Hoof Armour - is it worth it?

[Annagain]

Archie has sore feet, his soles have been worn down a bit. I thought he had an abcess but farrier has been this morning and can't find anything other than thinned soles that are a bit squidgy. He thinks it's possible he had something and the poulticing I've been doing for the last 36 hours has already rawn it out as he's much sounder today than he was on Weds. Farrier thinks they probably softened with the ground being very wet and then as the ground dried out very quickly they didn't have time to harden up again before the ground got very abrasive so it's worn the top layer down and made him sore.

I've been looking at something to help him and have narrowed it down to Red Horse Stronghorn (£20) or Hoof Armour (£75). It sounds like they do two different jobs with the stronghorn hardening them up and the hoof armour actually providing a protective layer and I think this would be best for Arch as his hooves are generally decent. £40 of the price is for the dispenser - is there a way to use it without the dispenser?

I don't have an issue with buying the Hoof Armour for him if it works but just want some reassurance it will help before I shell out!

Any stories good or bad?

 

[poiuytrewq]

As I remember you can’t use it without the dispenser no sorry!
Don’t be like me and loose it after the first use either, that’s really annoying.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Hoof armour is better for horses that are going over stony rough ground if his sore just in the field I don't think it would do much, if the soles are soft you need a product to harden them up a bit or hoof boots for a while.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You have to have the dispenser for hoof amour as it comes in vials that you put into the machine.

 

[Annagain]

Hoof armour is better for horses that are going over stony rough ground if his sore just in the field I don't think it would do much, if the soles are soft you need a product to harden them up a bit or hoof boots for a while.

He's fine in the field, it's just as he's coming in and going out. Immediately outside the field is road planings (so loose and small stones) then concrete. As soon as he had the poultice on when I thought he had an abcess he was sound everywhere. His right is sore and has a spot that sounds a bit hollow so farrier thinks that might have been a minor abcess and the poulticing I've done has already drawn it out as there were a couple of tiny little cracks. His left is also a bit spongey but nowhere near as bad as the right and he's not sensitive to that one being fiddled with like the right. He had iodine on them both this morning - you could see the right one stinging but the left was ok.

His back feet are fine.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

He's fine in the field, it's just as he's coming in and going out. Immediately outside the field is road planings (so loose and small stones) then concrete. As soon as he had the poultice on when I thought he had an abcess he was sound everywhere. His right is sore and has a spot that sounds a bit hollow so farrier thinks that might have been a minor abcess and the poulticing I've done has already drawn it out as there were a couple of tiny little cracks. His left is also a bit spongey but nowhere near as bad as the right and he's not sensitive to that one being fiddled with like the right. He had iodine on them both this morning - you could see the right one stinging but the left was ok.

His back feet are fine.

Then it will help I used it on Arabi when I took his front shoes off and he struggled on a stony track, you have to wire brush the feet and get every bit of mud off you apply it then cover it in talc, I then add another layer the following day and I find it lasts 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[Fieldlife]

I find hoof armor good, as long as get prep right.

it’s £35 / cartridge, with gloves and nozzles. I can do 8-12 feet from one cartridge.

You do need to buy the gun part.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Be careful with iodine it's so strong it can destroy the good tissue in the foot I would really dilute it, the hoof amour actually protects the foot from wet and bacteria so it will help if used regularly and applied properly preparing the foot is key.

 

[Fieldlife]

Be careful with iodine it's so strong it can destroy the good tissue in the foot I would really dilute it, the hoof amour actually protects the foot from wet and bacteria so it will help if used regularly and applied properly preparing the foot is key.

Foot needs to be completely clean and dry when applied. And should stay dry for at least an hour after application.

I have wood pellet bed snd apply in my lorry whilst waiting for results Etc.

warning it stains clothes. Wear old clothes to apply.

 

[Annagain]

Thanks all. Sounds like it will make a difference ti him. Now it's just a case of working out the logisitcs. I think he'll be standing on the yard with a haynet / horselyx a lot!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Foot needs to be completely clean and dry when applied. And should stay dry for at least an hour after application.

I have wood pellet bed snd apply in my lorry whilst waiting for results Etc.

warning it stains clothes. Wear old clothes to apply.

Ohh I forgot that bit. I wrecked my favourite jacket applying it. Good tip!

 

[meleeka]

For those that use it, do you use it in all ground conditions? My mares soles go horribly soft and thin in the winter and I had considered it, but worried about the mud being too abrasive for it to last long.

 

[Fieldlife]

For those that use it, do you use it in all ground conditions? My mares soles go horribly soft and thin in the winter and I had considered it, but worried about the mud being too abrasive for it to last long.

Yes.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

For those that use it, do you use it in all ground conditions? My mares soles go horribly soft and thin in the winter and I had considered it, but worried about the mud being too abrasive for it to last long.

I've used it all year and ridden so you just apply it more often, wear gloves it's a bugger to get off your skin as well.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Is hoof armour back in stock in the UK? I couldn’t buy it anywhere end of last year.

 

[meleeka]

Is hoof armour back in stock in the UK? I couldn’t buy it anywhere end of last year.

It seems to be https://www.hoofmanshipshop.com/product-page/copy-of-1-hoofarmor-starter-kit-62-50-vat

 

[meleeka]

Another quick question, does it last once opened? I only have two small hooves to do so wouldn’t need to use much.

 

[poiuytrewq]

This thread has made me think. I have a retired TB who lives with my friend and is out 24/7
He had his shoes off last summer but didn’t cope with the hard ground so I put them back on.
Over winter he’s been barefoot again but I suspect come summer I will have the same issue. I wonder if Hood armour would help him out. I’d love to keep the shoes off if possible really from a financial pov but also I think it’s better for him as he did have really contracted heels which now look great.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Another quick question, does it last once opened? I only have two small hooves to do so wouldn’t need to use much.

Did you ever try it? Looking at trying it on my mare.

 

[Gloi]

I've used it for just over a year and find it really good.

 

[meleeka]

Did you ever try it? Looking at trying it on my mare.

Not yet. I have received it, but haven’t had a chance to put it on yet.

 

[Annagain]

Did you ever try it? Looking at trying it on my mare.

I haven’t as his hooves improved pretty quickly after I started treating them with iodine. I also have a prolapsed disc so am relying on friends to pick both boys’ feet out when they come in as I can’t bend down! I don’t think they’d be happy to clean them all, wait for them to dry and then apply something that stains their clothes!

 

[McGrools]

Its great stuff! I’m using on my tb mare as she transitions to barefoot and i believe it is helping no end. She is doing short 30 min hacks on the lanes 3-4 times per week and doing great!