Autumn Hoof Care for Horses: best hoof supplements & breathable hoof barriers

Autumn brings rain, mud and rapid wet–dry cycles, making the hoof wall swell and shrink, which is exactly the type of conditions that stress hooves.

A tidy routine and smart nutrition makes the biggest difference in your Autumn hoof care for horses. Think about it in two parts: 
1.    Nutrition (hoof supplements)
2.    External protection (hoof barriers)

A dual approach will help prevent cracks, crumbling horn, white line disease and thrush as you move through late summer to winter.

Why hoof supplements help in Autumn

Hooves will grow at approximately 1cm per month and the hoof condition will reflect what the horse ate 8–12 weeks ago. Starting a horse hoof supplement now will pay off as the weather turns. After the Autumn flush of grass, pasture quality dips and diets change for winter; targeted hoof supplementation keeps new growth dense and resilient.

What the best hoof supplements for horses should contain

•    Biotin for hooves: the most researched nutrient for hoof quality. Aim for a minimum of 20 mg per day for a 500 kg horse
•    Sulphur amino acids, e.g., methionine: combined with the first limiting amino acid lysine, for optimal utilisation, to build keratin cross-links.
•    Zinc and copper: crucial for horn strength and hoof wall integrity. The ratio of zinc and copper in the supplement is important, it should be ~3–5:1
•    MSM as a sulphur source; many owners report better horn quality and comfort

Feeding strategy that protects the microbiome and hooves

For truly healthy hooves, pair supplements with a forage-first, low-starch diet. Keep starch per meal low, make any feed changes over 7–14 days, and support hydration with electrolyte supplementation. A healthy base diet will help reduce hindgut swings that can materialise as poor hoof condition and increased risk of laminitis. This is core equine nutrition for hoof health.

What kind of hoof barrier to apply in wet weather

In autumn, choose a breathable, water-repellent hoof barrier rather than heavy oil. You want to slow external water uptake while letting internal moisture escape.
Look for resin / wax blends (e.g., natural resins, lanolin) these create a thin film that resists mud and standing water without suffocating the wall.

How to apply: clean and dry the hoof; paint the outer walls from the coronary band to the ground. Apply to sole, heels and frog too.
Reserve shiny hoof oils for shows; frequent use in autumn can soften horn and trap moisture.

Daily autumn hoof care checklist
•    Pick out hooves twice daily; scrub frogs weekly with an antifungal solution if thrush threatens
•    Provide a dry standing area and avoid long periods in deep mud
•    Keep the farrier scheduled to every 4–6 weeks to keep hooves in optimal condition

Plusvital Acti-Hoof delivers 40 mg of biotin per 25 g serving to reliably support hoof growth across different bodyweights and individual absorption rates. It’s backed by the right building blocks: methionine & lysine, plus chelated zinc and copper in a 5:1 ratio for bioavailability. We’ve also included MSM as a highly available source of sulphur and live yeast to support fibre digestion and nutrient uptake, so more of what you feed actually gets utilised.

For the outside, choose Plusvital Hoofcare. Tried, tested and trusted for over 50 years, this original, breathable, resin based, water-repellent hoof barrier helps protect against the wet–dry swings of autumn, supporting harder, more resilient horn without suffocating the hoof.

Nourish from within with Acti-Hoof. Protect from the elements with Hoofcare. Perfect partners for year-round hoof health.