Hear Poseidon’s Animal Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ethan Romas-Hill talk about healthy hooves, to learn more on:

1. How the Gut-Hoof Connection links a poorly functioning gut to nutrient deficiencies that cause hoof problems, including issues like laminitis and brittle hooves.

2. Importance of Stress Management: how stress in horses, whether from diet, environment, or handling, is a significant factor affecting both gut and hoof health, as it disrupts healthy gut microbes.

3. How the use of Equine Supplements, particularly postbiotics and prebiotics, can support gut health, which in turn influences hoof health. 

4. How the use of Stress Paste and digestive enzymes (like in Digestive EQ & HP) can help manage stress during periods of acute stress, which in turn helps promote a healthy microbiome.

5. How continuous access to forage and the use of slow feeders helps a horse to maintain a stable digestive environment, which is crucial for preventing colic and promoting hoof health.

6. How a holistic approach to horse care, integrating diet, stress management, and appropriate use of supplements helps ensure the health and well-being of horses and supports hoof health. 

How Gut-Hoof Connection Impacts Hooves

The hoof - gut connection links hoof disease with nutrient deficiencies that occur due to poor nutrient absorption when horse gut health is compromised thanks to microbe disruption. It also links gut inflammation to the systemic inflammation that may exacerbate hoof conditions like laminitis.

How Gut Microbe Issues Leads to Poor Nutrient Absorption 

An unhealthy equine gut can lead to malnutrition of the hoof thanks to poor absorption of vital nutrients like:

• Biotin (vitamin B7)
• Vitamin B12
• Protein & Amino Acids
• Calcium

These nutrients are essential for producing healthy hoof tissue, and inadequate absorption can lead to brittle hooves and other connective tissue issues in the hoof.

The Link Between Gastrointestinal Health & Performance in Horses

Poor equine digestive health (colics, ulcers, etc) can also affect the behaviour, performance and recovery of horses. Pain and behavioural changes (also often caused by pain) are probably the two biggest factors which affect performance. Confinement, low pasture turnout, travel, diet and excessive exercise affect horse gut health, which in turn affects their performance.