As summer begins to fade and autumn approaches, your horse’s body starts preparing for the colder months ahead. Their summer coat begins to shed, a thicker winter coat starts to develop, and changing weather can present new challenges for hoof and skin health.
This makes autumn an important time to review your horse’s nutrition and make sure they’re receiving the nutrients needed to support healthy hooves, skin and coat from the inside out.
From good grooming and balanced nutrition to choosing a biotin hoof supplement for your horse, here are some simple ways to help them transition into winter looking and feeling their best.
Why Does Your Horse’s Coat Change in Autumn?
A horse’s seasonal coat changes are largely influenced by changing daylight hours. As the days become shorter, horses naturally begin developing the thicker coat that will help protect them during winter.
During this transition, you might notice plenty of loose hair while grooming and changes in the texture or appearance of your horse’s coat.
Regular grooming is particularly useful at this time of year. Not only does it help remove loose hair, dirt and dead skin, but it also gives you an opportunity to check your horse closely for lumps, bumps, sore areas or changes in skin condition.
While grooming takes care of the outside, good nutrition provides the building blocks needed to support healthy skin and hair growth from within.
Don't Forget About Hoof Health
Autumn doesn’t just bring changes to your horse’s coat.
The transition from dry summer ground to wetter autumn conditions can mean your horse’s hooves experience significant changes in moisture. Hooves that repeatedly move between wet and dry conditions can become more susceptible to changes in quality, so maintaining a consistent hoof-care routine is important.
Continue with regular farrier visits and daily hoof picking, and pay attention to changes such as:
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Cracks or splits
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Brittle or crumbling hoof horn
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Changes around the white line or frog
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Loose or frequently lost shoes
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Unusual odours, heat or sensitivity
Nutrition is another important part of maintaining healthy hoof growth.
Why Consider a Biotin Hoof Supplement for Your Horse?
Biotin is a B vitamin commonly included in equine supplements designed to support hoof quality. It plays a role in the formation of keratin, the structural protein found in the hoof wall as well as hair and skin.
For horses with poor-quality, brittle or slow-growing hooves, providing biotin alongside other complementary nutrients can help support healthy hoof growth over time.
However, hoof growth is a slow process. A biotin hoof supplement for horses should therefore be viewed as part of a consistent, long-term hoof-care programme rather than a quick seasonal fix.
Starting during the autumn is a great way to establish a daily routine that can be maintained throughout winter and beyond.
More Than Biotin: Nutrients That Support Hooves, Skin & Coat
Biotin may be one of the best-known nutrients associated with equine hoof health, but it doesn't work in isolation.
A good hoof-support formula can provide complementary nutrients involved in keratin production, tissue maintenance and normal growth.
These can include:
Methionine – an essential amino acid and a building block involved in keratin production.
Zinc – an important trace mineral involved in numerous processes throughout the body, including the maintenance of normal skin, hair and hooves.
Sulphur – an important component of keratin. Ingredients such as MSM can provide a source of sulphur within the diet.
Vitamin C – an antioxidant that also plays a role in normal collagen and connective tissue formation.
Ensuring the overall diet is properly balanced remains essential. Supplements should complement good-quality forage and an appropriate feeding programme rather than replace them.
Supporting Hoof Health with Biodura
For horses that need additional nutritional hoof support, Aviform Biodura is a comprehensive biotin hoof supplement for horses formulated to support healthy hoof growth, quality and strength.
Rather than relying on biotin alone, Biodura combines several complementary nutrients involved in hoof health. A 12g daily serving provides:
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14mg Biotin
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3,500mg Methionine
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300mg MSM
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108mg Zinc
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500mg Vitamin C
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800mg Calcium
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2,000mg Jiaogulan
The combination is designed to provide nutritional support for keratin formation, hoof structure and healthy hoof growth, making it particularly useful for horses with weak, brittle or slow-growing hooves.
Biodura can be fed daily, with the recommended amount adjusted according to the horse’s bodyweight.
5 Ways to Prepare Hooves, Skin & Coat for Winter
As the seasons change, a few simple adjustments to your routine can make a big difference:
1. Groom regularly
Remove loose summer coat, mud and dirt while keeping a close eye on skin condition.
2. Maintain your farrier schedule
Don't let hoof care slip simply because your horse's workload changes during autumn or winter.
3. Pick out feet daily
Wetter fields and muddy conditions make regular hoof checks especially important.
4. Review their nutrition
Make sure your horse receives a balanced diet appropriate for their workload, age and condition. If hoof quality is a concern, consider whether targeted nutritional support may be beneficial.
5. Be consistent
Healthy hoof growth takes time. If you're feeding a hoof supplement, consistency is far more important than waiting until hoof quality has already deteriorated.
Get Ahead of Winter
Autumn is the ideal opportunity to prepare rather than react.
As your horse grows their winter coat and conditions underfoot begin to change, maintaining good grooming, nutrition and farriery can help keep their skin, coat and hooves in great condition throughout the colder months.
If your horse struggles with weak, cracked or brittle feet, introducing a high-quality biotin hoof supplement for your horse can provide additional nutritional support for healthy hoof growth.
With 14mg of biotin per 12g serving alongside methionine, MSM, zinc and other supporting nutrients, Biodura provides a comprehensive approach to hoof nutrition - helping you support healthy feet from the inside out.