Keratex?

[~Perdita.M~]

Has anyone tried this hoof hardener?:) Sham is barefoot, and I intend to keep him that way, but his hooves are a little weak and prone to splitting a bit. The farrier recommended this product, as in the one you paint on, but I have heard that it comes in supplement form as well? Is that as good?:)

[Rosanna]

I had the paint on one. its very time-consuming to apply because you are supposed to clean hooves and clean out all nail holes with a pipe cleaner.

I cant say that I noticed any difference but I didn't apply it as often as I was supposed to.

If you do get it, make sure you read the instructions very well. It mustn't go on the coronet band, the heels or the frog, and only on the sole in certain cases. and dont get it on your hands, it stings!!

It is also very expensive, but its a small price to pay if it helps your horse. i was lucky and two people each gave me a bottle.

I dont know anything about the supplement.

Farrier's Formula is a very good supplement if that's what you want.

[~Perdita.M~]

Blimey Rosanna!!! Sounds like a pretty harsh substance!!:eek: I was hoping for a supplement really, as Sham isn't very keen on foot handling at the best of times, and with my bad knee I can't bend down for very long either:rolleyes:

[Bebe]

Keratex do make a feed supplement bu I've never actually seen it on sale anywhere, just on their website (which I can't remember the address of). A feed supplement will only affect new growth though, so won't help with the splitting you're experiencing now.

I used the hoof hardener on Bebe when she was unshod with some success. It didn't seem to do anything when she went footsore in March, despite having it applied every day for 2 weeks.

I think it has formaldehyde in it, it's not the worlds nicest stuff but it does have good results for lots of horses.

[nutkin]

cornucrescine is also good. It is what my farrier recommends. That also comes as a feed supplement and is available from Ride away.

[CarolineR]

We have used keratex on the TB hooves with great sucess he is now bare foot with no splitting hooves. However, as with most horsey things it goes hand in hand with good feeding supplements, biotin is what you are really looking for for good growth.

We also use a hoof cream if they appear to be splitting in extreme changes of wether, ie throughout the summer with the dry and hot weather.

If your horse is not keen on foot handling on a daily basis then the best option is to add biotin to his feed, but this can take a while for you to see the results.

You could make feet handling a nice experience for your boy by getting someone to feed him a treat everytime he lets you touch his feet, then decrease this to every time he stands still for his feet to be touched and then intermittently and so on, but with busy lives this will take a while to get sorted

[Wally]

kerratex is a good one, you don't ned to go to terrible lengths to paint it on. Just do it every other day as you might hoof oil (if you do use the stuff)

Cornucrescene has no effect whatsoever, it just makes the feet mushy like hoof oil does.

We used to use it on Hákon, but his feet are so much better these days we don't use anything at all on their feet.

[Zingy]

Second what has been said about Keratex. It's just a bit of a pain though sometimes getting dry hooves to put it on! One thing that helps Yog though is how his feet are trimmed. If my farrier rounds the edge off rather than leaving a sharp edge it really helps stop them splitting.

[H & Bailey]

I found this fantastic.When i had my Tb she always lost shoes and this seemed to help keep them on.When i was pregnant the 2nd time I let her just chill in the field and saw no point for shoes as she was ruining her feet pulling them off in the mud so got her barefoot and put keratex on .when i came to ride after the baby my blacksmith couldnt believe the change in her feet.
It is expensive about £22 a bottle but it lasts ages and if you are barefoot you are saving shoe money anyway.Im due to buy another bottle as bailey is going bare foot when i can get hold of the smithy:rolleyes:
I tend to feed seaweed which is supposed to help with hoof growth etc.

[~Perdita.M~]

Sounds like it may be worth a try:) The only thing that goes on his hooves at the moment Wally is mud:D Where can I get hold of it? Not mud, Keratex:D

[Bebe]

Most tack shops seem to stock Keratex, but if not Ride Away and Discount Saddlery sell them through their web sites.

The Hoof Hardener isn't cheap, about £18-30 a bottle but 1 bottle lasts me a year easily as I tend to only put it on once or twice a week.

[liz--y]

stockham tar if good for harding soles, spary is easier to apply,

feed biotin supplement. farriers formula is really expencive and the main active ingredent is biotin withc is about 6.50 in shops

[stormhorse]

Keretex is good stuff. I used to ride mine without shoes using this. Would recommend it.