Any ideas on how to thicken/improve thin soles?

[mightymammoth]

Hi can thin soles be improved? My horse has very thin soles and low heels (has egg bar shoes on now) would his soles only thicken by taking his shoes off?
Thanks

Thanks

 

[LynH]

When I took my mare's shoes off the farrier told me to paint her soles with iodine to help toughen them up. No idea if it worked but I used it for several weeks and she managed fine without shoes from the start for a couple of years. I've just put a pair of fronts on as she started to struggle with increased roadwork but was fine otherwise.

 

[astridday]

Done properly everything can improve. Have transitioned two racehorses with 'typical' TB feet, both did well bare, one hunted/ht'd in barefeet the other was sold and is doing RC in barefeet.

 

[mightymammoth]

Yes am hoping to go without shoes in the future, wondered if there was anyway to thicken and improve his soles whilst he is still wearing shoes?

 

[Brownmare]

I've done this with 2 tb's now, one of whom happily hunts barefoot. The most important thing appears to be removing sugar from the diet and yes that may include grass, at least in the daytime. Next, get minerals balanced or feed a good supplement like prohoof or Forageplus balancer. Treat any possible thrush in the feet - even if it doesn't look bad a deep central sulcus of the frog will have nasties lurking inside. Then make sure you use hoof boots as needed when the shoes come off. You can paint stuff on the soles if it makes you feel better but it won't make much difference

You won't believe the changes in the feet and how east it happens so don't forget to take photos!

 

[Nosey]

My farrier swears by keratex hoof hardener painted in soles. He's quite old school & not one to endorse products normally.

 

[Nocturnal]

It is not possible to thicken the soles by painting products on, and I would advise against this - especially if you plan to go barefoot - as it may do more harm than good by making the soles brittle.

Diet it the first thing to address, as brownmare says. Low sugar and starch and good levels of minerals. An improved diet will help the horse lay down more tissue in the soles. Lastly, stimulation - by working the horse on surfaces he is comfortable on. This will gradually thicken the soles, like building a callus.

 

[Nocturnal]

Eta (can't edit on phone ), the stimulation will of course work best if the horse has no shoes on. It is possible to do this a little with a shod horse as well, though, by using conforming surfaces like sand or pea gravel. It will be much less effective, however.