floradora09
Well-Known Member
TB's feet are cracking a bit and look a little on the dry side, what's a really good oil to use? Cheers! 
Kevin Bacon is brilliant with all feet in all conditions, it helps regulate the feet in our inconsistent British climate and comes highly recommended by farriers!
The trouble is that shoeing and rasping damages the outer layer and exposes ends of fibres causing increased drying out and creates stresses and causes cracking. Even the wear the wall of the hoof gets from vegetation or sand damages this layer. The problem is that the hoof did not evolve for shoes or even riding.This is why I use a mix of 1 part stockholm tar to 5 parts linseed oil,to maintain the moisture gradient.Lanolin based moisturisers are all very well but not very practical.Puppy is right.
Water, or water based substances - no oils or greases.
The hoof has a moisture gradient across it from dry on the outside to almost peanut butter on the inside at the laminae! It is there for a reason and it needs to be maintained - it is part of the whole shock absorption mechanism of the hoof. Oils just interfere with that.
I've always sworn by cornucresine. Made a dramatic improvement to some working horses I worked with.
Kevin Bacon is brilliant with all feet in all conditions, it helps regulate the feet in our inconsistent British climate and comes highly recommended by farriers!