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Biotin for hoof help?
Topic Started: Oct 2 2008, 08:53 AM (483 Views)
elektra949
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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Hi guys. I don't post much, but I have an issue. My TB's hooves are always torn up. The farrier says shoes aren't needed, and he's never lame (knock on wood) but he always has large chunks out of them and they are cracked and pretty bad by the time the farrier comes every 8 weeks.
I can;t get the farrier out any sooner on a regular basis without a big farm charge, since everyone else in the barn gets done very 8 weeks. Anyone have any experience with biotin for hoof strength and maintenance? experiences, likes, dislikes? I'd appreciate some input!
Thanks!
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mercury1
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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My TB gelding has similar feet and is also barefoot. My farrier doesn't mind all the chipping and says it's normal wear and tear.

He is on a biotin supplement though b/c he will be much worse off without it. I can't remember the name of the one I use, maybe Biotin Plus? Anyway, if you look at Smartpak's hoof supplement comparison chart, it's the one with 50 mg of biotin in it. I've tried a few others over the years, this one I like.
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2hsmommy
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Biotin helps wonders :yes: Helped my guy grow out new, stronger, healthier hoof in record time.

Also, you may want to try a hardener on the outer walls. Something like Keratex, I know there are others.
And there's a product called Equicast. It's a cast that gets wrapped around the hoof, activates with water and hardens like a cast for your arm/leg.
it doesn't last long though, but it's user very friendly! If you can wrap, you can put it on.



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headlesshorseman
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You're BANNED!
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My Oldenburg, Indy...has his TB mom's cracky/crappy feet...I DID have to put front shoes on him to HELP maintain them...it has worked..

BELIEVE it or not, I had him on a 4 week rotation for trimming..and just gave into the shoes...

DO you have a rasp????? I've done that too...HURTS your back..so be careful...but it doesn't hurt them for you to smooth out the rough edges....

My shoer is NOT concerned either...he said that sand cracks happen...and are just cosmetic...but as the horse owner....it's scarrry for sure..

I did try a biotin supplement too...but he ate around it...I've oiled, greased, painted his feet with everything...and it doesn't seem to work...

I DO OVER FILL the water buckets on purpose..so they all get moisture in/on their feet when they drink. That helps all of them..

I forgot to mention, that Biotin DOES take a while to start SHOWING the signs of working.....His hoof DOES have to grow out....

I SURE Hope it works for you......and find a nice tasting one too. ;)

HH :)
Edited by headlesshorseman, Oct 8 2008, 06:05 AM.
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Black Tack
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My tb had pretty bad feet as well. Hoof wall was very thin. He started losing shoes regularly.

I changed farriers, took him off sweet feed and found a low sugar feed, started using Biotyme and added Flax Appeal to his feed. His feet are great now :clap: Of course I can't say which thing did the most good but I think all of them helped to strengthen his hoof quality.

I have found that pretty much every farrier out there has a different favourite hoof supplement :teehee: My farrier loves Biotyme. It's half synthetic (which is quicker and easier to absorb) and half natural biotin. All I can say is that it has worked for us very well. And yes, it does take a few months before you will actually see a difference.
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pumpkin
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Weanling
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I have a TB mare, that due to an abscess that would not clear up , had to have part of her hoof cut away, from just below the coronet band to her toe(about two inches wide at the bottom) . She had a shoe put on to stablize the hoof. Blacksmith was out last week to reset her shoes and couldn't believe the growth we have attained in the last six weeks! 1/2 inch! We feed straight biotin, it's much cheaper than the 'formulas' you can buy and works just as well.
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risingstarfarm
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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One of my TBs gets Biotin (22X) and believe it or not MSM for his feet. His feet are naturally shelly and generally crappy. While the supplements help, what has made the most significant improvement is nightly application of Horseshoer's Secret Hoof treatment. HUGE improvement!
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goodhors
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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We had a young horse go from nice feet to shelly feet. We added biotin for a year, when she appeared to get her body system back in order. Her feet did visibly improve while on the Biotin, but we started using her more too. Could be a combination of the biotin and exercise improving circulation in the hooves.

We quit feeding biotin after a year, and her feet stayed in very good shape. Has had very good hoof quality in all the years since then. Worked hard, no problems, hooves were shod, held the shoes fine. Barefooted when bred and being a mom, nice feet. We blamed the shelly feet period, on something in her system just not using the available minerals and feed in an effective manner. Was just a period of time she passed thru. Came with good hooves, had her a year with good feet, then they just were not the good quality we expected. So she got the biotin added.

Another horse, half sister to the first, also had a body system problem for a while. Just no shine, lesser quality to her hooves, but not really shelly. For her, we added more soybean meal to her grain daily. Hooves improved slowly, shine developed quicker. Again, took about a year, and she got back on track, didn't need the extra soybean meal anymore.

We have always fed soybean meal in the grain, our own mix. Being protien, the soybean meal is very helpful to coat and hooves. I don't overfeed soybean meal, not even a huge portion of the mix. You are wasting your money trying to overfeed protien, because it does bad things unbalancing the diet.
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LaBonnieBon
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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i swear by platinum erformance's biotin!!! the only thing is that you will have to have your farrier out sooner than usual because of the growth. i had amazing results with the ones i put on it...

ETA it is called hoof support or something like that
Edited by LaBonnieBon, Jan 31 2009, 06:57 AM.
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