Posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on January 31, 2003 at 10:29:41:
In Reply to: Farriers Formula posted by Jill on January 28, 2003 at 14:16:50:
: I have a 3 year old appendix filly that has a healed injury to the cornary band. It was an avulsion type of injury to the heel bulb. She has poor quality hoof wall to the area. She has good hoof wall all around except for that area. I have had her on Farriers Formula for about 1 year. My question is this something that she should be on for life to help the quality of hoof wall? Or is it something that you just feed for one hoof wall growing cycle of about one year and stop feeding it?
: Thank you,
: Jill
Scott's advice is very good on this issue. However, the one thing that should be addressed is correct basic nutrition from the start. If you are correctly feeding your horse, little or no supplementation in any form is needed.
Take a look at Dr. Jackson's nutrition article on this site and be sure you are feeding correctly.
It is unfortunate that the feed company representatives are a very poor source of nutritional information on the equine. They are as misled as are the horse owners. The result is that equine are the most poorly fed farm animal of all the types of farm animals. No cattle, swine, goats, sheep, or poultry are fed as deficient a company prepared ration as is the horse. No livestock, except the horse, is fed a ration based on oats. Oats are a very poor source of nutrition and should never be used as a ration base.
M. W. Myers, D.V.M.