FAQs About Horse Feed for Skin, Hair Coat & Hoof Health

If you’re a horse owner trying to maximize your horse’s skin, hair coat, and hoof health, it’s important to read these frequently asked questions about ingredients, diet requirements, and what is guaranteed on your feeding tag. In order to choose the best horse feed for their overall health, you have to know what factors go into whole horse nutrition and how to compare different products on the market.

• What should you look for in a horse feed to support hoof health?

  When assessing your nutrition program in relation to hoof health, there are many key components that need to be present for healthy hoof maintenance and growth.

  • Water is the most important nutrient for horses overall. Specifically for feet, adequate amounts of water provide tissue hydration and promotes the circulation needed to deliver nutrients to the living hoof tissues.
  • Balanced energy in the diet is important to support metabolic activity, the growth and function across the entire body system, including the feet.
  • Balanced proteins (aka amino acids) provide structural strength and function for hoof tissues. Lysine, Methionine and Threonine are the three most commonly associated with hoof growth. It is imperative that amino acids be present in balanced levels along with key minerals and vitamins. The ability for the body to absorb these critical nutrients is dependent on the delicate balance of them and too much of one or another can disrupt the utilization of these key nutrients.
  • Macro minerals include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and sulfur. The appropriate balance of macro minerals play a key role in skeletal development and maintenance, blood clotting, muscle contraction, temperature regulation, enzyme activity regulation, glandular secretion and cell membrane integrity.
  • Micro minerals (aka trace minerals) include zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, selenium and more. Trace minerals help with the synthesis of proteins, immune system activity, synthesis and maintenance of elastic connective tissues, the integrity of skeletal bone tissue, antioxidant activity and much more.
  • Vitamins, both fat and water soluble, play a key role in the formation, maintenance and repair of hoof tissues. Vitamin A,D and E aid in bone and muscle growth, maintenance of healthy epithelial tissue, calcium metabolism control, immune response and activity. Vitamins C and B-biotin, both water-soluble vitamins, aid in antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism, as well as growth and maintenance of tissues. Biotin aids in the cell-to-cell adhesion in the outer hoof layer.

• Why are Omega Fatty Acids good for skin, hair coat, and hoof health?

  Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are a hot topic in human, pet, and equine nutrition alike, and for good reasons. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids play important roles in a variety of functions including immune system regulation, cell membrane stability, development and maintenance of the central nervous system, oxygen transfer, and offsetting inflammatory responses. A quality balanced diet with essential amino acids, Omega-3 and Omega-6, vitamins and minerals help round out optimal skin health.

• Why are Vitamins good for skin, hair coat, and hoof health?

  Vitamins, both fat and water soluble, play a key role in the formation, maintenance, and repair of hoof tissues as well as contribute to skin and hair function. Vitamin A, D, and E aid in bone and muscle growth, maintenance of healthy epithelial tissue, calcium metabolism control, immune response and activity.  Vitamins C and B-biotin, both water-soluble vitamins, aid in antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism, as well as growth and maintenance of tissues. Biotin aids in the cell-to-cell adhesion in the outer hoof layer. Not only does Biotin stimulate Keratin production for hoof growth, but it also makes up skin and hair.

• Why are Amino Acids good for skin, hair coat, and hoof health?

  Virtually every structure of the horse is built from amino acids. A horse’s hair and hooves are made up of 95% amino acids and tendons 93%. Skin, a horse’s largest barrier to protect himself, is 90% amino acids. So, don’t overlook amino acids when evaluating hair, coat, and hoof health.

  When you look on a feed tag, a guarantee of Lysine, Methionine, and Threonine is the best indication the feed has good quality protein the horse can digest and utilize. Unlike some feed brands, SafeChoice® Horse Feed, ProForce® Horse Feed, and Empower® Horse Feed all have guaranteed and balanced amino acids.

  For hooves specifically, balanced and guaranteed amino acids (proteins) provide structural strength and function for hoof tissues. The hoof horn is composed of a protein called keratin which is made up of amino acids. Keratin depends on essential amino acids in the diet for strength and hardness of the hoof capsule.  Lysine, Methionine and Threonine are the three most important amino acids to the horse, and these are essential amino acids meaning they must be provided in the horse’s diet because the horse cannot make them on his own. Lysine is the first limiting amino acid which means if a horse runs out of lysine it can no longer utilize any other amino acids. These essential amino acids are vital for the formation of hoof structures and hoof integrity.

• Why are Trace Minerals good for skin, hair coat, and hoof health?

  Trace minerals have a significantly large impact on the overall health of your horse. Feeding them in proper amounts AND ratios is key to helping your horse be as happy and healthy as possible – including their hair, coat and hoof health.

  The most common trace minerals to look for on your feed tags include Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese, Iron, Iodine, and Selenium. The organic trace mineral complexes used in all premium Nutrena® horse feeds, including both SafeChoice® Horse Feed and ProForce® Horse Feed are absorbed into the body better than conventional trace minerals because they are chelated.

  A diet fully fortified with organic trace minerals provides the following benefits for horses:

  • Improved hair, coat, skin and hoof quality/hoof wall integrity
  • Formation, maintenance and repair of joint cartilage
  • Proper muscle and bone development
  • Increased immune response to help remove free radicals and protect cell membranes
  • Proper fertility function including milk production and fetal development