Hoof Nutrition Intelligence Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.

Below you will find Part 2 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.

Q: Is vitamin C an important dietary ingredient for hoof quality?

By J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS, and Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS, Life Data Labs

A: Along with copper, vitamin C serves as a catalyst in the formation of strong and healthy hoof horn. Supplementation of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is traditionally believed to be unnecessary in most horses. However, research conducted at Life Data Labs established that stabled or stressed horses often have minimal blood levels of ascorbic acid and can therefore benefit from vitamin C supplementation.

Frank Gravlee and Scott Gravlee are veterinarians and equine nutrition consultants at Life Data Labs, Inc. in Cherokee, Ala.

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Click here to read part 1 of the Aug. 1, 2020 installment of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence: During these hot days, how much water does my horse need on a daily basis?

Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.