Hoof hardener a little too strong?

[tanitabellon]

I am getting my mare ready to go barefoot, she's 4 with slightly soft soles but otherwise good feet, good diet with supplements and out 24/7. I have been using keratex hoof hardener as per the instructions and her soles have gone rock hard with cracks opening up that weren't there before. It's like the moisture is being sucked out too much. She had new shoes on beg of August and farrier is booked for end Sept, I'm wondering whether to slow down on the sole application, take it to every other day instead of every day, I am 4 days in on the daily applications. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

 

[Nicnac]

Not sure where you are in the UK but we haven't had any rain for weeks so normal hooves are drying out. The hoof hardener won't be helping. You need to get some moisture back in her hooves - use Kevin Bacon hoof dressing.

You had new shoes on beginning of August and farrier booked end of September?! That is an incredibly long time between visits.

 

[tanitabellon]

7 weeks, not that long?

 

[Ceriann]

I focus on feeding feet from within (I use pro hoof). I use topical applications sparingly and adapt to weather and seasons. I tend on,y to use keratex in winter when wet and soggy, in summer (if her feet need it) I use silver feet to nourish. My mare is 5 months into BF transition - we struggle, she’s got flat, thin soles but we are making improvements all the time and farrier is amazed how well she’s coped.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I focus on feeding feet from within (I use pro hoof). I use topical applications sparingly and adapt to weather and seasons. I tend on,y to use keratex in winter when wet and soggy, in summer (if her feet need it) I use silver feet to nourish. My mare is 5 months into BF transition - we struggle, she’s got flat, thin soles but we are making improvements all the time and farrier is amazed how well she’s coped.

We tried but my tb feet were just too flat and its very stony where i am, if it was just plain tarmac we would have been ok . I feed from within too , he has amazing feet

 

[Ceriann]

We tried but my tb feet were just too flat and its very stony where i am, if it was just plain tarmac we would have been ok . I feed from within too , he has amazing feet

We may find this too - I agreed with my farrier we would do no less than 6 months, which has worked well with the rehab we’re doing (road walking and hacking only). Vet remains unconvinced she will manage long term (more work, different terrain) given soles.

 

[sbloom]

I'm pretty sure many trimmers recommend against hoof hardeners, anything that hardens ultimately makes things brittle if taken too far, but not sure they like it altogether. I think Ceriann may be talking about their Hoof Gel which is just a waterproof breathable barrier.

 

[Barton Bounty]

We may find this too - I agreed with my farrier we would do no less than 6 months, which has worked well with the rehab we’re doing (road walking and hacking only). Vet remains unconvinced she will manage long term (more work, different terrain) given soles.

Even when we are on the stones and he has shoes on his frog is so close to the ground even though he has lovely little feet 🦶🏻

 

[Red-1]

I have used hoof hardener sparingly, but only when the foot has become very wet, and no more then once a week as otherwise it does dry out the feet too much and then they can become brittle.

I would also be cautious, as the foot has to condition on the inside, they can be sore because the inside of the foot is not used to too much expansion and contraction when shod as the shoe acts as a support. Think a plaster cast on you, when it is removed you are surprisingly vulnerable for a while as you are not used to movement in the area. If you artificially harden the hoof then the horse may appear sound enough to kick on, but you could still cause damage.

It is more about the hoof growing tight attachment and then the sole will become more concave, as well as just being about a think/hard sole.

It takes time, there is no way round that, and the horse may need help from boots if he is starting from a poor hoof health basis. Of the three I took barefoot, one needed boots for months despite having good looking feet, the other two had blocks of wood, but we still started slowly as one was rehabbing from an injury anyway. The other (current one) was healthy but I was busy elsewhere, despite her being sound from the off we still went through the whole procedure of starting carefully with 100 yds walking on tarmac and turnout on soft ground or an arena because I wanted to ensure she stayed healthy. She was doing unaffected dressage and BS jumping barefoot this spring. Only shod up as I wanted to increase hacking and do some XC and she was not quite ready after 4 months barefoot, so we had shoes. No biggie.

 

[Birker2020]

7 weeks, not that long?

Yes it is. Mine is shod every five weeks. You are risking your horse tripping up because he's toes are too long. The longer the interval between shoeing, the more the heels are contracted and the longer the toe becomes in relation to the heel which forces the hoof-pastern axis into a broken back angle. This places more of the horse’s body weight toward the back of the foot. The increased loading results in an increased strain on the deep digital flexor tendon.

Research has been conducted which suggests that longer shoeing intervals can impact on stifles as well as ligaments and tendons. Unlike front feet where these imbalances most commonly cause foot pain in the hindr feet the changed biomechanics cause pain higher up the limb i.e. stifles.

So although its a pain in the neck every 4-6 weeks is the best policy although there are people I know who consider it almost a badge of honour to say 'my horse will go 9 or 10 weeks' as they think they are saving money. In the short term yes they are, lucky them! In the long term definitely no, broken horse, busted bank balance

My previous horse had to be shod every 4 weeks. Fortunately it only cost me £45 at the time but now its £75.00 as this is many years later. This includes lateral extensions on the hinds for spavin. But its worth every penny and I have a fabby farrier who watches my horse walk, looks very carefully at his foot balance and upon xray of feet at the vets has had very positive feedback in regards to the horses foot balance.

 

[Goldenstar]

7 weeks is too long between shoeing
I only use Keratex twice a week if I am using it .

 

[Gloi]

I am getting my mare ready to go barefoot, she's 4 with slightly soft soles but otherwise good feet, good diet with supplements and out 24/7. I have been using keratex hoof hardener as per the instructions and her soles have gone rock hard with cracks opening up that weren't there before. It's like the moisture is being sucked out too much. She had new shoes on beg of August and farrier is booked for end Sept, I'm wondering whether to slow down on the sole application, take it to every other day instead of every day, I am 4 days in on the daily applications. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

It is probably the sole which is ready to be shed being retained a bit rather than falling away. It will get trimmed off when the farrier comes, don't worry too much about it, the live sole underneath will be fine.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yes it is. Mine is shod every five weeks. You are risking your horse tripping up because he's toes are too long. The longer the interval between shoeing, the more the heels are contracted and the longer the toe becomes in relation to the heel which forces the hoof-pastern axis into a broken back angle. This places more of the horse’s body weight toward the back of the foot. The increased loading results in an increased strain on the deep digital flexor tendon.

Research has been conducted which suggests that longer shoeing intervals can impact on stifles as well as ligaments and tendons. Unlike front feet where these imbalances most commonly cause foot pain in the hindr feet the changed biomechanics cause pain higher up the limb i.e. stifles.

So although its a pain in the neck every 4-6 weeks is the best policy although there are people I know who consider it almost a badge of honour to say 'my horse will go 9 or 10 weeks' as they think they are saving money. In the short term yes they are, lucky them! In the long term definitely no, broken horse, busted bank balance

My previous horse had to be shod every 4 weeks. Fortunately it only cost me £45 at the time but now its £75.00 as this is many years later. This includes lateral extensions on the hinds for spavin. But its worth every penny and I have a fabby farrier who watches my horse walk, looks very carefully at his foot balance and upon xray of feet at the vets has had very positive feedback in regards to the horses foot balance.

Every horse is different, the best person to advise is the farrier who sees the horse regularly.

 

[Birker2020]

Every horse is different, the best person to advise is the farrier who sees the horse regularly.

Sorry if I am deviating from the OP original post a little.

Agree to an extent PAS.

But there are so many people that go far too long between shoeings (I'm talking a couple of months rather than weeks) that I am surprised their farrier doesn't advise that they are seen more regularly. Not only would it benefit the farrier financially to squeeze in extra shoeings it would benefit the horse in the long run. My farrier recommended I go from 6 weeks to 5 weeks because my horses feet grow so quickly - particularly in the summer. To be fair I only bump into my farrier once or twice a year as he helps himself to the horses that are to be shod taking them out and putting them back in their stables when finished but I know he'd text me otherwise if a problem came to light and talk me through the best solution.

It's my understanding (and I stand to be corrected) that it is only mandatory for newly qualified farriers and farriers with a specialism that teach others to undertake CPD (continuing professional development). I'm not sure that farriers that have been around for many years especially the old school farriers have to undertake CPD, I believe there is not mandatory requirement although it is advised that they do so. So they may not know in great depth problems that may arise from horses that are not shod regularly, especially if research is recent.

 

[Landcruiser]

I don't really see the point of using strong chemicals (formaldyhide in this case) to try to speed up what the body can do for itself given the right conditions and enough time. The hoof needs to flex to function, it shouldn't be hard like a block of wood. I understand about sole sensitivity, but boots would be a much kinder and healthier option. I'd advise using a wire brush over the soles to help exfoliate, and make sure the diet is good - a good balancer like Pro Balance, Plenty of forage and no added sugar anywhere. And plenty of exercise/movement. You could look at using Red Horse products like Field Paste if you are worried about the cracks.
What makes you think she has soft soles OP? Can you flex them?

 

[Leo Walker]

Even when we are on the stones and he has shoes on his frog is so close to the ground even though he has lovely little feet 🦶🏻

His frog is supposed to touch the ground!

 

[milliepops]

His frog is supposed to touch the ground!

yes, rather a fundamental point of having a frog really

I would also expect 7 weeks to be a bit of a long shoeing interval, most of mine have been OK on 6 but it would be getting borderline by the 6th week in the summer periods. Newbie is on a 4 week interval as his feet are changing a lot.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I was meaning going over all the rough stones and boulders

 

[Leo Walker]

I know, but that doesnt change the fact that his frogs should be on the floor, stones or no stones. If hes uncomfortable then have a chat with your farrier and see if you can find out why. Mines not shod and has really tough feet but she marches over hardcore rubble without a care in the world, so something shod should be able to cope.

 

[charterline]

7 weeks, not that long?

Alas some people have to work... if the OP’s work is anything like mine, trying to get time off bang on six weeks, is pretty much nigh impossible

 

[twiggy2]

I agree the farrier is the best to advise on intervals. My daughter mare just sis not grow much hoof and 4-6 week intervals would have.left her with no hoof due to the amount.of nail holes.
For what it's worth my farrier used to recommend keratex to some clients until he had a horse who's hooves became so brittle they pretty much shattered, the damage was so high the horse was stabled for weeks before there was enough hoof to shoe.

 

[JennBags]

I don't think 7 weeks is too long. My farrier books for 6 weeks but sometimes we delay it and the horse has gone 8 weeks, when he's not grown much foot. We'd not be able to do much after 5 weeks! Like with most things horsey, it's down to the individual horse.
I'd not be using keratex hoof hardener in the summer, also I wouldn't ever use it on the sole, only the outer hoof.