b'bone within the hoof capsule fail). Theproduce enough of them naturally. Thethat contributes to the strength of the same can be said of a severely overweighthorse must, therefore, ingest them in hisbonds between collagen strands in con-horse; obesity increases the chance of de- diet in the form of protein. While proteinnective tissues, including in the hoof wall. veloping metabolic disturbances similaris essential for hoof health, beware ofSeveral studies going back decades have to diabetes in humans, which can alsoexcesses. Overfeeding protein is a wasteshown biotin to be effective at restoring lead to laminitis.of an expensive ingredient and can bethe strength and elasticity of a hoof wall Protein The healthiest horses have bal- detrimental in hot weather becausewith structural defects (Kempson 1987; anced diets, meaning they receive all thedigesting it generates extra body heat andWintzer 1986). The good news is biotin necessary nutrients in correct amountsincreases water requirements. This can beexists naturally in grass, concentrates, and ratios, with no imbalances, excesses,problematic for high-performance horsesbran, and yeast, so your horse is probably or deficiencies. Certain ingredients affectthat travel and exercise in hot, humidalready getting the recommended dosage hoof health specifically, and protein isconditions, because these athletes areof 15-20 milligrams/day (thats for the av-high on that list. This is primarily becausealready predisposed to dehydration anderage 1,100-pound horse). Because biotin the hoof horn is composed of an insolubleheat stress.is a water-soluble vitamin (as opposed protein called keratin.to a fat-soluble one), the body simply Keratin provides the unique combina- excretes any excess, eliminating the risk tion of strength, hardness, and flexibilityBiotin seems to beof toxicity and making it very safe to feed. of the hoof capsule, says Wagner, whoSome horses, however, respond better to also runs an equine nutritional consultingbenef icial specif icallybiotin supplementation than others. business from her home base in Cheriton,for horses with brittle- It is not a silver bullet, Wagner Virginia.explains. Biotin seems to be beneficial Like all proteins, keratin is made upness of the hoof. specifically for horses with brittleness of amino acids, which the horse digestsDR. ASHLEY WAGNER of the hoof due to deterioration of the and uses to build and maintain variousstratum externum (the outermost layer of body tissues. Specific amino acids existthe hoof wall). naturally in the hoof and help ensureFat This nutrient by itself doesnt im- Gut health Another ingredient in the its proper structure and function. Theseprove hoof quality. However, it contrib- healthy hoof recipe that you might not im-include cystine, arginine, leucine, lysine,utes greatly to energy intake, indirectlymediately consider is the beneficial bac-proline, serine, glycine, and valine, assupporting hoof health. Feeding fat alsoteria in the digestive tract. Supporting a well as lower amounts of methionine,helps maintain a barrier in the hoof,healthy gut microbiome is critical because phenylalanine, and histidine. Thats akeeping bacteria and fungi out. Fat is athe microbes in the hindgut produce B-lot of ingredients to remember, so asafe and effective energy source for mostcomplex vitamins, which may assist with good recommendation is simply to feedhorses and benefits many structuresblood flow to the hoof, Taylor says. a diet containing all 10 essential aminobeyond the hoof.Wagner even recommends considering acids, because adding only certain onesBiotin Nutritionists consider vitamina general gut health supplement. If there to the diet has the potential to throw itB7, better known as biotin, to be theare gastrointestinal issues in digestion off balance. What makes certain aminosingle most important vitamin for hoofand absorption or with microbial dysbio-acids essential is the bodys inability tohealth. Biotin contains sulfur, an elementsis (imbalance), then the utilization of the TheHorse.com|The HorseAugust 202027'