[Tecumseh]

I am somewhat concerned that the hoof supplement I just started using is causing my gelding to be a bundle of nerves. I just started it Tues. (It is Farnam's Horseshoer's Secret). I started noticing last night he wouldn't pay attention to me while I was riding him and was torqued about my sweatshirt on the fence, my husband working on a fence, the dogs, etc. I rode and rode him, loped, loped, rode around the pasture, etc. He was still holding head up, looking worried at everything different, etc. You know the routine. I walked him around trees, etc. to take his mind off of it. He wasn't bad just leery of everything. Then tonight I couldn't ride (raining) so went to bring him in and then spend quality time. While brushing him on the cross ties, he caught sight of the cat sitting on the fence (through the barn window). He turned clear around, looking wild eyed, etc. I took him off ties and led him to see what it was. He sees this cat all the time!! This seemed to satisfy him. This is not how he usually acts. He was a bundle of nerves. The only thing that has changed is that supplement. Has anyone else had a similar experience! I hate to quit feeding it as it is expensive and his feet are looking like they could become dry and cracked (not yet, but want to nip in the bud) I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this on a supplement! Thanks!! Donna

[dallasbarnone]

ive used that for a year or more- i didnt notice anything like that- only when i tried Accel -that seems to whack them out for awhile. Sometimes if the horse needs what is in the supplement they will feel a little better and act "stupid" until they adjust-maybe thats it?

[juliesowner]

It is weird that it would cause all that but I believe it has lots of fats in it and that would give him extra energy.

Are you feeing it according to the directions?

Hang on and I will go check the label.

[juliesowner]

Here is the label:
Active Ingredients: Per 3 oz Per 6 oz
Calcium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700 mg . . . 3400 mg
Methionine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1446 mg . . . 2892 mg
Lysine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936 mg . . . 1872 mg
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
(Flax Meal – Alpha-linolenic) . . . . . 510 mg . . . 1020 mg
Phosphorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 426 mg . . . . 852 mg
Zinc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 mg . . . . 300 mg
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
(Soybean Oil – Alpha-linolenic) . . . . 95 mg . . . . 190 mg
Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 mg . . . . 100 mg
Biotin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 mg . . . . . 15 mg

The fatty acids could be causing it.

[dallasbarnone]

fat is a slow fuel though -sugar is the quick high- they even say to add oil to hyper horses and cut the grain. I dont really see anything in there -maybe there was a bear around and its got them on edge. Thats the only time i see a BIG diff in mine- i had a bear in the barn one nite- i hit it wth a plastic patio chair and whatever else i grabbed on the way in the barn-but the horses were whacked for a couple weeks -and last month there were bears sighted close and they were nutty then too.- then they spook at everything til it wears off and they forget about it.

[clyde-gal]

Maybe with the weather changing???

I don't see anything in the supplement that would do that!

[juliesowner]

BEARS!!!! Are you trying to give me nightmares?

[juliesowner]

That is true. Fat is a slow fuel. I don't know.

[LadyDulcinea]

I'm not trying to turn the topic in a different direction, but I was reading through it and had a question for dallasbarnone...what Kind of oil would be the correct oil to add to the feed of a hyper/nervous horse? I definately have one of those. lol.

[caballus]

All those ingredients in Farrier's Formula are awesome additives for a horses coat and hooves. None of them would cause behavioral issues unless the horse had a sensitivity to one of them or to the base. The one thing I would caution is the calcium if the horse is on an Alfalfa based diet. Alfalfa is already high in calcium so doesn't need added from any supplements.

Vitamin B6 is a good vitamin for nerves and for glucose/insulin levels. It is also water soluable so one cannot "overdose" themselves or their animals on it. Whatever is not utilized by the body is simply flushed out in the urine.

--caballus