Best Guess Mineral Mix – Carol Layton

The Best Guess, Hoof Rescue and Hoof Rescue +Se mineral mixes came about after a few farriers/trimmers requested it on behalf of horse owners who didn't want to go the whole effort of testing their pasture and/or hay.

The Best Guess mineral mix contains significant amounts of copper, zinc plus iodine. Most mineral mix products contain a smorgasbord of nutrients that are known by many nutritionists as the 'everything but the kitchen sink' type. On a high pasture/hay diet, many of these nutrients are unnecessary and simply make expensive manure.

There is NO added iron and manganese which are harmful in excess, and compete with the uptake of zinc and copper. Pasture and hay tests around Australia have shown that iron and manganese is often excessive, particularly iron. There is no excretory pathway for excessive iron and excessive manganese is an issue because it takes up storage space that normally is for iron, resulting in more free iron circulating in the system.

If the Best Guess mineral mix doesn't help (poor coat appearance, compromised immune system, poor hoof quality), then we know ideally, the pasture/hay should be tested to see what the mineral levels and copper to zinc ratio is. This will tell us what amounts of copper and zinc are needed to optimise the rest of the intake (and the other nutrients like protein, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium).

Safe for laminitic prone or insulin resistant (IR) horses.