Bruised soles

[CBFan]

My boy (19 M/O gelding) led quite a sheltered life before I got him and since moving him to my yard wher I have to walk him across a stoney yard twice daily, he has got really bruised soles. he is quite flat footed and my farrier is working on a few balancing issues with his feet.

Anything I can do to toughen his feet up? I use kevin bacon hoof dressing at the moment but any sugestions would be gratefully recieved.

 

[Vikki89]

NAF do a good hoof and sole range

 

[kit279]

You might not like the sound of it but my farrier absolutely swears by thick bleach, applied neat with a tooth brush, to harden the soles and walls. Makes the feet like rock, my TBs were quite footy on stoney ground before, now they are an awful lot better. And, before anyone asks, no it doesn't hurt them or damage their feet at all, it just dries them out and kills bacteria.

 

[kellyeaton]

my farrier told me to use arnica tablets to help draw the brusing out and paint hoof and sole in euco lyptus oil it worked well on my boy!

 

[CBFan]

Thanks all.

Babybells, I had just thought of the arnica myself and I'll give the eucalyptus oil a go as well!