seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Can you feed both or would this be over-supplementing on certain vitamins.Say Top Spec feed balancer with Farriers Formula.Extravagant thing to do I know!
Feeding a Foot supplement on top of a feed balancer
- Thread starter seabiscuit
- Start date
sleepingdragon10
Well-Known Member
I would think that you'd be OK given that the FF is specifically for feet hence vits etc would be targetting that area, whereas a balancer is a more generalised form of supplementation.
RachelB
Well-Known Member
I read about a lot of balancers and foot supplements recently as my mare has been doing so well on NAF biotin but I wanted her on a pelleted balancer as well. Farriers Formula and Formula 4 Feet are both designed as balancers as well, apparently (as obviously good feet come from a good all-round nutrition, not just the biotin). So I personally wouldn't do that. Maiden has just gone onto Bailey's Lo Cal balancer in the hope that her feet will stay good due to the level of biotin in there. If not I'll probably get some biotin and feed half the recommended dose alongside the balancer.
Having said that, my YO feeds Lo Cal and Formula 4 Feet together, and her horses are still alive and well! Their feet are a bit rubbish though
What intrigues me though is that TopSpec say you can't feed any other supplements apart from salt with their balancer, but they themselves make supplements (to be fed alongside their balancers) such as their calmer or their hoof one! Bit of a ploy, me thinks?!
I would possibly try adding just the biotin, considering you're already feeding all the other necessary vits and mins via the TopSpec. It's cheaper, too!
Having said that, my YO feeds Lo Cal and Formula 4 Feet together, and her horses are still alive and well! Their feet are a bit rubbish though
What intrigues me though is that TopSpec say you can't feed any other supplements apart from salt with their balancer, but they themselves make supplements (to be fed alongside their balancers) such as their calmer or their hoof one! Bit of a ploy, me thinks?!
I would possibly try adding just the biotin, considering you're already feeding all the other necessary vits and mins via the TopSpec. It's cheaper, too!
seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys!
Silmallrillion- Interesting what you say about the results of Baileys Lo Cal with the formula 4 Feet! Mmmm... I am totally torn TBH as my horse is just beginning to look totally amazing on her Top Spec feed balancer, and a friend was absolutely raving about the results that she has had with Farriers Formula.. So am really keen to try the Farriers Formula, but very reluctant to take her off the Top Spec. But will try adding just the Biotin and see if that works well...but still cant help feeling that it wont be as good as the 'real thing' on its own !
Silmallrillion- Interesting what you say about the results of Baileys Lo Cal with the formula 4 Feet! Mmmm... I am totally torn TBH as my horse is just beginning to look totally amazing on her Top Spec feed balancer, and a friend was absolutely raving about the results that she has had with Farriers Formula.. So am really keen to try the Farriers Formula, but very reluctant to take her off the Top Spec. But will try adding just the Biotin and see if that works well...but still cant help feeling that it wont be as good as the 'real thing' on its own !
seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Hmph....sorry guys shouldve done my research before writing this post!
Have now read TOPspecs website..Silmallrillion yr right about topspec they are claiming that nothing else needs to be fed with their balancer...that it is an excellent foot supplement in its own right- has lots of biotin already in it..
Ok so now to find the farriers formula website to compare the levels of vitamins and minerals and biotin with top spec......
Have now read TOPspecs website..Silmallrillion yr right about topspec they are claiming that nothing else needs to be fed with their balancer...that it is an excellent foot supplement in its own right- has lots of biotin already in it..
Ok so now to find the farriers formula website to compare the levels of vitamins and minerals and biotin with top spec......
KatB
Well-Known Member
I use the topspec balancer as it is EXCELLENT for his feet and is more cost effective than paying for a foot supplement. Honestly all he gets is Alfa A and Topspec and his feet look the best they ever have. I also use Oakwood hoof dressing and have seen a 100% improvement 6 months down the line from being on TS. Over s certain amount of Biotin won't be absorbed by the gut anyway, so its basically going to end up as expensive poo!!
seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Ok so farriers formula has which top spec doesnt have;-
-Lecithin
-DL Methionine
-Vitamin C (particularly high levels)
-Cobalt
-Calcium Iodate
Hm actually I am seriously impressed by the farriers formula website-cannot believe I havent looked at their website before but like all these supplements you never really believe what they claim to do. FF seems it is totally proven to work . Think I will drop the top spec and put her on the FF !
-Lecithin
-DL Methionine
-Vitamin C (particularly high levels)
-Cobalt
-Calcium Iodate
Hm actually I am seriously impressed by the farriers formula website-cannot believe I havent looked at their website before but like all these supplements you never really believe what they claim to do. FF seems it is totally proven to work . Think I will drop the top spec and put her on the FF !
seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Wow thanks Kat, so you definately noticed the improvement as soon as you started feeding the top spec?
Gosh I am totally torn now! so difficult these things
Gosh I am totally torn now! so difficult these things
L
lilym
Guest
farriers formula and topspec balancer together would be totally overdoing it and and expensive waste of money, just stick to one, they both have a full vitamin/mineral balance, with all the correct nutrients for hoof growth so either would be fine.
KatB
Well-Known Member
Yep a definite improvement. I fed him it as a 3/4yr old, never ad a prob with his feet, then moved hi away, stopped feeding it, and when the new growth came down, he was loosing shoes and had really crumbly dry feet, even with having Kevin Bacon/Oakwood dressing on. Comes back, back on TS, started to grow more foot, and the new horn around his coronet band ws shiny and looked "well". Now 6mnths down the line, he is keeping shoes, and everyone is commenting on how good his feet look, no crumbling at all. My farrier says he has feet like his cob descendance now!!
Only chang is he is on TS and Alfa now.
RachelB
Well-Known Member
Not only would feeding both supplements be "over-doing it" as lilym said, very high levelsof certain vitamins can be quite toxic. That includes vitamin C (horses synthesise their own vit C so don't usually need supplementation, besides which vit C is very poorly absorbed anyway).
How long has the horse been on the TopSpec? You say she is "just beginning to look totally amazing on her Top Spec feed balancer" - I'm assuming not that long? Hoof horn takes 9-12 months to grow out, and a low dose (2-5mg) of biotin will take approximately 10-12 months to show an effect. It took 3 months for Maiden's feet to look better, using a combination of biotin, Cornucrescine, a feed balancer and 24/7 turnout on good grass. I'd say you'd have to give it at least 6 months before you could decide whether or not the TopSpec was having an effect.
How long has the horse been on the TopSpec? You say she is "just beginning to look totally amazing on her Top Spec feed balancer" - I'm assuming not that long? Hoof horn takes 9-12 months to grow out, and a low dose (2-5mg) of biotin will take approximately 10-12 months to show an effect. It took 3 months for Maiden's feet to look better, using a combination of biotin, Cornucrescine, a feed balancer and 24/7 turnout on good grass. I'd say you'd have to give it at least 6 months before you could decide whether or not the TopSpec was having an effect.
aran
Well-Known Member
have you compared the formula 4 feet against farriers formula - my farrier recommended f4f over ff (and it is a lot cheaper). i get mine from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/PREQUESTRIAN who were really good. arans doing really well on it.
Bounty
Well-Known Member
Another vote for TopSpec from me
Used to feed Formula4Feet until I realised that TopSpec had everything that F4F did and more in it, and was cheaper
I feed it alongside Alfalfa and unmollassed sugar beet, have found that since being on the TopSpec he hasn't needed the hard feed he was on before.
Rage's feet have been absolutely transformed
Used to feed Formula4Feet until I realised that TopSpec had everything that F4F did and more in it, and was cheaper
I feed it alongside Alfalfa and unmollassed sugar beet, have found that since being on the TopSpec he hasn't needed the hard feed he was on before.
Rage's feet have been absolutely transformed
eekmon
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Another vote for TopSpec from me
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep me too. the feet are one of the reasons I started on TopSpec about 4 years ago! I may be wrong but I think it has the reccomended 15 mg of biotin which is how much should be fed for good quaility horn growth. I too have been warned about 'over feeding suppliments '
Another vote for TopSpec from me
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep me too. the feet are one of the reasons I started on TopSpec about 4 years ago! I may be wrong but I think it has the reccomended 15 mg of biotin which is how much should be fed for good quaility horn growth. I too have been warned about 'over feeding suppliments '
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Another vote for TopSpec from me
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep me too. the feet are one of the reasons I started on TopSpec about 4 years ago! I may be wrong but I think it has the reccomended 15 mg of biotin which is how much should be fed for good quaility horn growth. I too have been warned about 'over feeding suppliments '
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Ditto. We've been using Top Spec balancer for a few years as well and our horses' feet are fab. Even our grumpy old farrier noticed the difference when we started feeding Top Spec to them, and that really was saying something!
There have been lots of comparisons done between various balancers and Top Spec always comes out best from the ones I've seen. (And no they weren't comissioned by Top Spec but done on various forums)!
[ QUOTE ]
Another vote for TopSpec from me
[/ QUOTE ]
Yep me too. the feet are one of the reasons I started on TopSpec about 4 years ago! I may be wrong but I think it has the reccomended 15 mg of biotin which is how much should be fed for good quaility horn growth. I too have been warned about 'over feeding suppliments '
[/ QUOTE ]
Ditto. We've been using Top Spec balancer for a few years as well and our horses' feet are fab. Even our grumpy old farrier noticed the difference when we started feeding Top Spec to them, and that really was saying something!
There have been lots of comparisons done between various balancers and Top Spec always comes out best from the ones I've seen. (And no they weren't comissioned by Top Spec but done on various forums)!
seabiscuit
Well-Known Member
Thank you all you guys...... Seems like top spec it is !!
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
You're very welcome. If you wanted to talk to them first though before making a final decision the lady at Top Spec is called Nicola Tyler and is really helpful. We have sought her advice several times over the years with different types of horses. You get good advice and no hard sell.
Pidge
Well-Known Member
If you're feeding Top Spec feed balancer you don't need to feed Farriers Formula as there is enough bits in the Top Spec for the feet. That's from Nicola at Top Spec who does Pidge's feed
He's been on this since I had him and his feet are pretty near perfect according to farrier