{"id":4725,"date":"2026-01-13T11:35:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metazoa.nl\/?p=4725"},"modified":"2026-06-11T11:51:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T11:51:50","slug":"hoof-care-healthy-hooves-start-from-within","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metazoa.nl\/en\/hoof-care-healthy-hooves-start-from-within\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoof care: healthy hooves start from within"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hoof care: healthy hooves start from within<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_empty_space height=”34px”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/12″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”global grid” css=”.vc_custom_1748809565914{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}” el_id=”copsytuk”][vc_column el_class=”outer-col-1″][vc_empty_space height=”40px”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”terugnaar”]<\/i> Back to overview<\/a><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Every horse owner knows the image of the perfect hoof: strong, symmetrical, smooth, and free from cracks. But is that an unrealistic dream, or can we actually achieve it in everyday practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Belgium and the Netherlands, horse hooves face many challenges. Wet winters, hard surfaces, changing seasons, and often significant fluctuations in nutrition can make life difficult for the hoof. As hoof care specialists and nutrition experts, we strongly believe in balance, not only in the hoof itself, but throughout the entire horse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because a healthy hoof is not created solely by the farrier\u2019s rasp. It starts from within. <\/strong>Together with farrier Michael Feys, we would like to share our perspective.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nutrition: The Silent Force Behind Hoof Health<\/h2>\n

Many hoof problems originate from nutrition, often unintentionally.<\/p>\n

In winter, horses are typically fed hay along with various supplements. In summer, they switch to rich pasture grass containing high levels of sugars and proteins, often without adjusting the rest of the ration.<\/p>\n

These sudden changes place stress on the body, and the hoof reflects that story.<\/p>\n

For healthy hoof growth, a horse primarily needs:<\/p>\n