Able Horse Natural Hoof Care

03/27/2025

What I Feed My Horses that Don’t/Can’t Eat Grain

Most of you who follow this page know that I have a hoof rehab facility, and all the horses that come in here are on a very carefully balanced diet for hoof quality and health. And that often means NO grain.

Of course, not all the horses on my property are your typical “air ferns” or easy keepers. I think most assume that just because I don’t feed grain, I must only have super easy keepers who “don’t need the calories.” That truly isn’t the case!

I would be lying if I said it was always a cake walk to figure out every horse’s needs! Sometimes it can take some troubleshooting.

Nearly every horse that moves in here comes from a more traditional set up with a grain-based meal twice a day, varying from as little as 1lb a day of grain to 8+lbs of grain a day. Many of these horses were also stalled regularly and moved miles less a day than they do here, making their caloric needs an even bigger consideration.

But I won’t let go of the fact that I see the absolute best hooves on horses on a forage-based diet, so I start there, and adjust as needed.

MY BASE DIET for all the horses here:

HAY
⭐️EVERY horse here has 24/7 access to tested hay in slow feed hay nets. I know that most argue that not every horse can have 24/7 access to even netted hay without becoming a blimp. Fortunately, all the horses here so far over the last few years have regulated their intake once they realized the hay was never leaving. They will regularly walk the tracks, go take naps, watch whoever is in the ring, play up by the sheds (I’m looking at you, geldings), or spend hours staring at the neighbor’s “dreamy” stud muffin geldings (I’m looking at you, mares).

We DO test all our hay and look at calories, protein, sugar and starch levels, digestibility and palatability, major and minor mineral balance, and more. We feed primarily first cut hay, which is typically lower in calories and protein, but have supplemented with (TESTED) second cut hay during cold winter months in the past for some of our harder keepers with great results.

METABOLIC SAFE CARRIER FEEDS
⭐️Yes, I did say metabolic safe. No, I don’t have any “refractory” high insulin or difficult metabolic cases here. YES, I do have a handful of VERY easy keepers. But most of my horses here are not metabolic- and yet I feed them feeds that fall under the “safe” guidelines.. and their feet improve because of it. These include base feeds such as Timothy pellets, Sp*ediBeet, Timothy Balance Cubes, and small amounts of sanfoin pellets or StableFeed Seasons Biome blend for forage diversity. I am careful with these as they are legumes, but I haven’t noticed any hoof sensitivity (knock on wood).
-For my easy keepers, I feed as little carrier feed as possible to get them to eat their minerals. For my harder keepers, they get several pounds of carrier feed a day, and typically higher amounts of Sp*ediBeet beet pulp, which is good for their hind gut and more caloric while still being low sugar/starch.

MINERAL BALANCING
⭐️As I mentioned above, I test all my hay and look at the balance of ratios between the major minerals and minor minerals. I supplement based on deficiencies in the hay as well as for proper mineral ratios.
-Fortunately, right now Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC’s Vermont Blend matches my hay test VERY well, with occasionally adding extra copper and zinc from Custom Equine as well as a little added manganese from Mad Barn.

OTHER NECESSITIES
⭐️Every horse on the property also gets vitamin E in the form of Emcelle, also from Custom Equine Nutrition, as vitamin E is not available in hay and typically the horses here do not graze fresh grass. Emcelle was our choice as it’s a highly bioavailable option and very cost effective.
⭐️As horses not on pasture also need omega 3 to replace what they would normally get from grazing fresh grass, the horses here are also on either flaxseed, chia seeds, flax oil, camelina oil, or a mixture of these. We adjust this for weight as well - for example, we feed anywhere from 2oz of flax to 8 ounces of flax a day, depending on the horse’s caloric needs, and our harder keepers not sensitive to fats get 1/3c flax oil per meal, etc.

EXTRAS
⭐️Of course, every horse is an individual and some need extra help. We currently have 2 horses here that need some extra protein for muscling etc, and they get pea protein isolate (100g a day), as well as extra amino acids and BCAAs (from My Best Horse). We also have horses on a variety of herbs based on individual needs, such as raspberry leaves (hormonal), jiaogulan (soft tissue health and hoof capsule perfusion), spirulina (metabolic health and allergies), plant bioflavonoids (arthritis help) and more.

TASTE TEMPTING
⭐️Just like every barn, we have some horses who are picky eaters. For some, we may give a handful of a low sugar/starch forage-based grain to tempt them to finish every bite of their meals. And I truly mean a handful! Right now, only one rehab case here even needs any to finish her meals, and sometimes doesn’t need any added. We typically choose either Triple Crown Senior or Senior Gold, as the average starch typically falls below 4% (which is a threshold for metabolic horses), and sugar and starch tends to average below 10%, another threshold for hoof comfort. It DOES contain alfalfa, which can bother some, so we watch for that.

It is always a bit of an adjustment through the seasons and for individual horses, but overall the change in hoof health and comfort is very much worth it!

And as I always tell my rehab owners… I would absolutely prefer to see a hint of rib in movement on a rehab case, over fat pads and risk of laminitis. That being said, we do strive for a body score of 5 and properly built topline (not fat!).

If you find your horse “needs grain” or is struggling to maintain weight, I would rule out other reasons first, such as:
-not enough access to forage
-eating low protein/low calorie forage
-ulcers/gut issues
-dental issues
-undiagnosed PPID and other health concerns
-chronic pain or stress that may cause weight loss
Any and all of these can lead to a horse being a “harder keeper.”

(Side note - a huge thank you to Custom Equine Nutrition for always helping us troubleshoot diet for some of our tough cases, and for sponsoring our SOLD OUT podiatry clinic this fall!! Livestream/Video recording option still available here: https://thehumblehoof.com/product/october-25-26-2025-livestream/ )

08/26/2022

The horse pictured here is genetically predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and was given free choice, unlimited access to hay. He developed obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and ultimately insulin-induced laminitis. When he could no longer stand, hay was kept in front of him 24/7.

After getting a hay analysis, the owner was advised how much to feed based on actual energy requirements (calories consumed vs. calories expended), to weigh the hay, and to use slow feeders. When the horse was sound, the owner scattered the hay over several acres. The horse made a full recovery and achieved his ideal weight in 9 months.

For weight loss, a good rule of thumb is to feed 1.5% of current weight, or 2.0% of ideal body weight in hay (lbs/day), whichever is more. Example: Overweight horse of 1200 lbs, ideal weight is 1000 lbs. [1200 lbs x 0.015 = 18 lbs/day; 1000 lbs x 0.02 = 20 lbs/day]. Use of slow feeders or small hole hay nets will slow consumption. More information here: https://bit.ly/3Cmh50L

08/09/2022

Marketing of horse feed can be incredibly misleading, or even downright dangerous, especially when it comes to laminitic or metabolic horses.

If you have a horse with hoof issues - this one's for you!

I have learned to never believe any marketing tag lines on a feed until I read the labels. I see so many brands that boast "Low NSC!!" or "Low starch levels!," when the actual label breakdown shows the feed would cause a sensitive horse to relapse into laminitis. It can be infuriating!

But how can a feed with what seems to be a lower NSC % cause issues, you may ask?

The two main components in feed that affect insulin levels in horses are starch and ESC (sugar). Between those two, ESC converts about 50% to glucose in the body, while starch converts 100% to glucose in the body. That makes starch a much more significant player when it comes to hoof issues and metabolic control.
Through over 2 decades of field study with the ECIR group, Dr. Kellon and other ECIR members have found that feed should be less than 4% starch and less than 10% ESC+starch combined for metabolic horses to maintain comfort and help manage proper insulin levels.

So a label could boast "10% NSC!" which certainly sounds low to the average consumer, and yet the starch alone in that could be 8%, making it unsuitable for horses struggling with hoof issues.

I can't tell you how many times I've had owners say "but it's a low starch feed!," only to read the label and see that the starch levels are just too high for their horse. This can affect hoof comfort and sensitivity, laminae connection, ability to grow healthy wall and sole depth, and make or break hoof rehab in laminitic cases.

Have you read your labels lately?

To learn more, visit ecirhorse.org

07/28/2022

Laminitis this time of year in the northern hemisphere could be a sign that your equine has PPID (Equine Cushing's Disease). If your equine has laminitis now or is prone to laminitis this time of year into the Fall, now is the time to test. If your equine has been diagnosed as having PPID and is on pergolide/Prascend, now is the time to test to ensure the dose is controlling ACTH. Get details on testing for PPID and IR/EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) here: https://bit.ly/2A36ERq. Also, see the short film GETTING THE CORRECT DIAGNOSIS here: https://bit.ly/2MwNMeJ.

09/03/2021

Have a potentially IR or PPID (Cushings) horse and feeling overwhelmed by all there is to learn about it? This 2-part webinar will be full of practical, helpful information!

The most up to date information on equine insulin resistance and Cushing’s disease. Both sessions of this 2 part webinar must be taken together. This webinar fulfills the PPID/IR course requi…

08/02/2021

Important seasonal reminder! Thanks to Alicia Harlov for the great write up!

THE SEASONAL RISE

In the northern hemisphere, starting in July/August horses experience the seasonal rise of a hormone called ACTH, which signals them to prepare for winter, grow a thicker coat, etc. This is completely normal for them.

Problems can arise, however, when this hormonal rise is exaggerated. Issues with improper ACTH levels can lead to hoof sensitivity, weight loss, topline loss, excessive drinking/p*eing, udder swelling in mares and sheath swelling in geldings, changes in behavior, or even laminitis (often seeming to "come out of nowhere"). Horses with exaggerated ACTH levels are considered to have PPID/Cushing's Disease.

Many owners test their horses' ACTH levels in the spring to check for PPID issues. When these levels come back normal, they assume their horse is all set for the rest of the year. There is a problem with this assumption, however. During the spring, ACTH levels are naturally at their lowest, and horses with early PPID can have levels well under control at this time, and then "suddenly" founder in the fall when levels rise.

So what can we do to help prevent possible issues during the seasonal rise?

⭐️If your horse has been diagnosed with PPID in the past, consider checking their baseline ACTH levels in late July/early August to ensure their levels are well under control during the start of the seasonal rise. It is possible your PPID horse might need an adjustment in their medication dose to ensure ACTH levels stay within normal levels during this time, which in turn can lessen the risk of laminitis. PPID horses with "normal" ACTH levels the rest of the year can become laminitic during the seasonal rise if their ACTH isn't kept in check.
⭐️If you have a horse that has NOT been diagnosed with PPID but has had any of the subtle symptoms listed above - especially if you've noticed an increase in hoof sensitivity in the fall - ask your vet about testing their ACTH levels. Liphook in the UK has a handy chart for what the "normal" levels should be, on average, for each week in the seasonal rise. Older schools of thought avoided testing during this time of year as the assumption was that "all horses would have high ACTH in the fall," but now the lab ranges are able to differentiate between what is a normal response to the seasonal rise and what is not. Don't avoid testing for fear of a false positive!
⭐️In the future, consider testing yearly to catch any issues as soon as possible. Dr. Andrew Van Eps at New Bolton, a leading laminitis researcher, suggests testing ACTH levels yearly starting at age 10, with the TRH stim test (a more sensitive test used usually in the spring to catch early cases). The earlier we are able to notice these endocrinopathic issues, the more likely we are to prevent laminitis and permanent hoof damage from catching it too late.

This time of year can be nerve-wracking for owners with PPID horses, but with proper preparation and management, it doesn't have to be! Being aware of the potential issues can help owners to better prepare and keep a watchful eye on their horses.

06/25/2021

Thanks to Alicia at The Humble Hoof for a great post!

Sometimes, I'll work on a horse, and just by how their feet grow I can tell something is off internally or metabolically. When the hoof quality feels different under my rasp, or the angles suggest laminae weakness and alignment changes inside, I often ask the owners a few other questions to see what might be going on.

Is the horse ever footsore on various surfaces?
Has the horse been losing topline, or is he/she labeled as a "hard keeper"?
Does the horse seem to drink or p*e excessively?
Is the horse slow to heal from injury?
Has the horse had any behavioral changes recently?

Now, I am NOT a vet, but the answers to these questions can be clues to what's going on. If even just one of these sounds overly familiar, I usually suggest the owner speak with their veterinarians about testing for PPID (also called Cushing's).

Most people think of PPID by picturing a horse with a long coat that doesn't shed normally in the spring. The problem with this association is that coat changes are usually the last thing to occur in the more advanced stages of the metabolic problem. That means the horse can be silently suffering for years without a diagnosis, just because the coat has remained normal.

Dr. Andrew Van Eps at New Bolton, one of the leading experts on laminitis and metabolic related issues in the horse, recommends that every horse is tested yearly for PPID with the TRH stim test, a more sensitive diagnostic test, starting at age 10. Yes, you read that right, age 10! Catching the issue early can prevent some of the more advanced symptoms and can help get the hormones under control with treatment before they can wreak havoc.

And as a hoofcare pro, I like when PPID is under control, because it significantly reduces the risk of metabolic related laminitis. I like anything that can keep those feet healthy and the horse happy!

(Pictured is a comfy elderly pony with a PPID diagnosis whose owners have been great!)

03/11/2021

You know when you send me a feed label and ask me if it's ok? 😆 I usually start plugging the numbers into this calculator or the one on California Trace's website. For most mainstream products out there the answer is: it doesn't have enough of what your horse needs, and it has too much of what they don't need. Percentages and parts per million are confusing units for consumers trying to compare supplements. This calculator will help you know how much of a given nutrient you're actually feeding.

Horse Weight Calculator

10/24/2020

Remember...

Hey local people! The next few days could present some really high sugar levels in the grass as night time temps drop again. If you have a horse with hoof problems of any kind (thrush, thin soles, wall separation, tender footedness, etc.), or a horse with any metabolic conditions (insulin resistance, PPID (Cushings), obesity), **don't graze them until the night time temps are consistently above 40 degrees** (around here, it appears that'll be Thurs 5/14). Sunny days + cold nights = high sugar, which causes elevated insulin, which causes laminitis.

10/24/2020

Going on now through Sunday: so much great material you can watch from home!🐎

If you have ticket, click here: login. If you don't have a ticket, click here: Online Horsefair Ticket

09/28/2020

To stay alive – no. To have the most vibrant health possible – yes! I’m not talking about specialty supplements here, like joint or hoof, just the core essential nutrients of pro…