Farrier's Formula vs. Omega Horseshine vs. BioFlax...I'm going crazy

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

Help me out, I’m going crazy trying to decide which supplements to feed my OTTB. I did search the forum, and I spent about an hour reading the responses, and I’m still confused.

After about 3 years of horrible hoof care (and probably bad nutrition as well) by his previous owner, he came to us with his feet a MESS. He came to our barn (and regular hoof care/better diet) in January and we bought him in March of this year.

Our farrier recommended a hoof supplement to help his feet grow more quickly and to improve their condition. For one month, I gave him Farrier’s Formula double-strength. Then, after some more research, I switched and have been giving him Omega Horseshine, as I read a lot of good info on flax. After some MORE research, I’ve realized that Biotin is very important for hooves, and he’s not getting it in his Horseshine.

I am wondering if I should switch back to FFDS, or if I should feed him Omega Horseshine and maybe some Biotin added? Or Bioflax? I’m seriously making myself crazy over this. :lol:

We use Smartpaks because we board and it’s easier. I don’t mind paying a bit more for the convenience. He also gets SmartPerform (multi-vitamin-type supplement that does contain 5 mg biotin, but I think he needs 20).

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[2miniB]

Whenever I’m confused about which supplement would be better, I make a spreadsheet comparing each one. SmartPak makes this easier, since they have a comparison page. Like this for hoof supplements. Though the layout is a little confusing. I also use FeedXL to compare supplements, since my horses need a custom dose for most things.

I’d concentrate on getting enough zinc, copper, biotin and omega 3s. If he’s not picky, there are cheaper ways to feed flax than Omega Horseshine. Not to add more confusion, but it wouldn’t hurt to look at stomach/hindgut ulcers. Sometimes gut issues can translate into bad hooves.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

I have used the Smartpak comparison tool but thanks for mentioning FeedXL. Hindgut ulcers, hmm. I’ll look into that.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

One month is not enough time to see results from a hoof supplement. If the horse is on a balanced diet and is getting plenty of quality hay and pasture it’s most likely getting the biotin needed. It might be more beneficial to stay on the Horseshine and add an amino acid supplement like Tri Amino. Methionine plays a role in the synthesis of structural proteins, which aids in the health of hooves and connective tissue.

MSM is also great for feet. Both are much cheaper than Farrier’s Formula.

[Jungle_Monkey]

[QUOTE=OldLadyYoungOTTB;8715765]
Help me out, I’m going crazy trying to decide which supplements to feed my OTTB. I did search the forum, and I spent about an hour reading the responses, and I’m still confused.

After about 3 years of horrible hoof care (and probably bad nutrition as well) by his previous owner, he came to us with his feet a MESS. He came to our barn (and regular hoof care/better diet) in January and we bought him in March of this year.

Our farrier recommended a hoof supplement to help his feet grow more quickly and to improve their condition. For one month, I gave him Farrier’s Formula double-strength. Then, after some more research, I switched and have been giving him Omega Horseshine, as I read a lot of good info on flax. After some MORE research, I’ve realized that Biotin is very important for hooves, and he’s not getting it in his Horseshine.

I am wondering if I should switch back to FFDS, or if I should feed him Omega Horseshine and maybe some Biotin added? Or Bioflax? I’m seriously making myself crazy over this. :lol:

We use Smartpaks because we board and it’s easier. I don’t mind paying a bit more for the convenience. He also gets SmartPerform (multi-vitamin-type supplement that does contain 5 mg biotin, but I think he needs 20).

Thanks in advance for the advice![/QUOTE]

Definitely needs to be on the supplement for more than one month.
Omega Horseshine Ingredients: Stabilized Ground Flax Seed, Yeast Culture (Diamond V Yeast), Ground Oats, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate, Folic Acid, Niacinamide, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin and Thiamine.

Dbl Strength Farriers Formula Ingredients:Ingredients and Guaranteed Analysis. 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.

[FancyIllusions]

I feed Farrier’s Formula Double Strength. It does cost more, but I’ve personally had consistantly great results with it. I also know that it’s what both my farrier and my vet use on their own horses.

[redalter]

Another vote for Farriers Formula. I started feeding it back in the early 90’s when I had to order direct from them. Helped a number of ottbs, in a couple of different climates.

I’ve asked a number of farriers over the years, and every one, without exception, said Farriers Formula.

Have been told by a vet and several farriers that the DL methionine is the “kickstarter” for the biotin.

It just works.

Good luck with your horse!

[shubadi]

BioFlax20

I have been using this for my Arab for a few years now. He is barefoot. His feet have always been good but I started this supplement when he began getting lots of gravel bits stuck in his white line area. It did take a while to see a difference but my trimmer says his feet are good and hard now. I actually need to add a surface moisturizer since they are a little TOO dry.

I like all the HorseTech products. I get their PupSup for my doggies, too. I have heard you can call them and get some great advice.

Good luck! Tbreds can have challenging (shall we say) feet.:sadsmile:

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

Thanks all! Just to clarify, I did not switch from FF because I felt it wasn’t working. I realize it takes a long time for the hoof to grow out. I switched because I thought the Horseshine might be better for him overall.

And yes, I’ve heard that TB’s can have bad feet. Just yesterday he had to have his feet re-done early because he’s been stomping flies so much that he pushed all of his shoes back.

[Palm_Beach]

[QUOTE=OldLadyYoungOTTB;8715765]
Help me out, I’m going crazy trying to decide which supplements to feed my OTTB. I did search the forum, and I spent about an hour reading the responses, and I’m still confused.

After about 3 years of horrible hoof care (and probably bad nutrition as well) by his previous owner, he came to us with his feet a MESS. He came to our barn (and regular hoof care/better diet) in January and we bought him in March of this year.

Our farrier recommended a hoof supplement to help his feet grow more quickly and to improve their condition. For one month, I gave him Farrier’s Formula double-strength. Then, after some more research, I switched and have been giving him Omega Horseshine, as I read a lot of good info on flax. After some MORE research, I’ve realized that Biotin is very important for hooves, and he’s not getting it in his Horseshine.

I am wondering if I should switch back to FFDS, or if I should feed him Omega Horseshine and maybe some Biotin added? Or Bioflax? I’m seriously making myself crazy over this. :lol:

We use Smartpaks because we board and it’s easier. I don’t mind paying a bit more for the convenience. He also gets SmartPerform (multi-vitamin-type supplement that does contain 5 mg biotin, but I think he needs 20).

Thanks in advance for the advice![/QUOTE]

Yes, you are making yourself crazy.

Hoof supps are a complete waste of money. If your basic feeding program is correct, your horse will grow a good foot at a good pace. He needs a quality protein source, and enough of it. In addition, I find that horses with crappy feet respond to a fat supplement as well.

Is he in shoes? Is he boarded? If you can keep his feet dry and break the wet/dry daily cycle, it will help him. If he’s barefoot, I’d slap Cavallo boots on his front feet while he is turned out. You might have to put a turn of vetwrap around his pasterns to keep them from rubbing.

My tbs get free choice pasture/hay 24/7, TC Senior, TC 30% and sometimes ground flax. They grow foot like crazy.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

^^^Yep^^^

[BoyleHeightsKid]

http://www.fairhillforge.com/supplements.html

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8716542]
Yes, you are making yourself crazy.

Hoof supps are a complete waste of money. If your basic feeding program is correct, your horse will grow a good foot at a good pace. He needs a quality protein source, and enough of it. In addition, I find that horses with crappy feet respond to a fat supplement as well.

Is he in shoes? Is he boarded? If you can keep his feet dry and break the wet/dry daily cycle, it will help him. If he’s barefoot, I’d slap Cavallo boots on his front feet while he is turned out. You might have to put a turn of vetwrap around his pasterns to keep them from rubbing.

My tbs get free choice pasture/hay 24/7, TC Senior, TC 30% and sometimes ground flax. They grow foot like crazy.[/QUOTE]

He is in shoes, all 4. He’s boarded. And his feet are kept dry. He is in a dry paddock most of the time, and it’s kept clean. He gets about 4 hours of pasture a day. When it’s bad weather (stormy or super hot), he’s stalled, but once again, the stalls are cleaned daily. When he’s not on pasture, he has hay available. They get hay 3x a day and I’ve never been there when he didn’t have some hay in his stall/paddock. So, I don’t think wet is the problem. I do, however, hose him down in a wash rack after hard rides in the summer, but his feet were bad before that. And, it’s a well-drained wash rack, so it’s not like he’s standing in water.

Good thoughts on the diet. Maybe he just needs more time, as he had a questionable diet before he came to our stable in January. I know it can take a good year for the hoof to grow out.

[cloudyandcallie]

Takes about 4 months for a hoof supplement to show any effect. I like farrier’s formula, the enhanced version. Omega horseshine made Cloudy and Callie fat. Farrier’s formula helped their hooves.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8717399]
Takes about 4 months for a hoof supplement to show any effect. I like farrier’s formula, the enhanced version. Omega horseshine made Cloudy and Callie fat. Farrier’s formula helped their hooves.[/QUOTE]This horse is a TB and would most likely benefit from the Horseshine in other areas as well as hoof quality.

OP,FWIW… If my 18 y/o TB were only on pasture for 4 hours a day and stalled the rest of the time. He would be a lunatic and a jerk. If your boy was turned out on good pasture 24/7 his feet would benefit much from it.

[islandrider]

My vet and farrier like California Trace over Farrier’s Formula.

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8716542]
Yes, you are making yourself crazy.

Hoof supps are a complete waste of money. If your basic feeding program is correct, your horse will grow a good foot at a good pace. He needs a quality protein source, and enough of it. In addition, I find that horses with crappy feet respond to a fat supplement as well.

Is he in shoes? Is he boarded? If you can keep his feet dry and break the wet/dry daily cycle, it will help him. If he’s barefoot, I’d slap Cavallo boots on his front feet while he is turned out. You might have to put a turn of vetwrap around his pasterns to keep them from rubbing.

My tbs get free choice pasture/hay 24/7, TC Senior, TC 30% and sometimes ground flax. They grow foot like crazy.[/QUOTE]

Indeed. I have not fed a hoof supplement in over 10 years and all of my horses have grown lots of foot and generally had good feet. TC Senior and Legends Performance Pelleted (now CarbCare) have been my go-to feeds. If you feed the recommended amount, you are good to go.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

[QUOTE=BoyleHeightsKid;8717420]
This horse is a TB and would most likely benefit from the Horseshine in other areas as well as hoof quality.

OP,FWIW… If my 18 y/o TB were only on pasture for 4 hours a day and stalled the rest of the time. He would be a lunatic and a jerk. If your boy was turned out on good pasture 24/7 his feet would benefit much from it.[/QUOTE]

He’s not stalled the rest of the time…he’s in a dry paddock the rest of the time. The only time he’s stalled is if it’s crazy hot or stormy in the summer or very cold in the winter.

[SaratogaTB]

Palm Beach, I like your plan. My OTTBs are on nearly the same one: 24/7 good forage and turnout and TC Senior. Only thing I add is putting Keratex on the hoofs twice a week which seals them from moisture. I would skip the hoof supplements altogether and agree they are a waste of money. Focus on nutrition and good farrier.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

[QUOTE=OldLadyYoungOTTB;8717562]
He’s not stalled the rest of the time…he’s in a dry paddock the rest of the time. The only time he’s stalled is if it’s crazy hot or stormy in the summer or very cold in the winter.[/QUOTE]