I started giving double strength Farriers Formula to my horse with chipped hooves about a month or so ago. I only had him on about a scoop of it from SmartPak but within the month I noticed he seemed more “up”? My horse is a typical quarterhorse: pretty slow and steady and when I found he started getting difficult to stop, rushing jumps, etc. I realized that something was up. I was looking at the ingredients and noticed the first ingredient was crude protein, 25% of it. I’m taking him off FF, but just wanted to see if anyone experienced anything similar of their horse getting more “up” when taking the supplement?
The fed amount of FF is so small that 25% protein wouldn’t make a difference in terms of energy.
I’d think there’s another culprit that may be the answer. 
A couple of years back I tried a competing product. It turned my normally quiet mare into a fire breathing dragon. I don’t use them with her anymore.
G.
I’ve been using the regular FF for years with no issues. I haven’t tried the double strength one. Is there some reason the regular was not working for you?
No, I ordered it through smartpak and I believe it’s the only one they carry for some reason. His feet were just very VERY cracked so I figured double strength would be a better option. Read up though that the biotin in a lot of hoof supplements can cause a horse’s energy level to rise due to it being a B protein.
I’ve been using FF double strength since it came out (and the regular before that) with my TB. Never seemed to make him hot in any way. Did wonders for his feed though. Even though he gets a very good diet, I do notice his feet chipping and cracking if I take him off the FF for any length of time. About a year after I started using it, he was able to go barefoot and been that way ever since.
Just cut the dose in half. You’ll get the same results without the side affect.
[QUOTE=gracecatherine14;8307888]
No, I ordered it through smartpak and I believe it’s the only one they carry for some reason. His feet were just very VERY cracked so I figured double strength would be a better option. Read up though that the biotin in a lot of hoof supplements can cause a horse’s energy level to rise due to it being a B protein.[/QUOTE]
OP, how long have you had the horse? What is the total diet?
Hooves are made of keratin, which is a protein. FF is simply a very expensive way to get more protein into your horse.
The DS is not double the amount in a serving as the regular. It’s the same amount of ingredients delivered in half the serving size.
I wouldn’t think it would take a month for something to show up as a sensitivity.
The only ingredients in the stuff that I know can cause a sensitivity is alfalfa. But there’s fenugreek too, maybe that’s affecting him? I mean, there’s just not much in there that he isn’t already eating from his normal feedstuffs
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Soy Protein Concentrate, Lecithin, Yeast Culture Dehydrated, DL-Methionine, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Basic Copper Chloride, Fenugreek Extract, Calcium Iodate.
I have been using it for several years. I wish it had that effect on my laid back qh!
It provides a whopping 21gm protein. That’s nothing compared to the 700gm-ish he needs. It really only has even that much because it’s just all mixed in an alfalfa base for palatability.
You’re really paying for the biotin (about 21gm) zinc (about 267gm) and copper (about 98gm)
It’s also a myth that protein makes horses hot.
And besides, as others have pointed out, the actual amount of either protein or calories that he’s getting from a dose of the Farriers’ Formula is pretty small.
Maybe something else has changed? Turnout? Feed? Exercise (or decreased levels of it)?
Maybe. If its stimulated enough new, healthy growth that his feet dont hurt anymore revealing training problems. Sometimes laid back horses are laid back because they hurt or dont feel well.
Otherwise, no, but cut the dose back so you dont waste money, stuffs expensive.
What “about a scoop” are you feeding? FF DS serving is 1/2c for a 1000lb horse, 3/4c for 1500lb.
