Encouraging heel growth and developing less tender hooves?

BOSS does wonders. Start with 1/4 cup and work up to 1 cup per feeding.

The first natural hoof practitioner, Alexander the Great, kept rocks in his horses' stalls. In battle his horses were able to stay strong on all terrain. Steve always suggested keeping some rock/gravel around the water trough so they have to walk on it daily. Zag's feet are ouchy on gravel. SERIOUSLY. So much that people would think he was lame because he was tip-toeing.

I should have said "the first RECORDED natural hoof practitioner"

Where do you get BOSS?

feed store or sometimes Walmart prices are good.  If it's safe for the birds I'm sure it's safe for horses. I've bought it there before.

Okay, I'll ask at the feed store.  Are they out of the shell or sold in bags for the birds with the shells on the seeds?  After watching Spirit go right over the gravel last night like it was nothing, I think I'm going to put all of them on turmeric/black pepper, too!

I learned about BOSS on this forum.  I put Sun on BOSS (starved skeleton when he came) and he grew a totally new hoof in less than a year.  He blew his sole (big abscess there),lost heel, and then, the new foot started growing and his feet did beautifully.  I credit the BOSS for the improvement and growth. Tried biotin but saw no improvement until I put him on BOSS.  All my horses get it .  They eat it unshelled right out of the bag.  I try to get it from the local feedmill where they grow their own but if I am out and in a hurry, I pick it up at TSC and, like Danehaven, figure if it is safe for birds it isn't  treated with something harmful to horses.  BTW, the local mill said they found they can buy it delivered from a place in the dakotas cheaper than they can grow it.  The horses love it now but when first introduced were suspicious.  

Okay, so the birdseed -kind

Bet they have that at the 99 Cent store too!  Maybe Winco as they carry bulk in bins..  I used to feed ground flaxseed from the bins at our Sprouts.

BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEED. (in the shell)

Not striped and not the kind that have the bird vitamins.

I usually get it at TSC. Feed stores have it also and wmart.

Start  with 1/4 cup and work up to a full cup per feeding.

My farrier couldn't believe how well and  how much it helped the horses I started  on it.

He tells everyone about it and I have had people call me on the phone raving how it saved their horses when he tells them he learned about it from me. Even one of the vet techs said " hey you are the one who started BOSS around here."

I may rethink giving it to mine because they grow so fast.

No black sunflower seeds at Walmart.... will keep looking.

Weird, what do you use for bird feeders there?

Here, the horses and the birds get BOSS.  Even the little sparrows, finches, chick-a-dees, and nuthatches like it.