Case Study 19:

Hi there,

I just wanted to share my experience of using Formula⁴ Feet on one of our ponies, an 8 year old 14.2hh Connemara X. I hoping this doesn't tempt fate, but the results over the last 3 months have been very encouraging. Since we have had this pony I have always had to have either of his front shoes replaced at some time between his normal six weekly shoeing intervals as he always loses one or the other. Needless to say this is always before a weekend or just before he is due to compete which is always disappointing as, good as my farrier is, he doesn't cover 7 days a week. It had just become the norm for him to lose a shoe every week or so. Of course, the more often he lost a shoe, the more broken the hoof became and the cycle perpertuated.

Mocha

Now the good news. I started him on Formula⁴ Feet at the beginning of August 2008. He did lose a shoe a couple of weeks later, but since then he has kept them on. Obviously I wasn't expecting any miracles overnight, realising it takes a little time to get into the system. In fact I wasn't holding my breath for any improvement as I am a bit of a sceptic with regard to supplements. However, I had been using the same one for years which was a good reason to change. My farrier is due tomorrow for his usual six weekly visit and this will be the third time he has shod this pony without having to see us in between times. So 18 weeks without losing a shoe is a real record! I now expect him to have a full set on each time he comes in from the field rather than before when, despite overreach boots etc, I always expected him to be one short.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this success to continue as this has been a huge benefit to us. Naturally I feed it to my other two as well, one of whom is semi-retired and has had his back shoes left off now for a few months. His feet have not broken at all and he has not displayed any discomfort right from the start. Obviously it will be interesting to see how he fares over the Summer when the ground is dry and hard, but I am not expecting problems.

I am pleased to be able to report the success I have had which I have attributed to this product. I am not generally someone who would write to praise or complain about anything very often but this is an exception.

Best wishes

Shirley Haxell

P.S. Just to also let you know, Mocha still has all his shoes still on! If he makes it over the next couple of weeks that will be a whole six months! Keeping our fingers crossed!

His partner in crime, Ginger, taking the limelight in one of the photos, is now a totally barefoot seventeen year old! He seems to be coping without any problems, although the ground is obviously ideal for him at the moment.

Mocha and Ginger

PPS. I thought I would give you an another update on Mocha's progress as it is now exactly a year since we started using Formula⁴ Feet.

I am really pleased to say that the initial success has continued and he has
not lost any shoes for a whole year. His feet are looking really good, no
breaking or splitting and he has been going six weeks without a farrier
visit in the interim. That is such a change from a year ago when I had to
have at least one or two shoes replaced in between the normal scheduled
visits.

My older pony Ginger, has just had his front shoes on for the summer as he
has been out and about quite a bit, but I will be happy to leave them all
off for the Winter again as he coped so well last year.

I will definitely continue to use it for the both ponies and my young horse
as well as the benefits we are enjoying with Mocha make it worthwhile for
all of them.

Many thanks

Shirley Haxell