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Why You Should Supplement Biotin

Updated: Feb 25


You will have heard the expression 'no hoof, no horse'. One of the most critical aspects of horse care is hoof health. A popular supplement that has gained attention for its benefits in promoting healthy horse hooves is biotin. Sound Advice has a biotin-based supplement we call 'Biotin Trace Mix'. It contains the same ingredients as most of the other biotin supplements, but at a more competitive price. Here's why you should take a look.

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Biotin is also essential for the health of the skin, hair, and hooves. In horses, biotin plays a crucial role in the production of keratin, a protein that forms the primary structural component of the hoof.


We are very proud to have clients, who need their horses to be sound for their living, relying on Sound Advice Biotin Trace.


Apart from biotin, other nutrients also play a crucial role in promoting healthy horse hooves. These include protein, zinc, and copper. Sound Advice Biotin Trace includes copper, zinc, selenium and iodine. However, biotin is unique in that it helps regulate the production of keratin, which is a fibrous protein that makes up the bulk of the hoof horn. Biotin ensures that there is an adequate supply of keratin, which, in turn, promotes the growth and strength of the hooves.


We have many clients with performance, race or work horses (cattle working horses and working harness horses) who have used Sound Advice Biotin Trace for many years. These customers rely on this supplement to keep their horses sound year-round. We are very proud that the majority of these horses - whose owners depend on their horses to make a living - are completely sound barefoot.


Sound Advice Biotin Trace Mix is the most palatable of the Sound Advice Trace Mixes, so it's also suitable for picky thoroughbreds - notorious for having flat, flakey and cracked hooves.


Sound Advice has made Biotin Trace for over ten years and it has always been $30/kg. It's not too good to be true - we want to make our supplements affordable so that owners can supplement all their horses - not just the 'good horse'. Please compare our price.




Here are some studies supporting biotin supplementation for horse hoof health:

  1. Reilly, J. D., & Cottrell, D. F. (1998). Biotin supplementation and hoof problems. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 18(6), 417-418. doi: 10.1016/s0737-0806(98)80074-2

  2. Buffa, E. A., Rizzo, M. T., & Iodice, S. (2017). The effect of biotin on hoof horn quality in horses: A systematic review. Livestock Science, 198, 58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.01.004

  3. Josseck, H., Zenker, W., Geyer, H., & Fürst, A. (1995). Effects of biotin supplementation on hoof health in horses: A clinical trial. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 73(5), 228-236. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.1995.tb00591.x

  4. Josseck, H., Zenker, W., Geyer, H., & Fürst, A. (1997). Biotin status of horses with hoof problems and the effect of biotin feeding on hoof horn quality. Journal of Nutrition, 127(12), 2383S-2385S. doi: 10.1093/jn/127.12.2383S

  5. Buffa, E. A., Rizzo, M. T., & Iodice, S. (2018). Biotin supplementation in the horse: Effects on hoof growth and quality. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 64, 30-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.01.007

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