Nutritional Support for Horse Hooves

The versatile equine athlete depends on strong hooves to be fleet of foot and agile in motion, to negotiate quick turns and abrupt stops, and to absorb impacts sustained by all maneuvers. And the equine hoof—with its complex arrangement of connective tissues, nerves, cartilage, bone, and blood supply—relies on important nutritional building blocks for strength and integrity.

Mary Beth Gordon, PhD, director of equine research and new product development at Purina Animal Nutrition, weighed in on factors that influence hoof health: “Genetics is most importan