Vegetable oil used on hooves

[kookoolaalaa]

My farrier says a cheap alternative for hoof oil/ conditioner is vegetable oil.

I use this every day and it's cheap as chips!

[cockerpony]

We also got told use this, and have never had any problems and of course is cheaper

[Bay Mare]

Not putting oil on at all would be even cheaper ;)

There's no reason to put oil on a horse's hooves in fact it's detrimental to keep putting oil on them.

[Keket]

I have to agree with Bay Mare here. Why put anything on them? Our horses never get anything put on their feet and they're fine.

[Kc Mac]

Depends on the conformation and type of feet.

My tb has crap feet and if left they dry out, splay and crack badly so every few days (in wet/damp conditions) they get oiled to kept moisture in or a conditioner (aqueous cream!) every few days in hot dry weather to keep them hydrated and supple to help prevent probs. However they never get done more than 2/3 times weekly.

Will also say my arab has great feet and needs nothing but i always paint them with effol when riding cos it looks pretty :p

[HorseManiac]

When its very dry weather percys feet are hosed down with water. More natural and free :)

[texel]

hmmm in the wild horses seek out water to condition their hooves oil isn't readily available in nature. If you think about it oil acts as a barrier to water and this can't be good for the hooves I am sure they would dry out in the long run so you end up in a catch 22 situation; hooves are dry so coat with a dressing, the dressings blocks moisture and the hooves become dry so coat with a dressing ..................

[old_woman]

From a purely physiological POV, the earlier poster's suggestion of aqueous cream is an excellent one. I've used it for many years for scurfy manes and tails, and for adding other skin dressings to, such as fly repellents, with great success - but never thought of using it as a hoof dressing. Not that I use hoof dressings, but we all like the hooves to look 'nice' occasionally, be it at a show or just riding out with friends. I have been known to rub the rind of a piece of bacon over them (the hooves, not the friends!) to get a mild glow.

Does aqueous cream buff up nicely on the hooves when polished with a rag?

[Wally]

Old Woman, is that the "kevin Bacon" hoof dressing! ? ? :D :D

[Zani]

Loving the bacon idea, though mine would probably try to eat it! :D

I don't do anything with mine other than water them when it's dry.

Our farrier said though that if you must oil feet then water them first and then put oil on afterwoods to keep the moisture in.

[old_woman]

Old Woman, is that the "kevin Bacon" hoof dressing! ? ? :D :D

Nah, best home-cured back or streaky rashers ...:D:D:D

I do NOT like rinds on bacon and always cut them off. I simply save one if I'm planning to take a horse anywhere special. Rubbing the rind on the hoof seems to provide just enough grease to give a pleasant glow, but without the mess or expense or even damage caused by hoof oils, varnishes and the like.

TBH, I really don't think that occasional use of oils or varnishes will do any real harm to a healthy hoof, and if someone wants sparkly pink hooves, then why not? Worse things happen at sea!

[Innocence]

I use vegetable oil in my horses feed, it's better than cod liver oil and they have lovely strong feet and shiny coats.:)

[highbrow]

Another vote for Aqueous cream it's brilliant and can be buffed. I even found out you can use it as a kind of wash!!

[old_woman]

Another vote for Aqueous cream it's brilliant and can be buffed. I even found out you can use it as a kind of wash!!

Thanks for the info that it buffs up!

Yes, it makes a lovely wash - we use pots of it in our house AND in the yard on the animals; when my husband used to do a lot of scuba diving we found it was one of the best things for counteracting the drying effects of saltwater when he showered after coming out of the sea.

[Wally]

Thanks for the info that it buffs up!

Yes, it makes a lovely wash - we use pots of it in our house AND in the yard on the animals; when my husband used to do a lot of scuba diving we found it was one of the best things for counteracting the drying effects of saltwater when he showered after coming out of the sea.

LOL, I remember when the commercial divers came to sort out the boat, they forgot the talc to get into their dry suits, so they went to the galley and used butter!.....aqueous cream might have been a better bet.......

[caitrionaoleary]

petroleum jelly works well I found, I have a horse in the desert part of India and so cracked heels are a common problem. I found oil too runny and tried petroleum jelly which works like a dream due to its thicker constancy!

[montys helper]

hmmm oil on hoofs, oil frys my eggs