Compare Hoof Supplements: Ultra Cruz v. Farriers Formula

[HJdaydream]

Hello! I am hoping someone can help me compare these two hoof supplements: Ultra Cruz Hoof Supplement for Horses, Advanced and Farriers Formula Double Strength. I’ve included the ingredient lists below. I’ve been using FF for about 2 years now on my farrier’s recommendation. My horse’s hooves are much better now than they were before we started it.

The reason I’m considering a switch is price. I use the Ultra Cruz natural VitE and decided to check out their hoof supplement. At 63 cents a day it’s definitely a better price than FF’s $1.40/day. A cursory glance at the ingredients does look like there is less zinc and copper in the Ultra Cruz version, but otherwise they seem pretty comparable. The FF does have other ingredients as well that aren’t included in the Ultra Cruz.

Hoof supplement gurus, can you shed some of light on the differences and share which one you would use?

[LCDR]

I base my analysis solely (pun just noted) on the dosage of biotin per day. IMO that is the only ingredient worth considering. One of your two choices has about twice as much biotin per pound, but you do the math based on your cost and what dosage you want the horse to have.

In 40 years of asking my farriers about hoof supplements, not one of mine has said to use one. Now if there is a dietary deficiency or a bioavailability problem, that is a vet determination.

[Amy3996]

What’s the rest of her diet look like? A hoof supplement can spot treat in some cases, but may not even be necessary if you can balance the rest of the diet.

[RhythmNCruise]

I hate when people do this, but I’m going to offer up a third choice: Uckele’s CocoHoof. It has more copper and zinc and biotin and if you get the 12-pound bag it’s $0.48/day (4-lb bag = $0.62/day).

[Obsidian_Fire]

@JB - please weigh in.

Nu Hoof Accelerator. It is the most complete product on the market with enough of the necessary ingredients to actually matter.
You don’t just need Biotin for hoof growth. You also need methionine, lysine, sulfur, zinc, copper.
What I can tell you about Santa Cruz is when you break the ppm into actual mg, it isn’t worth much.

What is the rest of the horses diet like?

[fivestrideline]

@Obsidian_Fire

You don’t just need Biotin for hoof growth. You also need methionine, lysine, sulfur, zinc, copper.

This! I supplement Cu/Zn, biotin, and feed enough protein (or supplement if needed). I used to feed FF but dropped it when I realized the “important” ingredients were cheaper individually

[JB]

@HJdaydream

I’ve been using FF for about 2 years now on my farrier’s recommendation. My horse’s hooves are much better now than they were before we started it.

What were the issues 2 years ago? How long had you had the horse, and how long had this farrier been working on him?

What was the diet 2 years ago, and what’s it been since then?

Generally, I want good amounts of copper and zinc in a “hoof supplement”, assuming the rest of the diet is pretty typical, with either a ration balance or regular feed fed at, at least, the minimally required amount. If you’re in some areas of the country, like the Arizona area, you might benefit from extra manganese as well.

By “good” I mean at least 100mg Cu and 400mg Zn, without getting too far out of a 1:3-4 ratio of those 2.

Needing biotin to help is far less common than needing additional Cu and Zn.

So, I can’t really give input on what might be the most bang for your buck, without that info

[HJdaydream]

I am happy to provide more back story, I just ask that people be kind. I’m at a full care h/j show program where the feed program is decided by the barn manager, and I may not have all the answers.

I do not know what diet he was on when I bought him. He was 4 coming 5 at the time and had recently been imported, only in there US about 2 months. I know he had thin soles on his X-rays and was immediately told he had “crappy feet” by our farrier, but that it would get better with time. The farrier had to use a lot of epoxy type stuff on the walls in the beginning because they would break off around the nail holes. The farrier recommended I start him on Farrier’s Formula Double Strength from the get go, so I did. He has been on it ever since (2 years now). I will say he was a bit underweight and borderline thrifty looking when he arrived. He’s a big horse though, and was definitely going through a major growth spurt.

He gets approx 6 lbs of Purina Strategy Professional Formula and 3 lbs of Purina Senior per day now. The barn feeds hay 3 times per day (coastal) and it appears to be around 4-5 flakes per serving from what I’ve observed. They also have round bales out in turnout most of the year, and large grass paddocks (although not the highest quality grass by any means).

He’s coming 7 this spring and has grown 1.5 inches, as well as putting on a tonight weight and muscle.

[JB]

Thanks! So, it sounds very possible that simply getting on a better feeding program, and better farrier care, probably did the majority of the work improving things.

9lb of fortified feeds is a lot, and at this point, the more useful parts of hoof health - copper and zinc, along with amino acids - are plentiful.

6lb of Strategy is 218mg Cu and 763mg Zn
3lb Sr is another 75mg and 300mg

That means the totals are 293 and 1063, which is plenty

So honestly, I wouldn’t add more

FFDS has been adding an additional 92mg and 250mg, and just isn’t needed.

If you really wanted to do something, I’d add plain biotin. Human gelcaps often come in 5000mcg (5mg) sizes, so you could toss in 5 or so.

I’d probably give him an extra Vit E. He’s getting a total of 1170 between the 2 feeds, but half is probably synthetic, so it’s more like 977IU. Essentially, I’d aim for a total of around 2IU per pound, so if he’s 1300lb, that’s 2600 minues the 977 so 1623, round to 1500 additional

[HJdaydream]

Thank you so much for your response @JB (and everyone else). I have always loved reading your very informative posts.

I have suspected that as well- that the better diet might be the reason his feet have improved. I’ve certainly begun to wonder if $55/month for FFDS is actually worth it.

Interesting that you mentioned VitE, I actually use the Ultra Cruz natural VitE pellets already. I’m in Texas and there are large parts of the year where there isn’t a lot or any green grass for grazing. That’s what led me to investigate their version of Hoof supplement.

[gradytb]

I’ve used FF2 for over 5 years on my OTTBs who came to me with various degrees of “oh crap” feet. My current guy is on a high-fat, low-carb feed (Nutrena Pro Force Fuel) at 2 lbs/day. I also give 1 scoop of Platinum and ½ c FF2 daily. His feet (and coat) went from yikes to having reliable growth every month and even grew out a quarter crack in less than 4 months. He loads his feet completely unevenly (conformation), but I have a great farrier. He’s turned out 24x7 except for feeding twice and day and if he wants to come in, he can but he’s hell on wheels and doesn’t even lose shoes. I don’t know about all the elements of the supplements but I will testify that FF2 has been amazing for my guys.

[gradytb]

Just as a note - I"m in Texas too (Hill Country), so you know the terrain here is rock and difficult anyway…