Front shoes or hoof boots

[laura_nash]

Still a waste of money - nothing you paint on a hoof will make the slightest bit of difference in strength - it might kill off some fungus if you choose the right stuff and for thrush it's useful. A thrushy sole and frog does need sorting out. For anything else, feed the hoof from the inside.

Hoof armour isn't something you paint on the hoof in the normal sense, it's a resin you coat the sole with. I found it very handy when rehabbing my barefoot horse after a serious hoof injury caused most of his toe to fall off to the point he couldn't wear his boots. I think it's a handy tool for thin or sensitive soles while you are addressing metabolism, diet etc, especially for horses that are difficult to fit with boots and pads or need help in the field as well.

ETA I think there was some question over whether Hoof Armour needs to be applied by a farrier in the UK, I didn't look into that as not applicable to me here in Ireland.