Char, another vote for Farrier’s Formula! 
Not just any quality hay - you have to know what’s in it… Is it grass hay? Legume? A base mix?
As usual agree w/ JB. You have to evaluate your horse’s diet and find out what areas he is lacking in and see if that is tied into his hoof growth. Certain areas, despite having quality hay, may lack some basic nutrients that compromise or negatively impact quality of horn, skin, fur, etc.
For instance we feed some GREAT hay from a round bale, but I know for a fact (given the area) that the hay lacks a substantial vitA and calcium profile. This is not a huge problem for my current horse but would be a big issue for my old one if he was still alive. There is also very little biotin naturally in my horse’s diet, so I supplement.
I really like Nu-Image. It is very cheap, lasts a while, and I’ve noticed a difference in my horse’s horn quality since I started a few months ago.
Horse gets half day of turn out on good quality grass pasture; and quality Alfalfa Orchard Mix hay in slow feeder bag at breakfast and dinner. She eats just 1.5 lbs twice daily of a fairly low carb beet pulp based Triple Crown Pelleted grain that includes some minerals & probiotics in it, but she really could use even less grain as she has plumped up a bit lately. She also gets Uckele GUT, MSM, & Electrolytes supplements daily.
[QUOTE=Char0308;8280687]
Lori T. I just started using farrier fix and plan to keep using it on exterior of hoof, but Vet really wants pads on my horse for a while to see if we can get some sole growth. I thought I would also try a couple supplements to try and speed up things if possible; but going into winter months not sure anything will help as the growth slows even more then[/QUOTE]
I put mine on the Hoof and Health from Hilton Herbs in December and my farrier could not get over the growth in 6 weeks.
FWIW, I saw a much bigger improvement in hoof growth and quality after putting my mare on the Hilton’s Health and Hoof vs. putting her on a biotin supplement.
I also think covering basic vit/min needs is also helpful for a healthy hoof. You might do that through a complete feed, a ration balancer, a vit/min supplement or overall analysis of your diet.
[QUOTE=Char0308;8280853]
Horse gets half day of turn out on good quality grass pasture; and quality Alfalfa Orchard Mix hay in slow feeder bag at breakfast and dinner. She eats just 1.5 lbs twice daily of a fairly low carb beet pulp based Triple Crown Pelleted grain that includes some minerals & probiotics in it, but she really could use even less grain as she has plumped up a bit lately. She also gets Uckele GUT, MSM, & Electrolytes supplements daily.[/QUOTE]
I agree with JB. And if your horse is only getting 1.5 lbs of concentrate a day, it should be a ration balancer. TC is a good brand and all the right stuff is in it, but you have to feed according to the instructions on the bag. If the instructions say to feed at least 5-6 lbs a day, your horse may only be getting 20% of the micronutrients it needs, hence the poor hoof growth. Compare what you are feeding to what the instructions say. You may need to switch to Triple Crown 30% Supplement, which is meant to be fed at 1-2 lbs a day for easy keepers. And you may be able to get rid of the GUT and the electrolytes, making it a much more affordable option than purchasing a hoof supplement to fill in the diet holes.
Everything that JB and Flash44 said! Odd are that switching her grain for TC 30% (or Lite if she needs closer to 3 lbs of feed than 1-2) will ensure that you are meeting her basic vitamin, mineral, and amino acid requirements. That alone can make a difference in hoof health.
For horses who need more help nutritionally, I really like Horse Tech’s BioFLax Ultra (http://www.horsetech.com/bioflax-ultra.html). Although it’s a powder, my picky eaters lick it right up thanks to the fenugreek flavoring. Aside from 30 mg of biotin, it also contains a trace mineral and amino acid profile that has been shown to be effective in improving hoof health in many horses. It’s also very affordable.
Nothing you put on the outside of her hooves is likely to have any positive impact on the actual hoof quality. Anything oil based is just going to weaken her hoof wall further, so definitely stay away from all oils and polishes!
I have my mare on Dumor Hoof which is the same thing as Farrier’s Formula (ingredients and percentage of almost exact).
My farrier also likes durasole and keratex for faster results until better nutrition and hoof care catch up with the growth.
I have used Farrier’s Formula for years. I consider it a good solid product, the original in its field.
I just started using Wunder Hoof, a topical that supposedly promotes hoof growth and conditions .
It might only be available in Canada, but Hoffman’s Minerals made a huge difference in my TB’s feet.
Went from shelly, crumbly, grey, with rings to black and so hard the farrier complains they are tough to trim.
Can’t say much to sole improvements - only took xrays of the feet after 1+ year on the stuff.
