Fuelling Healthy Hooves for your Horses

Fuelling Healthy Hooves: Nutrition for Strong, Sound Horses

For horse lovers, keeping their equine partners in peak condition isn’t just about performance—it’s about their long-term health and happiness. Whether you’re racing around a barrel pattern, tackling a show jumping course, or enjoying a relaxed ride with your club, your horse’s hooves are the foundation of every step.

Hoof health is directly tied to nutrition, and what you feed your horse today will impact their soundness months, even years, down the track. It takes nearly a year for a new hoof to grow, making consistency in nutrition essential. This guide explores the key elements of a hoof-healthy diet and how simple additions—like Huds and Toke Horse Treats—can provide vital nutrients to keep your horse’s hooves strong and resilient.

Building Blocks of Strong Hooves

Hooves are more than just tough outer shells—they are living, growing structures influenced by diet, exercise, genetics, climate, and hoof care. While regular trimming and proper shoeing help maintain shape and balance, a well-rounded diet ensures the hoof has the strength and durability to support an active lifestyle.

If you’ve noticed rings on your horse’s hooves, these "growth rings" reveal how diet and health have influenced hoof development over time. Sudden changes, such as rich spring grass or nutritional imbalances, can cause visible variations. Since hooves grow slowly, it takes patience to see improvements from dietary adjustments.

So, what should you feed to promote strong, healthy hooves?

Essential Nutrients for Hoof Health

1. Energy: The Foundation for Growth

A horse that isn’t getting enough calories will prioritize essential organ function over hoof growth. However, excessive non-structural carbohydrates (sugars and starches) can increase the risk of laminitis. Balance is key—ensure your horse receives the right amount of energy based on their workload and metabolism.

2. Protein: The Building Blocks of Hoof Strength

Hooves are primarily made of keratin, a protein that provides strength and flexibility. Essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine play a crucial role in forming healthy hoof horn. Feeding a balanced diet that includes high-quality protein sources will help support hoof integrity without overloading the horse with unnecessary excesses.

3. Healthy Fats: Sealing the Hoof’s Natural Barrier

While fat doesn’t directly impact hoof structure, it helps create a moisture-retaining barrier that protects against cracks and bacterial infections. Supplementing with healthy fats ensures your horse maintains a strong, resilient hoof wall.

4. Biotin: The Super Vitamin for Hooves

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is widely recognized as a key nutrient for hoof health, strengthening the hoof wall and improving elasticity. While horses naturally obtain some biotin from pasture, additional supplementation may be beneficial for those with brittle or weak hooves.

5. Gut Health: Supporting Nutrient Absorption

A healthy digestive system plays a surprising role in hoof health. Beneficial gut bacteria help produce essential B vitamins, which aid in blood flow to the hooves. Including a gut-supporting supplement can improve overall nutrient absorption and promote better hoof growth.

6. Minerals: The Right Balance for Strength

• Zinc: Critical for keratin production and overall hoof strength.
• Calcium & Phosphorus: Work together to form strong hoof structure, but the ratio must be balanced.
• Selenium: Helps develop healthy hooves but should be fed in controlled amounts to avoid brittleness.

It’s important to avoid overloading on any single mineral, as excessive amounts can interfere with nutrient absorption.

The Role of Huds and Toke Horse Treats in Hoof Health

Maintaining a balanced diet for hoof health doesn’t have to be complicated or boring.

Huds and Toke Horse Treats are not only a fun way to reward your horse after training or competition, but they can also support overall health, including strong hooves.

These treats contain natural ingredients that contribute to a well-rounded diet, supplying essential nutrients without unnecessary fillers.

By incorporating high-quality ingredients that support digestion and overall well-being, Huds and Toke Horse Treats can be a simple yet effective addition to your horse’s daily routine, reinforcing their nutritional intake while keeping them happy.

When to Consider Hoof Supplements

Many horse owners turn to hoof supplements when they notice cracking, brittleness, or slow growth. While biotin and methionine have been scientifically shown to improve hoof strength, supplements should complement—not replace—a balanced diet. The best approach is to ensure your horse receives all the essential nutrients from their regular feed before adding extra supplements.

However, at certain times, supplements will absolutely help.

Huds and Toke have Horse Health Supplements available should you need them.  Couple these with some Horse Training Treats to help with palatability and you can have a happy horse with healthy hooves in no time.

Strong Hooves mean a Happy Horse!

Your horse’s hooves are the foundation of their movement, whether they’re galloping across an arena, navigating a tricky cross-country course, or working cattle on the farm.

Keeping hooves strong, and healthy, requires a combination of proper diet, good management, and regular farrier care.

By ensuring your horse receives the right nutrients and incorporating Huds and Toke Horse Treats as part of a balanced feeding plan, you’ll set them up for long-term hoof health and overall well-being. After all, a happy, healthy horse means more time in the saddle doing what you love.

Enjoy your ponies and be sure to take photos and tag us in on our socials....  We love seeing the adventures you get into with your horses.  We'll even give you a shout out....

Ride well, have fun and stay safe from the team at Huds and Toke.