Proving the Effectiveness of Farrier’s Formula® Through Independent Scientific Research
Author: Life Data Labs Inc Date Posted: 18 June 2025
Decades of research, data on over 300 horses – often over 200 laboratory tests on each horse, and an Independent University Study – these were just a few of the steps Dr. Frank Gravlee invested in the development of Farrier’s Formula®.
Farrier’s Formula® ushered in the concept of “Feeding for Hoof Health,” literally. When Dr. Frank Gravlee began his research in 1973, there was very little understanding of how nutrition affected the hoof, and prior research had not been performed on the subject. His research was not based on the work of others; it did not incorporate popular equine feeding trends and was not influenced by data from other species. Dr. Gravlee’s research to develop Farrier’s Formula® was innovative, groundbreaking, and continues to be used for the betterment of hoof health today.
“We’ve determined that horses with hoof problems often suffer from as many as 12 nutritional concerns that affect tissue structure.”
– Dr. Frank Gravlee, American Farrier’s Journal, Volume 33, Number 5.
Putting the Formula to the Test
Confident in his research and the results Farrier’s Formula® produced in horses, Dr. Gravlee took a step that many equine nutritional companies have never taken. He sought out a third party to conduct independent research on Farrier’s Formula®. Dr. Gravlee wanted to achieve two objectives with this independent research:
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To prove the effectiveness of Farrier’s Formula® through an unbiased and reputable source.
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To determine how feeding Farrier’s Formula® affects the molecular level of the hoof structure
These objectives led him to Dr. S.A. Kempson at the Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, who specialized in electron scan microscopic analysis of the hoof structure. In the late 1980s, Dr. Kempson began her study by adding Farrier’s Formula® to the diet of 18 horses with two types of hoof horn defects:
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Horses with sand cracks and crumbling horn around the nail holes
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Horses with flat hooves and poor hoof growth, collapsed heels, and frequent bruising
The two groups of horses were fed Farrier’s Formula® for a period of 1 to 2 years under the supervision of Dr. Kempson. Hoof clippings from both groups were taken and studied in the transmission and scanning electron microscopes. On November 17, 1990, Dr. Kempson’s findings were published in The Veterinary Record (127, 494-498).
Results of the Independent University Research on Farrier’s Formula®
Photos provided by Dr. S.A. Kempson
In summary, Dr. Kempson’s study discovered:
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Farrier’s Formula® produced visible results in the hair coat and hoof growth for all 18 horses within only a few weeks.
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All 18 horses showed improved growth and higher connective tissue density of the hoof wall. (As shown through the Scanning Electron Microscope images.)
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Horses fed a “Biotin Only” supplement without success, had substantial hoof quality improvement after Farrier’s Formula® supplementation
At the end of the study, Dr. Kempson determined that feeding Farrier’s Formula® produced considerable improvement in the macro and micro structure of the new hoof horn. The study also showed that microscopically visible improvement of hoof growth and quality was visible for 2/3 of the horn capsule after an average of 5 months of feeding Farrier’s Formula®. Lastly, no relapse occurred in hoof quality during the study once good quality hoof horn had been established.
“Indeed, one horse was so sensitive he had not been able to wear shoes for 12 months, and was only sound on soft ground. The results were remarkable. All of the horses showed improvement with increased horn growth. Within 6-12 weeks, all of the horses retained their shoes for a longer period of time.” – Dr. S.A. Kempson
You can read the full report published in The Veterinary Record, “Ultrastructural Observation on the Response of Equine Hoof Defects to Dietary Supplementation with Farrier’s Formula.”
Life Data® Research and Product Development
Dr. Frank Gravlee’s innovative research did not stop with Farrier’s Formula®. Every Life Data® product was formulated with the same care, attention to detail, and scientific research that was poured into the formulation of Farrier’s Formula®. The Life Data® database of equine blood test results has continued to expand over the years, enabling us to delve deeper into the impact of nutrition on horses.
