The gut-hoof connection: it starts with nutrition
Your horse’s hooves are made up of keratin, just like your hair and nails. Keratin is a protein that needs specific nutrients to grow strong and healthy. These nutrients – like biotin, zinc, copper, and amino acids – are absorbed through the gut. If your horse’s gut isn’t functioning properly, they won’t get the full benefit of their diet, no matter how much money you spend on feed and supplements. Poor gut health leads to weak, brittle hooves that are prone to cracks, splits, and other issues.
A healthy gut enables your horse to digest and absorb important nutrients properly. If the gut is compromised by an imbalance of gut bacteria or poor-quality forage, the nutrient supply to the hooves will be disrupted. Horses with chronic gut issues often have hoof problems too.
The role of the microbiome
The gut microbiome is the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living in your horse’s digestive system. This plays a huge role in overall health. A balanced microbiome helps break down food, absorb vitamins, and support the immune system. When the balance is off, it can lead to inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and systemic issues that affect the hooves.
What is dysbiosis?
The microorganisms that normally live in your horse’s gastrointestinal tract exist in harmony, helping with digestion and nutrient absorption. When this microbial balance is disrupted, the condition is called dysbiosis. An unbalanced microbiome is dominated by harmful microbes or has decreased numbers or diversity of organisms.
Dysbiosis can have a major effect on your horse’s overall health. It’s often linked to leaky gut (or intestinal hyperpermeability), where the tight junctions between the cells lining the gut wall become loose. Leaky gut allows toxins and bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and other health issues.
For your horse, this can mean more than just an upset tummy. Dysbiosis can lead to poor nutrient absorption, which directly affects hoof health. Without the right nutrients, hooves may become weak, slow-growing, or prone to damage. The systemic inflammation caused by dysbiosis can lead to laminitis. Laminitis is a painful and potentially serious condition where the laminae (the soft tissue structures that attach the hoof wall to the coffin bone) become inflamed. Laminitis can lead to weakening or separation of the hoof structure, causing lameness and, in severe cases, rotation or sinking of the coffin bone.
Stress and gut health: a domino effect
Stress can disrupt gut health and, in turn, hoof health. Stress can lead to issues like colic, ulcers, or a leaky gut. These conditions make your horse feel unwell and reduce their ability to absorb the nutrients needed for strong hooves.
If your horse is prone to stress you can take simple steps like providing a consistent routine, plenty of turnout, and a high-fibre diet to keep their gut and hooves in better shape.
Supporting gut and hoof health
Here are a few practical tips to support both your horse’s gut and hoof health:
- Feed a balanced diet: Ensure your horse’s diet includes high-quality forage, essential vitamins, and minerals. Supplements like biotin, methionine, and omega-3 fatty acids can also support hoof growth and gut health.
- Promote a healthy gut: Probiotics and prebiotics help maintain a balanced gut microbiome. Avoid sudden changes in diet, and provide plenty of fibre to keep the digestive system moving smoothly.
- Reduce stress: Minimise stressors where possible, and provide a calm, stable environment. Regular turnout, companionship, and a consistent routine can work wonders.
- Regular farrier care: Don’t forget the basics. Regular trims and proper hoof care are essential for maintaining strong, healthy hooves. Your farrier will be able to spot any hoof issues early and recommend treatment.
- Monitor for issues: Keep an eye out for signs of gut problems, such as weight loss, changes in manure, or a dull coat. Addressing these early can prevent knock-on effects for the hooves.
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Supplement with Equi-Strath: This all-natural herbal yeast for horses can either be given neat or mixed into food. It’s completely free from preservatives & synthetic substances. Equi-Strath contains essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Equi-Strath also increases the absorption of nutrients from other sources and supports your horse during times of physiological stress.
The bottom line
Your horse’s gut and hooves might seem like separate concerns, but they’re deeply connected. When you support your horse’s gut health through good nutrition, stress management, and care, you’re giving your horse the best chance of having strong, healthy hooves. A happy gut means happy hooves – and a happier horse overall.
This article first appeared on Equi-Strath and can be found here.
References and additional reading:
- 3 key tips for healthy hooves (no date) FEI. Available at: https://www.fei.org/stories/lifestyle/teach-me/3-key-tips-healthy-hooves
- The gut-hoof connection (2023) Succeed Equine. Available at: https://www.succeed-equine.com/expertise/blog/digestive-tract-health/the-gut-hoof-connection/
- How to naturally improve your horse’s Gut Health (no date) High Horse Performance. Available at: https://high-horse.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-naturally-improve-your-horses-gut-health
- Omega 3 for horses: What, why, how? (2024) FeedXL Horse Nutrition Calculator. Available at: https://feedxl.com/29-omega-3/
- Thomas, J. (2024) Gut dysbiosis in horses: Problems of the equine microbiome: Mad barn, Mad Barn USA. Available at: https://madbarn.com/gut-dysbiosis-in-horses/
- Unlocking equine hoof health secrets with nutrition (2023) FormaHoof. Available at: https://formahoof.com/hindgut-microbes-and-hoof-health
- Volk, C. (2020) Ten hoof care tips to help keep your horse’s hooves healthy and strong, Practical Horseman. Available at: https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health/ten-horse-hoof-care-tips-11352/