Private and University Research on Farrier's Formula^®

The Result of Ten Years of Private Research

The development of Farrier's Formula^® is really a large part of the Life Data Labs story. Working for many years as an equine practitioner and nutritionist, Dr. Gravlee set out in his research to determine nutritional deficiencies in horses through laboratory testing.

Initially, he performed extensive lab tests and developed dietary supplements for individual horses to correct deficiencies. He re-tested at intervals to determine the exact nutrients required and the amounts needed for each animal. During this initial process, he quickly realized that many severe hoof problems could actually be corrected by correcting the nutritional deficiencies. So he began to look for exactly which nutrients were needed for healthy hooves.

Dr. Gravlee studied blood samples from over 200 horses - some with hoof problems and some without. Each blood sample was studied for more than 175 different factors. By entering this data into computerized database, he was able to determine through statistical analysis which nutrients were lacking in the horses with bad feet.

Farrier's Formula^® is the result of ten years of intensive research by Dr. Gravlee. It is a nutritional supplement, and its effectiveness has been proven in scientific studies at independent universities.

Confirmed Through Independent University Studies

Veterinary Record (1990) 127, 494-498

S.A. Kempson BSc, PhD,
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,
University of Edinburgh,
Summerhall, Edinburgh
EH9 1QH

Summary

Farrier's Formula^® feed supplement was added to the diet of 18 horses with 2 types of hoof horn defects. The first group of horses showed sand cracks and crumbling horn around the nail holes, the second group suffered frequent bruising and had flat feet with collapsed heels. Hoof clippings from both groups were studied in the transmission and scanning electron microscopes. All of the horses showed a progressive improvement in the gross and microscopic structure of the hoof horn, starting 6 weeks after the supplementation began. Once good quality hooof horn had grown, there was no relapse during the 2 year period of the study.

Electron Microscope Scan of the Hoof at the Beginning of the Study

The Same Hoof After Feeding with Farrier's Formula

The White Line at the beginning of the study:

The same White Line after six months of feeding Farrier's Formula

The Edinburgh Project

Under the supervision of Dr. S.A. Kempson Farrier's Formula^® was fed to 18 horses over a period of 1 to 2 years. According to the hoof horn defects they were divided into two groups:

1. Horses with sand cracks and crumbling horn around the nail holes
2. Horses with flat hooves and poor hoof growth, collapsed heels and frequent bruising

According to Dr. Kempson

Indeed, one horse was so sensitive he had not been able to wear shoes for 12 months, and was only sound on soft ground.

The results were remarkable; "All of the horses showed improvement with increased horn growth."

Within 6-12 weeks, all of the horses retained their shoes for a longer period of time.

Visible Results Within Only a Few Weeks

The first positive effects of Farrier's Formula^®, according to experience, are visible after 2-4 weeks in the form of a more glossy coat. After 9 weeks into the study, improvements in the horn quality below the coronary band were already visible. This layer of denser horn is easily differentiated from the old hoof horn. Electron microscope examination proved that the horn quality develped incresasingly more stable structure in the course of the study, and defects in the horn were eliminated.

Improved Growth and Higher Stability of the Hoof

In the course of the study all horses showed a clear improvement in their appearance and in the growth of the hoof horn. The quickest to react were those animals in the first group with visible horn defects such as sand cracks: Already after six to 12 weeks an extended shoeing interval was apparent and the farrier noted "a considerable improvement in the firmness and stability of the hoof wall".

In the case of the horse with the particularly severe hoof defects after eight weeks it was possible to observe a disappearance of the crumbling horn around the nail holes. In its place, a firm elastic horn gradually grew.

After 8 weeks of supplementation with FF, a visible ring of newly formed, physiological coronary horn became apparent in the horses with flat hooves, poor hoof growth, or collapsed heels. After 5 months a bulge was formed, which after 2-3 further months was gradually replaced by a newly formed, firmer hoof horn.

Results

At the end of the study period in all sample horses a considerably improved macro and micro structure of the new hoof horn could be determined as a reaction to the feeding of Farrier's Formula^®. A microscopically visible improvement of the horn growth and the horn quality that was spread over 2/3 of the horn capsule could be determined in all animals after an average of five month's supplementary feeding with Farrier's Formula^®. Also, in the horses that were fed a "biotin only" supplement without success, the horn quality was improved substantially when supplemented with Farrier's Formula^®.