Chipped hooves

[Walrus]

Any recommendations for hooves that are chipping at the bottom. The pony is unshod and I'd rather keep it that way (fell pony so should have hooves like iron!). He's on a vit and min supplement and I'm putting him on a hoof supplement but obviously that starts from the top down. Is there anything I could use to strengthen the hoof that is already there?

Cheers.

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Think it's the current dry weather. My RID youngster has just come into ridden work and her hooves are usually as hard as nails. Since we've been hacking on dry, stoney tracks they are a real mess, lots of chips and cracks on the fores. Having to resort to front shoes on so I can continue working her. Probably the best person to ask is your farrier as they'll know far more about hooves than the rest of us put together.

 

[Mynyddcymro]

I have the exact same problem. My Shetland used to have exceptionally strong hooves.
Last summer he got chips all along the bottom but nothing too worrying. This year his back feet are absoloutely awful and his front are catching up. He wasn't receiving any feed or supplements but has now been put onto Spillers Happy Hoof and Anti Lam and when I get paid will probably invest in some painfully expensive supplements! I am also plastering his feet in Kevin Bacon hoof dressing and was using corcresine (sp?) in the hope it would encourage his feet to grow quicker so the farrier can sort them out.
It's pretty awkward too as I can't long rein him out on the roads to keep the weight off but have ended up feeding him hard feed so he's as content as can be whilst I now panic about chipping feet and laminitis!

ETS: Will be interested to hear other responses too!

 

[Jericho]

Keratex is meant to be a good hardner - you paint it in hoof wall and sole (but not coronet band or frog!) and I was recommended it by my farrier when I took the shoes off my mare to try the barefoot route with her.

I couldnt honestly say whether it has made a difference as I have no comparison but she has had a couple of chips out of hooves over the last few months doing a couple of hacks inc roadwork during the week and a bit of dressage and farrier said her feet are doing fantastically well (and he said it has been terrible weather for hooves this year - really wet then really dry.

I feed her Happy Hoof and Formula 4 feet (the F4F is just to get her over the transition to barefoot). I also will hose her feet down once or twice a week if the weather has been very dry and also apply Kevin Bacon hoof dressing about twice a week. She is TBxConnie and had excellent feet anyway.

My other boy doesnt get any of these things however and his feet went terrible, just flared, cracked, big chunks out, after we took the shoes off (although he is not ridden and has typically horrible TB feet!)