Barefoot Hoofcare

Healthy Hoof Newsletter

ANIMAL TRACE MINERALS. We have seen remarkable improvement in hoof quality in horses that have been given the chelated mineral supplement called Animal Trace Minerals. Here in South Florida, could it be that our pasture grass and hay is so deficient in certain necessary minerals that the horses just aren't getting what they need to build stronger hooves? The results from using Power Horse seem to indicate that this supplement is really filling a need. For more information on it, visit www.Animaltraceminerals.com.

It's about the diet! For years, Jaime Jackson, Pete Ramey and others in natural hoofcare have been warning horse owners of the dangers of high carbohydrate diets for their horses. We've been seeing for years the damage that lush pasture and carb-laden concentrated feeds can do to hooves. Now the mainstream media is beginning to report the findings of researchers that are pouring in with conclusion that diet has a huge effect on hooves and that carbohydrates -- especially fructan and nonstructural carbohydrates -- can trigger laminitis.

"LOW CARB FEEDS." Watch out for feeds calling themselves "low carbohydrate." Many feed producers are trying to capitalize on the ackowledged need for a low carbohydrate diet that has been proven by the research. Most horses that are "idle," meaning up to four hours of work per week, don't really need any grain supplement at all. But feed companies still want you to buy their feed, so they lower the carbohydrate level slightly and call it "low carbohydrate." If you read the order of ingredients, grains listed first are the most prevalent. If you see beet pulp or grain millings (fiber), that is good. But most list high carb grains like corn, barley, wheat or even molasses as their main ingredients. These are exactly the kind of sweets that cause havoc in your horse's digestive system. Remember, the best low-carb "feed" for your horse is a good, high quality grass hay.