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: Do owners need to worry about black walnut concerns with horses?

By Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

A: The greatest concern is the presence of black walnut in bedding, which can lead to laminitis or founder. Since black walnut is used extensively in furniture, horse owners should avoid using shavings that come from furniture manufacturers. Pollen from black walnut trees and eating moldy fallen walnuts has also been shown to lead to laminitis.

With black walnut shavings, clinical signs of laminitis typically occur within a few days of exposure to fresh shavings from both new and old wood. Bedding containing as little as 20% black walnut shavings can be a problem.

There is little evidence to indicate horses grazing under walnut trees will develop laminitis. However, owners should remove moldy walnuts from pastures as the nuts may often contain fungal toxins.

With black walnut shavings the signs of laminitis are often reversible within 1 or 2 days after removal of the offending bedding, providing coffin bone rotation has not occurred.

Taken from a fact sheet for horse owners provided by the By Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is brought to you by W.F. Young Co. (Absorbine). Absorbine

Like many significant achievements, Absorbine® grew out of humble beginnings—and through the tenacity of someone willing to question the status quo. In this case, it was a young woman in late 19th-century Massachusetts: Mary Ida Young. Her husband, Wilbur Fenelon Young, was an enterprising piano deliveryman who relied on the couple’s team of horses to make deliveries throughout the Northeast. Inspired by Mary Ida and Wilbur’s vision, Absorbine® has continued to add innovative products throughout the years — products used every day by horse owners around the world. Which is why, since 1892, we’ve been The Horse World’s Most Trusted Name®.

Click here to read Part 1 of the August 1, 2016 installment: What role do antioxidants play in hoof growth and health?

Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.