What's wrong with Hoof Oil?

[Rarah]

I know it's supposed to be bad for hooves so have never used it on Logic.

My friend was suggesting I use some this evening as Logic's hooves are a bit dried out and cracked (just got some cornucrescine hoof moisturiser instead) and I was all like "NOOO EVIL HOOF OIL - KEEP IT AWAY FROM US".

My friend gave me the old "been using it for years and never done us any harm" speach

I couldn't explain why we don't use it - SO............ please explain someone! :)

Thanks

[Trixie]

If you use a heavy hoof oil it stops the movement of water in and out of the hoof. In hot, dry weather I find that a very light brushing of vegetable oil stops the hooves becoming brittle and chipped by slowing down the loss ofwater, but it still lets water into the hoof if the water is available.

[thoroughlybred1]

the reason i dont use regular thin oil, is that it can run down the nail holes thereby loosening them allegedly.......tho when they get wet/ dry in out weather they loosen wether i oil them or not!

[Skewbaldbay]

Hooves are meant to be water based and oil and water don't mix so oil replaces water which is not good. :)

[LMS]

A petroleum based oil or goop (like Absorbine's hooflex) act like a barrier: doesn't let water in or out.

Try it yourself: rub some on your hands then pour water on them: does the water roll off or can your skin absorb the water?

If the hooves are brittle, my farrier (and also the stable's farrier) suggested to let the water overflow at the water trough or apply a water based cream on the coronet only. If a petroleum based product is applied on the hoof, it will actually worsen the cracks.

Now you could use it on the sole of the foot in the winter to prevent snow balls from packing in there;)

Seriously though, also if your horse is out on grass when the dew is down, that will moisturize the hooves quite nicely too.

[Purple Hugs]

hmm.. i'd heard the same thing, and have the same fear of oil..

I walk mine through puddles on purpose.. to water their hooves! lol

But.. am facing 'oil' for up-coming show.. is this necessary?

[mogadoga]

Depends what shows. I dont use hoof oil for showing. But for tack and turnout you would be marked down

[Purple Hugs]

i'm showing my 2 year old in M&M and youngstock.. would i be better leaving him natural?

[mogadoga]

Personally i would, i dont use hoof oil and i said, and have never been marked down for it. Although saying that if i judge felt that Alex and another horse were the same, the lack of hoof oil may be the deciding factor. But i wouldnt care if that gave us a different place. Do what you think feels right :)

[mayoguinness]

Well I just don't think its the anwser, mainly if theres something wrong with the horses hoof, its gunna be down to the trim, lack of moisture and unbalance in the body..........

[eml]

I tend to use oil about once a week in summer to stop moisture coming out. If it is very dry we soak the horses feet in water...easy to train them to stand in buckets... and then oil them. Our old farrier now in his 80's swore by it and certainly we never have problems of cracking etc in dry summers.

[MrDCBags]

...easy to train them to stand in buckets...

lol we need to see photos eml:D :D :D

[mayoguinness]

Your joking...in buckets, oh our lot would love that at the yard, they would have a great time knocking them all over and making a load of work for us.......nope afraid we take the easy root and get em to stand in a hoof pool;)

[mayoguinness]

and photos are a must btw:p

[showjumper-zoe]

Hoof oil don't let moisture in or out of the hoof so in summer they become very dry.

I only use it on special occasions but even then I usually don't.

[eml]

Ok photos this weekend for doubters. Old mare who has had lots of mini laminitic bouts will actually put her own feet in and stand for about 30 mins munching haynet while having all feet soaked. Others prefer one or two feet at a time.

Mayoguiness I have a bizarre vision of yours standing in a kids paddling pool :D ..whats a hoof pool?

[MrDCBags]

Ok photos this weekend for doubters. Old mare who has had lots of mini laminitic bouts will actually put her own feet in and stand for about 30 mins munching haynet while having all feet soaked. Others prefer one or two feet at a time.

Mayoguiness I have a bizarre vision of yours standing in a kids paddling pool :D ..whats a hoof pool?

not a doubter eml!!!:D :D just need a really good laugh because the people I work with have left me feeling like a grass stain on a grey horse just about to enter show ring!:D :D

[mayoguinness]

Ok photos this weekend for doubters. Old mare who has had lots of mini laminitic bouts will actually put her own feet in and stand for about 30 mins munching haynet while having all feet soaked. Others prefer one or two feet at a time.

Mayoguiness I have a bizarre vision of yours standing in a kids paddling pool :D ..whats a hoof pool?

lol:D Its a pool of water that comes up just above top of hoof (how technicle am I:p ) mainly used by barefoot trimmers me thinks where you can stand or tie, or feed your horse so his feet can soak for half an hour, as well as being great for them, they are so much easier to raps and trim:D You've really never heard of one, they are a must, couldn't be doing with buckets, plus theres on ein the yard and a little laminitic pony will go and stand for hours in it:o

[NZdressage]

I always use hoof oil at my shows but never otherwise. Interesting points everyone has brought up.

[Sexy Sietske]

We use black hoof polish for the shows because it looks alot smarter when the rest of the horse it jet black :D

I use hoof moist on Nelsons feet a couple of times a week and you can tell the difference the day after, alot less dry.

[Jessey]

How is your hoof pool made Mayoguiness? we don't have grass just sandy paddocks so there feet were getting really dry (until the reacent rain) and I was trying to figure out a way of rigging up a pool like you mention but couldn't figre out the best way to do it :o
I find using a hoof moisturiser great, aquious cream is a really cheap water based moisturiser :D
I avoid oils where possible, I have just orderd a hoof polish for shows - one that can be easily washed off when I am done :D

[gl1]

I think you may be confused with the product.

Black hoof paint/oil is for showing and looks pretty. This will damage hooves if used EVERY DAY.

Hoof grease/moisturiser is a great product for the symptoms you describe.

[coss]

a good dose of hoof moist makes it look like you've oiled the horse's hooves and is water based so that the water can go in and out of the hoof. oil prevents the normal movement of water in and out of the hoof if used regularly.

[Wally]

KNocking the nails into a hoof that has been constantly oiled, and one that has been left to get wet with water is a world apart.

The regularly oiled hoof is like hammering into a loaf of bread, the naturally wetted hoof, with water, is far more resillient.

I use oil for show day, that's it, never any other time. Since water is cheaper, I tend to use that! Water based hoof ointment is a waste of money

[Chip]

i'm showing my 2 year old in M&M and youngstock.. would i be better leaving him natural?


Leave him natural, you wouldn't get very far oiling hooves in M&M classes.

[Siogfinsceal]

the stuff on the outside of the horses hoof is called periople and it moderates the amount of water going in and out of the hoof. Hoof oil can be bad as it can stop this function by clogging the periople

[xtremehorseyfan]

I've been using hoof oil for years and I find if you brush the hooves with water first then apply hoof oil it's alright.
I also just apply hoof oil straight onto the dry hooves and it never does any harm.

[gingeremmie]

The trouble with hoof moisturisers and oils and so on is that is mainly cosmetic. That bit of hoof is already grown, you aren't really going to change it. Putting water on or whatever just swells the tubules so the cracks appear to disappear but they don't actually. A drier hoof is usually better anyway. If you're getting cracks is usually due to either infection, poor hoof quality (which putting stuff on the hooves won't fix, you need to address the diet, make sure the horse has all the right building blocks to grow good quality horn) or poor foot balance which needs addressing by your farrier or trimmer.

Occasional hoof oil won't hurt for a show but I cringe at people using it all the time. It's like our nails, yes there are tonnes of lotions and potions you can buy to put on them, but the only thing that really solves weak nails is getting the right nutrition to grow strong ones (or inherit good genes like I have!)

My horse has a balancer and magnesium every day, he has good horn quality anyway, but his feet are so tough the vet struggled to make any impression when he was trying to dig about in them the other week.

And yes he will stand in a bucket to have his feet soaked if necessary (for infection control - as infection invades from the ground so you do need to treat that with lotions and potions). I can do 2 or even 4 feet at once too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v126/gingeremmie/Bailey/Feet_may07001.jpg