Q: “Some hoof supplements say they support healthy blood flow—why is that important? I thought hooves were “dead” tissue.”
– BR from Waynesville, NC
A:
When studying equine anatomy, it’s often useful to draw comparisons to human anatomy. It’s easier to understand hoof dynamics when we compare the hoof’s structure and composition to the nails on our own fingers and toes.
Comparing only gives us a partial picture, however. When we compare, we risk overgeneralizing and oversimplifying if we don’t complete the picture through contrast. With that in mind, the contrastive elements between human nails and horses’ hooves are dramatic.
While they’re similar in form, function, and structure, human nails ride on the upper surface of the finger or toe, whereas the equine hoof encapsulates the foot. In effect, when we talk about the hoof, we’re usually talking about the foot. And, in that respect, it’s not simply a nail. Instead, it’s a nail that surrounds, protects, and supports bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, nerves, and an intricate vascular network.
These vascular pathways, comprised of arteries, veins, and capillaries, network through both bone and soft tissue, and ultimately function as a key element in maintaining foot health. The strength of the equine foot, as with our own lower extremities, depends upon nourishment that begins with good circulation and vascularity. Owners and care providers can promote good circulation by attending to and focusing upon three major influencing factors: activity, hoof balance, and nutrition.
The first step in promoting good circulation is to promote activity. Horses simply aren’t designed for a sedentary lifestyle; in fact, they’re designed and programmed to be on the move. Left in a natural, open habitat, horses will graze and move approximately 20 hours a day. In many modern horse-keeping environments, however, turnout is often limited, and activity of this sort is generally not available, leaving us with a need to add activity through exercise programs.
Even with extended turnout, horses might not receive the stimulation they need to promote good circulation, as the size of the turnout area plays a significant role. While turnout in a small, confined space may be sufficient to provide a young, energetic horse with room to run and play, it won’t encourage a geriatric horse to constantly meander and stimulate circulation.
Likewise, turnout that provides a consistent footing may not stimulate vascularity in a complete manner. Hard-surfaced, concrete-like terrain doesn’t engage the frog and sole of the foot, which encourages load sharing. While the outer hoof wall provides primary support, the entire solar surface of the capsule needs to be sufficiently engaged to promote good circulation. The old belief that the frog functions to “pump” blood has long been proven wrong, but the fact remains that the frog and the entire solar surface of the foot need to be stimulated to encourage good vascularity.
The second step in promoting good circulation is to maintain a balanced foot. In the artificial environments we provide, horses simply can’t maintain their hoof wall as they would in their natural environment. Subsequently, we must work to optimize the hoof, not only through trimming, but also through encouraging new growth and promoting balance. In effect, modern horse keeping requires regular maintenance from a professional hoof care provider who works to simulate natural wear patterns through maintaining proper length and balance. By attending to both anterior/posterior (front/back) balance and medial/ lateral (inside/outside) balance, the farrier promotes good circulation by establishing optimal break over points, good heel-first landings, and utilization of the entire foot.
The third and final component in promoting vascularity is good nutrition. A good nutritional program is essential, especially for older horses and for those with a history of hoof-related problems. While a biotin-based supplement provides a solid nutritional foundation for healthy hoof growth, horses with a history of hoof issues—especially heel discomfort, slow or retarded growth, and uneven growth—will often benefit as well from a supplement designed to support healthy circulation.
— Danvers Child, CJF
A lifelong horseman and practicing farrier since 1972, Danvers Child is a Certified Journeyman Farrier who specializes in shoeing sport and performance horses. He is an Approved Examiner for the American Farriers Association, serves as an Official Farrier at the Land Rover Kentucky (formerly Rolex Kentucky) Three-Day Event, and in 2018 was inducted into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.
Thanks so much for adding to my beginning knowledge of hoof anatomy and care. My boy Red is sound and I use a fantastic certified farrier named Brett – plus, I continue to use Medvet Biotin 22x supplement which works quite well along with Platinum Performance Equine.
You’re so welcome, Annamaria! Thank you for visiting our blog! Sounds like Red is lucky to have such a smart, caring mom 🙂
– SmartPaker Sarah
I really appreciate the information in the newsletters you send out. I’m working with Freedom Hill Horse Rescue in Maryland and the more I learn about horses and their health the better volunteer I can be. Thanks so much!! I love that you don’t just try to sell your products as much as you educate your customers. Thank you!
Wow! Thank YOU, Missy, for sharing this awesome feedback. Helping riders like you take better care of the horses in your life is the #1 reason we all get up and come in to work every morning. I’m so glad to hear that you’re enjoying the work we do. I shared your feedback with the whole company, to give everyone a digital high five 🙂
The horses at Freedom Hill are lucky to have such an awesome volunteer caring for them. – SmartPaker Sarah
In 2013 I bought a little Morab mare that was born in northern AZ and I brought her to Phoenix. In the summer of 2014 she developed Laminitis and my Vet thinks the change in climate might have been a factor (today it’s 102 degrees, June 17th). With ice packs and short walks for two weeks she recovered with no coffin rotation, and with the next shoeing the rings that shows that she had Laminitis will be gone. I do keep pads on her front hooves and I think I will always have to. I see you have a new product, SmartLamina, with no stars yet, would this be a good choice to put my horse on? Also could SmartHoof Circulate be good to give her or would that be overkill?
Do i need to feed both smart hoof pellets and the circulate pellets? And how long does the containers last?
Hi Jolene,
Thanks for your question! SmartHoof Pellets and SmartHoof Circulate Pellets are designed to work in different ways, but they can also be given together for more comprehensive support. SmartHoof Pellets provide the key building blocks your horse needs to grow a strong, healthy hoof wall, including biotin, amino acids, and key minerals. SmartHoof Circulate Pellets provide ingredients that support healthy circulation, because the strength of the equine foot depends on nourishment provided by good circulation and blood flow.
How long the containers will last will depend on which you purchase, because they’re both available in multiple sizes. You can get both products in our SmartPaks Feeding System, which provides a 28-day supply that is automatically shipped every 28 days. Both products are also available in bags or buckets, and you can find the days’ supply for each bucket size on their product pages at these links:
• SmartHoof Pellets: https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/smarthoof-pellets-7474
• SmartHoof Circulate Pellets: https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/smarthoof-circulate-pellets-8246
If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to our Customer Care Team at 1-800-461-8898 or CustomerCare@SmartPak.com. Our Supplement Experts would love to help you find the right supplement program for your horse!
– SmartPaker Lexi