to use hoof treatment or not? help please!

[*Grey Gelding*]

Hey!
okay so ive always used hoof oil in the summer months to keep my boy's feet nice and healthy. Last summer i noticed his feet had began to crack more so i went out and got a hoof moist gel like solution and started applying that - it made his hoofs shiny :) but didnt show any difference in apperance!:mad:
and then when my farrier was up doing him last summer i asked what would be best to use for cracks? and he said nothing! :confused: said that hard hooves go best on hard ground :confused: :eek: and....... then my sharer began using NAF on his feet this yr and i again couldnt decide what was best??
To treat or not to treat?? lol.
Can anyone help??
:)

[Bay Mare]

Definitely not hoof oil as it can actually end up drying the hooves out altogether.

Unfortunately I can't put piccies up from work but the difference between Saffy's feet when I got her (dry and horrid) to now (not dry) is amazing. The only thing that I've done is take her shoes off and change her diet. She's been much better hoof wise and skin wise on a forage based diet. Nothing fancy just grass, lucerne, hay/haylage and a couple of apples. For supplements I use CalMag, linseed and 1/4 ration of TS Anti-Lam (though I'm not convinced that the Anti-Lam has made any difference and won't be buying another bag).

I do think that a good trim (whether shod or unshod) and a good diet does far more good than any lotions and potions. Oh, and, of course, keeping on top of any WLD and thrush.

Some people advocate soaking their hooves, I've not tried this myself except when infection busting so can't comment on how effective it is :)

[magicalmac]

My farrier told me to keep hoof oil for the show ring only, it dries to hoof out. He did suggest soaking with water if we have a long dry spell. I tried this last year and it seemed to work but it might have been just as effective if I used nothing, but will give it a go again this year. Im with Bay Mare feed the hooves from the inside not the outside.

[Bebe]

Nothing you put on the hoof will make much difference really. There are a couple of products that can offer a bit of help in very wet weather, Keratex Hoof Gel and Right Step Hoof Dressing are the two that spring to mind but you have to be careful with the application of those as one can dry the hoof too much and cause microscopic cracks that weaken the horse and the other has a reputation for sealing in infection.

The very best thing you can do for your horses hooves is ensure that they are well balanced, don't get too long between trims and are free from infection. To top this off you also need to ensure that the horses diet is balanced, low in sugar and starch and contains good amounts of protein, magensium and Omega oils.

[Peanut]

I do feed biotin for hooves and it does make a difference. Otherwise my farrier always recommends a water based product like Hoof Moist. Hoof Oil is for shows only.

[Wally]

Get his feet wet, soaked, every day in the summer, stand him in a stream, or a bog, or a some wet straw.

A friend made a deep foot bath in front of his hitching rail, so that in summer the horses can stand in a shallow bath of water.

[becs]

I understood the hoof lotions etc have a limited effect, depending also on weather, eg how wet they're standing, day to day - or if it goes from very wet for weeks then drought, etc.

The oils can keep water out as well as in.

Echo Bay Mare re key factors being a good regular trim and diet / nutrition.

[*Grey Gelding*]

... ensure that the horses diet is balanced and contains good amounts of protein, magensium and Omega oils.

Thanks everyone i will defos try soaking his feet from now on and see what difference that makes! His diet is very healthy! Never had a problem like this before and think its a good idea to maybe introduce a higher amount of protein and omega oils as suggested above!
Thanks so much :)

[clipertyclop]

hey *Grey Gelding*,

I'm a believer that it's what you put in not what you put on that works.
I used to soak my horses feet with water everyday through the summer or stand in a stream where possible, I don't like hoof oil and such like as I think it does more harm than good. I found that dry woodchip beds are a killer for feet they dry them out something terrible too.

love Clip

[*Grey Gelding*]

Thanks will defos start soaking his feet just before and after riding! he gets a shavings bed in winter and lives out in the summer so not gonna be a prob bed wise :)

[Palomino Mare]

Hi, he said hard ground is best?? i've fallen out with your farrier atm anyways but i will pm about that:rolleyes:

anyways, ask him if he has white line disease. it seems to be an increasing common problem the more we are aware of it. if he does then spray his feet each night with a bleach/water combo. theirs a thing you can buy called farriers remedy or something (saw it in the feed room:rolleyes: ) its just a supplement but apparently is quite expensive. Also i dont think hoof moist would hurt after you have soaked his feet to lock in the moisture!

amz xx

[*Grey Gelding*]

hey! nah he defos doesnt hav whiteline disease, its just cracks apearing in his hooves, and think theyre probs so bad as they had 2live out that winter and didnt get shod for like 15weeks! lol! werent too overgrown tho, luckily!
Hav 2agree with u there bout the farrier tho-i doubt his knowledge sometimes :mad:
pm me why your annoyed at him haha!
Laura xx

[Skye94]

I use NAF hoof moist i think its works wonders and leaves your ponys feet all nice and black its helped skyes feet grow so well we also use a hoof stuff in a red tub.. cant member wat its called :P

[artemis]

Water works just as well. I take mine through the local streams regularly in dry weather. My farrier curses & groans while trimming & at the end always says "I wish all the horses I do had feet like these"

I never put on lotions & potions.

[Roofio]

i made j some overreach boots with spongy stuff in for soaking his feet last year, cause if i wanted him to stand in a bucket i had to stand over him - as soon as i looked away he would step out. :rolleyes:

But, then I went to Your Horse Live and went to a cornucrescine hoof care talk and the woman said that soaking was the worst thing you could do as the rapid drying then waterlogging weakens the tubular structures. :confused: :confused:

so i've been hoof mositing, and sneaking the occasional splash with the hosepipe. :o

[*Grey Gelding*]

:eek: really?? no way! okay so im :confused: now?! so my farrier says hard feet on hard ground is best and you agree that softening the feet by soaking is the wrong thing to do?! but most people have advised me to soak his feet and use hoof moist :( im very :confused: !!

[Em 1]

Just to add to your confusion, I've got another suggestion:D :)

If you've got a healthy hoof, just apply aqueous cream to moisturise it. It's cheap and effective!

[artemis]

The people from cornucrecine want to sell their product! Obviously they will tell you that their's is the only product that works!:D

[Roofio]

thats true... but they didnt exactly say that, just that using water to soak would cause damage...

feet confuse me :( why cant horses come with wheels?!

[Konch]

Ive gone from a yard over winter with knee deep mud, so applying stockholm twice a week and having large nails in shoes to accomodate the expanding hoof, to a yard on chalk ground and no rain for over a month and putting Effol on soles/walls and thinner nails as hooves are drying up rapidly.

My farrier is pretty good and says no amount of product can change your horses feet, its all about Dr Green and the way of the world but for a happy owner Effol or Kevin Bacon is good.