Does your horse have fragile hooves? This may be due to its race, metabolism, some genetic predispositions, or poor living conditions for its hoofs.
Among the main remedies available to strengthen cheva hoovesThe biotin cure, a vitamin known for its role in the synthesis of keratin, is the main protein present in the hoofs of horses.
Even if biotin does not replace regular care and good nutritionit may indeed promote the growth and health of your horse's hooves (but also those of his coat). In this article, we present you the main benefits of biotin for the horse and how to use it optimally.
What is biotin?
Biotin, also known as vitamin B8 or vitamin H, is a hydrosoluble vitamin belonging to vitamin B complex. The latter plays a central role in the cellular growth of all living beings, including the metabolism of many nutrients, including fatty acids, proteins and carbohydrates.
But the characteristic that interests us particularly in the case of horses is its role in the synthesis of keratin (or keratogenesis). Now this protein is present in the hooves, but also the horse hair, horn and mucous membranes. Biotin, combined with sulphur amino acids and some trace elements such as zinc, is an essential element for good keratogenicity.
Horses naturally synthesize biotin in their body, in the large intestine. It is also found naturally in certain foods, such as carrots, but also fresh fodder such as soya, alfalfa, barley, oats and yeasts.
Why does my horse need biotin?
The biotin is therefore essential to the optimal functioning of many enzymes present in the body of your horse (not limited to those involved in the growth of hoofs). For example, 4 biotin-dependent enzymes are involved in the degradation of fats, sugar and amino acids. As such, biotin helps boost your animal's energy levels.
After absorption of foods rich in vitamin B8, the microbes present in the horse's intestinet produce biotin, a part will then be absorbed by its body. However, and unlike other group B vitamins that appear in the small intestine, levels of biotin increase only in the posterior intestine.
In fact, if your animal suffers from digestive disorders (such as constipation, diarrhea or bloating) or if it is on a diet rich in cereals, it may not produce enough biotin. Hence the interest to supplement it with a biotin-rich supplement that promotes its bioavailability.
Several situations can push you to Boost your horse's biotin levels by supplementing his diet. Key reasons include:
1. Improving the health of its hooves
The first reason to give a biotin supplement to his horse is to promote the health of its hooves. Indeed, a 20 mg supplement per day can significantly improve the quality and strength of the hoof horn. By boosting keratin synthesis, the main protein found in horse hooves, an additional biotin can help repair broken or cracked hooves.
One study has thus shown that a biotin cure allowed for reduce the sensitivity of hoofs and boost the growth of the horn.
2. Support a healthy coat
As mentioned earlier, keratin is not only concentrated in hoofs. It is also a question of essential component of the coat and the skin of horses. A biotin supplement can thus prove beneficial to maintain the quality and health of your horse's hair.
After his cure, its coat will visibly be healthier and brighter. You can also supplement biotin intakes with other nutrients known to support horse peeling, such as copper, zinc or omega 3.
3. Strengthen the horse's skin
It is also known that there is a lack of biotin (due to poor diet or intestinal problems)t increase the risk of skin injury or skin diseases (e.g. dermatitis). Even if the deficiencies remain relatively rare in the horse, optimal intakes will allow for a better balance of fat in the skin cells. Complementing your horse with biotin will prevent the risk of scaly or dry skin.
4. Facilitate fat decomposition and boost energy levels
Biotin also acts in the production and decomposition of fats. As such, it is a key nutrient for active horses (race horses, endurance horses or work horses) that could benefit from higher energy levels and a supplement that will help them make the most of the nutrients in their diet.
Given the central role of biotin in energy metabolism, This supplement will play a major role in exercise tolerance and endurance. Horses with lower blood biotin levels tend to reach a critical level of lactate in the blood at lower stroke speeds. Conversely, biotin supplementation can help them maintain optimal running speed and endurance during exercise.
5. Regulating horse blood glucose
Biotin is also an essential cofactor for the enzyme glucokinase, which contributes directly to burning glucose, again to transform it into energy or to store it as glycogen so that it can be used during exercise.
Studies show that complementing his horse in biotin would help tolower blood sugar after a meal and thus improve its sensitivity to insulin. It is therefore a particularly interesting nutrient for animals with equine metabolic syndrome.
6. Regulate mood and decrease risk of anxiety in horses
Finally, Studies show that supplement your horse with vitamins Group B a calming effect on the horse. Biotin can therefore be an excellent natural remedy for anxiety, especially in competitive horses or to soothe the animal before a trip. More so thane stress in the horse has caused digestive disorders, which will limit the production of vitamin B by the intestine, creating a vicious circle at the expense of animal health.
How to give biotin to his horse?
In addition to Beer yeast which is a natural source of biotin, there are biotin supplements for horses in different forms. So you can turn to a solid supplement or liquid form to administer to your horse by mixing it with its daily ration. The dosage will vary depending on the weight of the animal and the severity of the problems it encounters (e.g. the condition of its hoofs).
Also keep in mind that biotin being vitamin with low bioavailability, only a small amount will actually be absorbed by the body of your horse. The improvement of symptoms (e.g. improvement of the condition of the horn of its hoofs) can therefore be rather slow to observe. Count at least 2 months of supplementation to feel its benefits.
To improve the assimilation of biotin, we advise you to Associate with other nutrients essential to horse health, such as zinc (which also favours the production of keratin) or methionine (an essential amino acid involved in the synthesis of keratin). You will see a faster and more effective strengthening of the health of your horse's hooves and hair.
Photo of the product Hypersport biotine above
ESC offers two biotin supplements:
- Biotin hypersport, a complementary food in the form of small granules enriched with biotin, but also vitamins, minerals and trace elements. *
- Liquid Hippobiotin, a complementary food in liquid form enriched with biotin, vitamins, minerals and trace elements (phosphorus, iron and zinc).
Pictured above our product Liquid hyppobiotin
