About the Program

Life Data® was founded in 1975 by J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS. Dr. Gravlee has utilized his research background to investigate the relationship between nutrition and specific conditions in horses. This research has contributed to the development of effective animal nutrition and health products. Life Data’s flagship product, Farrier’s Formula®, is well known as the gold standard of equine hoof supplements.

Dr. Gravlee’s compassion for equine nutrition created a dream that is now a reality. Life Data® has invested in laboratory equipment to analyze equine blood samples for nutrients and elements that commercial veterinary diagnostic labs do not perform.

Little is known about the mineral content of whole blood. Whole blood, rather than serum, best represents the mineral balance of the tissues. The Life Data® Nutrition Research Program will explore and determine the currently unknown metabolic correlations between approximately 30 trace minerals in the blood, with many having no known normal values. Horses being accepted in the research project include horses afflicted with specific conditions such as insulin resistance, Cushing’s, obesity, laminitis, hoof conditions, and anhidrosis.

The research project is focused on identifying and understanding the interaction of the basic minerals and elements in the bloodstream and their association with nutrition. The research encompasses not only the interaction of nutrient parameters with each other but also the relationship between different breeds of horses, regions of the country, age, gender, activities, and/or medical conditions. For example, do horses that live in regions of high iron content of the soils have a higher iron content in the blood, and if so is there indeed a relationship with iron or other minerals to medical conditions such as insulin resistance?

The goal of the research is to determine how nutrition impacts horses with metabolic conditions or other issues. We hope to show that specific dietary changes can help prevent these conditions from developing or improve the lives of afflicted horses.

Nutrition Program Conditions

Life Data® is Conducting Research on Horses with Any of These Specific Health Conditions:

  • Insulin Resistance
  • Cushing’s Disease (PPID)
  • Chronic Laminitis
  • White Line Disease and other hoof related conditions
  • Obesity
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Canker
  
    • Chronic dermatitis or other skin / hair coat conditions
    • Recurrent Colic
    • Contracted Tendons
    • Arthritis
    • Anemia in foals or adult horses
    • Recurrent Epistaxis
    • Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)
  
  • Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)
  • Vitamin toxicities
  • Selenium status
  • Infertility
  • Anhidrosis
  • Tying Up
  • High Performance
 

Please feel free to contact Life Data® regarding the Life Data® Nutrition Research Program at 256-370-7555 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The research and any generated reports are not intended to be used as a diagnosis or as a replacement of professional medical judgement.