Firehorse
Well-Known Member
jst your thoughts pls. my new pony was fed biotin by his previous owners and i was jst looking on the internet to order some.
does biotin really work?
- Thread starter Firehorse
- Start date
Sprout
Well-Known Member
I would be interested in the answers you get - I have just put one of mine on it as suggested by my farrier, but its too early to know if it will make a difference.
merlinsquest
Well-Known Member
Only if your horse is deficient!!
There is a blood test that the vet can do to see, might be cheaper to do that than keep buying biotin for no reason
There is a blood test that the vet can do to see, might be cheaper to do that than keep buying biotin for no reason
diggerbez
Well-Known Member
i had my TB on it for a couple of years and in MY EXPERIENCE it did naf all...but sure others will have more positive views- i think (could be wrong) that if your feed is properly balanced then it should be feeding their hooves and hair anyway. i used keratex hoof hardener instead and really rate it!
MistletoeMegan
Well-Known Member
Biotin normally works best when fed alongside zinc and methionine, which most hoof supplements will contain.
I think you need to feed around 4mg of biotin per 100kg per day to your horse to see a difference, so check the labels of products to see how much they deliver.
I've had my chap on TopSpec Comprehensive to help with his feet and they've never grown so well since I've had him
I think you need to feed around 4mg of biotin per 100kg per day to your horse to see a difference, so check the labels of products to see how much they deliver.
I've had my chap on TopSpec Comprehensive to help with his feet and they've never grown so well since I've had him
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
Apparently not on its own. It has to be combined, as Megan says, with methionine at the very least
Worked on my lot
Bear in mind though that it'll take a while for you to notice any improvement (if you stopped feeding it) as it will affect the NEW horn growing at the coronet band.
Bear in mind though that it'll take a while for you to notice any improvement (if you stopped feeding it) as it will affect the NEW horn growing at the coronet band.
D
Donkeymad
Guest
In my experience - yes. I tried various hoof products, to no avail, so bought a Biotin compound (has all the other necessary ingredients) and there was an improvement later in my mares hooves. I believe they need to be fed a minimum of 15mg per day, and obviously it needs to be fed for about twelve months. It is also necessary to ensure all other aspects of the horses care are good, biotin cannot make up for incorrect feeding and farriery.
Carow
Well-Known Member
I have a 17yo IDx gelding on Equimins Biotin Plus and am really pleased with the improvement in hoof condition. He's been on this for about 9 months now (since I bought him) and there is significant improvement in horn quality and strength. Farrier recently commented on how much stronger hooves had become. Before I bought him he was losing shoes every week and when my farrier first attended him he had to cut away quite large amounts of poor horn and replace with filler. Horse no longer needs filler and goes 5 weeks between shoeings.
I try to use a varied approach to keep his hooves in good nick. Getting moisture balance seems to be key with him. I've been using Kevin Bacon dressing over winter and have also found Nettex Winter Hoof to be good. Will probably try Nettex Summer Hoof or an aqueous cream over summer.
Years ago (late 1980's) there was an article in the Veterinary Record which showed that alfalfa is good for improving condition of feet/horn growth so I feed Hi Fi original as part of his diet.
I try to use a varied approach to keep his hooves in good nick. Getting moisture balance seems to be key with him. I've been using Kevin Bacon dressing over winter and have also found Nettex Winter Hoof to be good. Will probably try Nettex Summer Hoof or an aqueous cream over summer.
Years ago (late 1980's) there was an article in the Veterinary Record which showed that alfalfa is good for improving condition of feet/horn growth so I feed Hi Fi original as part of his diet.
glenruby
Well-Known Member
I had huge problems with my first ponies feet - so much so I only got to ride him 3 times in the first year I had him as he was off work with drops, lost shoes every 2-3weeks and lost half of his hoof wall once when he lost a shoe.
Eventually I put him on a biotin supplement ( containing only biotin, a little zinc and v little else). I also started giving him chelated copper at the same time (he was a dun connemara and his mane was bleaching at the ends). He spent his last year with me barefoot - even competing at hunter trials and showjumpng and hunting without shoes. He was off work when I started him on the supplemtns as he had strangles and was like a coat rack - too thin to be ridden. When I took him back into work he had been on biotin 3 mths and there was a vast improvement - he managed to keep his shoes on between farrier visits for the first time. After 6 mths the farrier recommended he go barefoot behind - he couldnt believe itwas the same pony. He still says he was never seen a pony with worse hooves - or one who has improved so dramatically.
So if your horse has very poor feet its worth a shot. BTW I was actually recommended Farriers formula by the vet and farrier but went with a higher conc biotin supplement on the advice of friends who had used it with good results.
I did also use cornucrescine but I had been using that for about 9mths before the supplements with some (small) improvement.
Eventually I put him on a biotin supplement ( containing only biotin, a little zinc and v little else). I also started giving him chelated copper at the same time (he was a dun connemara and his mane was bleaching at the ends). He spent his last year with me barefoot - even competing at hunter trials and showjumpng and hunting without shoes. He was off work when I started him on the supplemtns as he had strangles and was like a coat rack - too thin to be ridden. When I took him back into work he had been on biotin 3 mths and there was a vast improvement - he managed to keep his shoes on between farrier visits for the first time. After 6 mths the farrier recommended he go barefoot behind - he couldnt believe itwas the same pony. He still says he was never seen a pony with worse hooves - or one who has improved so dramatically.
So if your horse has very poor feet its worth a shot. BTW I was actually recommended Farriers formula by the vet and farrier but went with a higher conc biotin supplement on the advice of friends who had used it with good results.
I did also use cornucrescine but I had been using that for about 9mths before the supplements with some (small) improvement.
jcberry
Well-Known Member
yes yes yes! my farrier totally recommends it. mine had trouble keeping shoes on, a few months down the line with biotin his feet are looking fantasitc
Mooch
Well-Known Member
It's worked wonders on both my horses feet.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Well our elderly unshod cob had very little growth when the farrier tried to trim her feet about 4 months ago but when he came last week he had to take quite a bit off. The only difference is that we have now been feeding her wheatgerm (much cheaper than biotin but just as good) for about 6 months. We give her 2x15gm spoons per day. Farrier is most impressed.
kellyeaton
Well-Known Member
my friends horse is a t/b and biotion worked for him it took a while to work and you have to stay on it full time put yes it works!