Cracked Hooves what do you use?

S

StellaArtois

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2008
Messages
218
Visit site
My mares front hooves are very cracked and since I have had her she hasnt had good feet,
Thinking of using a supplement to give them a boost.
Any suggestions? Help needed in deciding
 
really it depends on why theyre cracking, could be any of the following reasons and then some...

poor diet

poor hoof quality, weak, brittle

farriery problems, ie, imbalance in hoof, overloaded with nail holes, leaving too long between trims/shoeing

environmental conditions, ground too wet/too dry etc
 
Good farrier and diet to start with, and i use biotin and a cube of red jelly every day in his feed and also use effol hoof moituriser all over the hoof wall and underneath and in 12 months his feet are completely different. Just got the last bits of old hoof to come off over the next couple of shoeings then he'll have lovely tootsies
 
If the mare is not shod--buy a rasp and gently rasp the edge of the wall every couple of weeks to prevent any cracks deepening between farrier visits as well as use hints above.
Lots of choice of supplements/balancers
The ingredient list in this Top Spec one includes biotin. Methionine, Zinc etc all needed for healthy hooves
http://www.topspec.com/basket/horses/supplement/5
 
I use NAF biotin added to their diet & then hoof-heal painted on about 2 or 3 times a week.

It's always improved the condition.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hoof Heal


ETA: i am assuming the horse has been seen or will be seen by your farrier

[/ QUOTE ]


I second Hoof Heal. It had made a huge difference to my lads feet.

Not so long ago his feet were cracking badly and he was losing on average 1 shoe a week!!!!!!

I started to use Hoof heal ( £9.95) every other day and within a very shory period of time he stopped losing shoes (coz his feet stopped cracking up)

He is now shod every 6 weeks and we havn't lost a shoe since I started using it. His feet look amazing too.
 
My horse had very soft feet, the hoof would flake just like my nails and then he has no horn at all it was like he was walking around on carpet slippers....

I used to use Farriers Formula and Keratex Hoof Hardener, he would eat the Farriers Formula out of my hand they are quite palatable....

The Keratex Hoof Hardener, you have to paint onto the bottom quarter of an inch of the hoof wall and then the underside of the hoof....

This became quite expensive so had him shod and he managed to hang on to a set of shoes for 6-8 weeks so that probably worked better.....

good luck

Dizz4
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top