Feed Like the Pros: Best Nutrition for Skin, Hair Coat, and Hoof Health
How are elite equestrians like Jordan Larson, McLain Ward, Sara Hassler, and Lynn Symansky feeding their horses to support strong feet and shiny coats? In this blog series, “Feed Like the Pros,” we reveal expert advice on equine nutrition, including what ultra-premium ingredients to include in your horse’s diet to maximize appearance and overall health.
Keep reading to learn the best nutrition for skin, hair coat, and hoof health, so you can feed like the ProElite® pros.
What is the Best Nutrition for Skin, Hair Coat, and Hoof Health?
When assessing your nutrition program in relation to skin, hair coat, and hoof health, there are many key components that need to be present for healthy maintenance and growth – specifically, a balanced diet with vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Here are a few reasons you should look for these on your feed tag.
- Amino Acids: It is imperative that amino acids are present in balanced levels along with key minerals and vitamins. Lysine, Methionine. and Threonine are the three essential amino acids most commonly associated with hoof growth. Not only does balancing amino acids like these provide structural strength and function for hoof tissues, but it gives support to skin and hair coat health as well.
- Omega Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids serve a variety of functions that can all positively affect skin, hair, and hoof health. Certain top dressings have a higher concentration of these. For example, ProElite® Omega Advantage guarantees a minimum of 4% Omega-3 fatty acids and 9% Omega-6 fatty acids for enhanced appearance.
- Vitamins: Both fat- and water-soluble vitamins play a key role in the formation, maintenance, and repair of hoof and skin tissues. Vitamin A, D, and E play foundational roles in tissue development and immune function, which directly impact external health of skin, coat, and hooves. Vitamins C and B-biotin, both water-soluble vitamins, aid in antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism, as well as growth and maintenance of tissues. Biotin aids in the cell-to-cell adhesion in the outer hoof layer.
- Minerals: Horses need a combination of macro and micro minerals in their diet. While both are critical, micro minerals, also known as trace minerals, play a larger role in skin, hair coat, and hoof health.
- Macro Minerals: Macros include ingredients like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and sulfur. They play a key role in skeletal development and maintenance, blood clotting, muscle contraction, temperature regulation, enzyme activity regulation, glandular secretion and cell membrane integrity.
- Micro Minerals: Trace minerals, or micro minerals, help with the synthesis of proteins, immune system activity, synthesis and maintenance of elastic connective tissues, the integrity of skeletal bone tissue, antioxidant activity and much more. Micros include zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, selenium and more. Ultra-premium diet balancers, like ProElite® Topline Advantage, guarantee levels of these micro minerals.
Choose the Winning Combo
Elite training programs trust ProElite premium products to provide consistent, nutrition-locked formulas that support the whole horse. While there are many combinations of feed and supplements that can meet your horse’s needs, here are some of ProElite feed’s most popular for skin, hair coat, and hoof health:
Diet Balancers and Top Dress:
- ProElite Omega Advantage (15% Protein | 8% Fiber | 24% Fat)
- ProElite Topline Advantage (50% Protein | 3% Fiber | 4.5% Fat)
