Biotin is a B vitamin and plays a crucial role in the health of horses’ coats and hooves. Biotin has several functions within the horse’s body. As a coenzyme, it contributes to various metabolic processes in the horse’s body. For example, it supports the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Biotin dosage for horses

In general, when adding vitamins to your horse’s diet, it is important to follow the correct dosage. However, this is difficult to determine precisely for biotin. The reason for this is that it is still unclear how much biotin a horse produces itself. Partly because of this, we also do not know the minimum amount of biotin a horse requires. However, we do know that biotin is one of the few vitamins for which a mega-dose can have a positive effect. Research has shown that 20,000 mcg (20 mg) of biotin per day significantly improves hoof quality. We also know that an excess of biotin does not pose a risk or become toxic, as a horse simply excretes the excess in its urine.

A hoof takes several months to grow from the coronary band to the weight-bearing surface. For this reason, it can take some time before you see an improvement in hoof quality after feeding your horse a mega-dose of biotin. When you feed your horse the increased dose of biotin, you will notice the positive effects after approximately 6–9 months. It is also important to give biotin consistently throughout this period. Research has shown that when you stop or reduce the dosage, the positive effects stop as well.

Sources of biotin

Although it is unclear exactly how much, we do know that horses themselves — or, more accurately, their microbiota — produce biotin. This happens during the fermentation of forage in the caecum and large intestine. To make matters even more uncertain, it is unclear how efficiently the biotin produced is absorbed in the caecum and large intestine, particularly when there are disturbances in the caecum and large intestine, such as an imbalance in the microbiota. What we do know is that biotin from feed may have a better chance of being absorbed by the body compared with biotin produced by the microbiota.

Biotin is naturally present in various products, including lucerne. Biotin can also be added to a premix. This is a mixture of vitamins and minerals that is added to supplements and feeds. In this way, biotin can also be added to supplements, balancers and concentrate feeds. However, biotin levels in most horse feeds are generally low because of the uncertainty surrounding the minimum biotin requirement in horses.

We recommend using 20,000 mcg (20 mg) as a guideline for optimal biotin effectiveness. The best way to make sure your horse receives this amount every day is to check the label of your horse’s feed.

Choosing the right biotin product

With so many different options on the market, choosing the right horse feed for your horse can be quite a challenge. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to biotin:

1. Choose a complete approach
   Healthy hooves require more than biotin alone. Other nutrients, such as zinc and copper, also play an important role in hoof formation and quality. It is therefore preferable to choose a biotin product that also contains relevant trace elements.
2. Choose a product with optimal biotin levels
   Research has shown that 20,000 mcg (20 mg) is the optimal biotin level for a noticeable difference in hoof health. Any excess is excreted by the horse in its urine. Therefore, choose a product with optimal rather than minimum biotin levels.
3. Choose the solution that suits your horse’s diet
   There are several ways to add sufficient biotin to the diet. With Hartog Essential and Hartog Comfort, you choose a complete feed that provides not only biotin but also all other essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements. At the recommended daily amount, your horse receives 20,000 mcg (20 mg) of biotin per day. Are you not looking for a complete feed, but for an additional supplement? Then you can specifically supplement the diet with Hartog Extra Care. Hartog Extra Care contains not only biotin, but is specifically formulated to support the hooves, skin and coat. Because it is an additional supplement, it can be combined with various balancers and concentrate feeds.

Biotin for horses

Biotin is highly valuable for the health of horses, with demonstrated benefits for the coat and hooves. Although the exact dosage is not clearly established, studies show that a daily dose of 20,000 mcg (20 mg) results in significant improvements in hoof quality. The biotin produced by the microbiota in the caecum and large intestine, together with the uncertainty surrounding its absorption, adds to the complexity of recommended biotin levels. For optimal biotin effectiveness, it is recommended to choose feeds with balanced levels, such as Hartog Extra Care, Hartog Essential and Hartog Comfort.