflects an image. Cracks, slow growth, brittleness, or poor sole quality often signal nutritional gaps long before they become more visible problems. Understanding how diet influences hoof structure empowers horse owners to take a proactive approach to horse hoof care that supports both performance and long-term wellness.
At BioZyme®, we design Vitalize® products that provide your horse with better care for the best life possible. Vitalize is a line of supplements for horses, dogs, and cats with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing. We know that hooves provide a solid foundation for your equine companions, and nutrition is at the heart of everything we do. Our team of experts wants to ensure you understand the vital role nutrition plays in horse hoof care.
Understanding Hoof Structure and Growth
To appreciate the role of nutrition in horse hoof care, it helps to understand how hooves grow. The hoof wall is composed primarily of keratin, a protein structure similar to human fingernails. Specialized cells in the coronary band produce this horn tissue continuously, with the average hoof growing about a quarter to three-eighths of an inch per month.
That growth requires a steady supply of nutrients. Unlike a cracked fence board that can be replaced overnight, damaged hooves cannot be repaired quickly. Improvements in nutrition today may not be visible at ground level for several months. This delayed response is why consistency in feeding is just as important as the nutrients themselves.
Nutrients are Essential for Proper Horse Hoof Care
In this educational blog, we’ll explore the nutrients required for horse hoof care. From protein to biotin and B vitamins to the smallest minerals, a solid foundation – your horse’s hooves – starts with proper nutrition. Let’s take a look.
Protein: The Building Block of Healthy Hooves
Protein is foundational to horse hoof care because keratin is a protein-based structure. However, it is not simply about feeding more protein. Quality matters more than quantity.
Horses require adequate levels of essential amino acids, particularly lysine, methionine, and threonine, to support hoof horn formation. Diets deficient in these amino acids can result in weak, slow-growing hooves even if total crude protein levels appear adequate.
Forage often provides a significant portion of a horse’s protein intake, but forage quality can vary widely based on harvest timing, plant species, and storage conditions. Horses consuming mature, weathered, or low-quality hay may not receive enough usable protein to support optimal hoof growth. In these cases, a ration balancer or targeted protein supplementation can make a measurable difference in horse hoof care outcomes.
Biotin & B Vitamins: Supporting Hoof Integrity
Biotin is one of the most widely recognized nutrients associated with horse hoof care, and for good reason. This B vitamin plays a critical role in keratin synthesis and cellular energy metabolism. Research has shown that biotin supplementation can improve hoof hardness, reduce cracking, and enhance overall hoof quality, particularly in horses with brittle or poor-quality hooves.
That said, biotin does not work in isolation. Other B vitamins, including riboflavin and niacin, contribute to cellular function and tissue development. While many horses synthesize B vitamins through microbial hindgut fermentation, digestive efficiency can influence how much of these nutrients are available for absorption.
Supporting gut health through balanced nutrition and consistent feeding practices can help ensure that B vitamins contribute effectively to horse hoof care.
Minerals: Small Nutrients with a Big Impact
Minerals play a critical role in horse hoof care, even though they are required in relatively small amounts. Among the most important are zinc, copper, calcium, and phosphorus.
Zinc and copper are particularly vital for keratin formation and structural integrity of the hoof wall. Imbalances or deficiencies can lead to weak horn, flaring, or poor hoof capsule strength. Unfortunately, many forage-based diets are naturally low in copper and zinc, and high levels of iron in soil or water can further interfere with their absorption.
Calcium and phosphorus must be provided in proper balance to support skeletal and hoof health. An imbalance, even when absolute levels appear adequate, can impair nutrient utilization and affect hoof quality over time.
Effective horse hoof care nutrition focuses not only on meeting minimum mineral requirements, but also on achieving the correct ratios to maximize bioavailability.
Fats & Fatty Acids: Promoting Hoof Flexibility
Healthy hooves must be strong, but they also need flexibility. Excessively dry or brittle hooves are more prone to cracking and chipping. Dietary fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, support cell membrane health and contribute to the natural moisture balance within the hoof.
Sources such as flaxseed or stabilized rice bran can provide beneficial fatty acids that complement a balanced hoof care program. While topical hoof conditioners can offer temporary cosmetic improvements, nutrition-driven support addresses proper flexibility from within.
The Role of Digestive Health in Horse Hoof Care
Even the best-formulated diet cannot support horse hoof care if nutrients are not properly digested and absorbed. The horse’s digestive system relies on a complex microbial population to break down fiber, synthesize vitamins, and release nutrients.
Disruptions such as inconsistent feeding schedules, sudden diet changes, or high-starch rations can negatively impact gut health. When microbial efficiency declines, nutrient availability declines with it, and hooves often show the effects.
Supporting digestive health through adequate forage intake, controlled starch levels, and research-backed feed additives can help maximize nutrient utilization. A healthy gut ensures that the nutrients intended to support horse hoof care actually reach the tissues where they are needed most.
Vitalize Can Help
Perhaps one of the best ways to support digestive health in your horse’s diet is to feed Vitalize products powered by AO-Biotics® Amaferm®. Amaferm is a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Nearly all Vitalize products contain Amaferm, and many can help support the proper nutrition needed for good hoof health.
Vitalize® Equine Vitamin & Mineral Supplement is a highly fortified, loose vitamin and mineral supplement for horses designed to support nutritional and digestive health. In addition to Amaferm, it:
- Is fortified with organic trace minerals and high levels of vitamin E, biotin, and B vitamins.
- Improves your horse’s bloom, giving them a healthy, shiny coat.
Vitalize® Equine Protein Pellet, a pelleted, natural protein supplement for horses, fortified with vitamins and minerals, is another option for your feed room to help with horse hoof care. This product:
- Contains Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility.
- Is fortified with vitamins, minerals, and organic trace minerals to balance rations.
- Provides 28% natural protein.
Finally, you might consider feeding Vitalize® Equine Digest More® Plus. Another pelleted supplement for horses, it is designed to support hindgut health and digestion of nutrients as well as hoof and coat health. Digest More Plus:
- Contains Amaferm, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility.
- Contains MOS to help normalize hindgut microflora and support the immune system.
- Provides high levels of biotin and zinc promote healthy skin, hair and hooves.
Forage Quality: The Foundation of Any Hoof Care Program
Forage should form the cornerstone of any nutrition plan designed to support horse hoof care. High-quality hay or pasture provides fiber, energy, protein, and essential micronutrients that work together to support overall health.
However, forage quality is not guaranteed. Hay testing allows horse owners to identify nutritional gaps and adjust supplementation accordingly. Without testing, deficiencies in protein, copper, zinc, or other nutrients may go unnoticed until hoof problems appear.
By aligning supplementation strategies with forage analysis, horse owners can avoid both deficiencies and excesses, creating a more precise approach to horse hoof care.
BioZyme offers complimentary hay testing services to its customers. Contact your local Vitalize dealer to discover more about that service today.
Life Stage & Workload Considerations
Nutritional needs related to horse hoof care are not static. Growing horses, broodmares, performance horses, and senior horses each have unique requirements.
Young horses need sufficient protein and minerals to support rapid growth and hoof development. Performance horses may require additional nutrients to offset wear and metabolic demands. Senior horses may experience reduced digestive efficiency, making nutrient absorption less reliable even when intake appears adequate.
Adjusting nutrition based on life stage and workload helps ensure that horse hoof care remains proactive rather than reactive.
The Last Word
Effective horse hoof care is not a single action or product. It is a system built on balanced nutrition, digestive health, proper management, and a skilled farrier. While trims and shoes shape the hoof, nutrition determines the quality of the material being shaped.
By focusing on protein quality, essential minerals, vitamins, fats, and gut health, horse owners can support hoof growth that is stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to withstand daily demands. Over time, the benefits extend beyond the hooves, supporting overall soundness, performance, and longevity.
Nutrition is not an optional accessory to horse hoof care. It is the foundation that determines how well every other management practice can succeed.
Get your Vitalize Today
We hope you understand the importance of nutrition and digestive health to a solid foundation – horse hoof care – for your equine partner. Without good nutrition, even the best farrier will have very little to work with.
Vitalize provides nutritional solutions for your horses. Locate a BioZyme dealer near you to shop locally.
Perhaps you prefer the convenience of online shopping? Shop here.
Want to learn more about all of the Vitalize products that can give your horses better care and the best life? Sign up for our monthly newsletter or visit the Vitalize Product Navigator.