Hoof hardener?

[Kellys Heroes]

Looking for something to harden Kelly's hooves up - they are quite brittle, missing chunks (due to lami damage according to farrier), and the soles are very thin and soft.

I've heard that purple spray works well?

Any recommendations would be great!
K x

 

[Izzyella]

My farrier, who I really trust, recommended painting the whole hoof (excluding frog) with Keratex (I forgot to ask him but I assume he meant the hardener rather than moisturising gel- didn't realise they made a few!) for my barefoot ponies as the weather and ground has made them quite brittle. I am off to get some tomorrow. He also suggested adding biotin to their small evening feed (they already have a multivitamin), but said not to bother with expensive branded ones.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

On advice from farrier last nov I started feeding farrier formula, and I can see a great difference, she is TB and has or rather had poor brittle feet, the next time she is shod all the old brittle hoof will be gone and then she will have better feet and keep shoes on longer than 3 wks!! It is £40 a bag that lasts 2or3months depending on how much you feed, I tried all sorts applied to feet, and this is only thing that has worked.

 

[VioletStripe]

Firstly, diet! I've also found that purple spray on the soles and frog can help... When Casper had a touch of thrush, after the farrier came, as well as applying Kevin Bacon to the hoof wall (something I usually do after the farrier visit) I sprayed the soles and frog with purple spray just to ensure it was cleared up and I found it also helped toughen up his soles a bit. Though that could have been the addition of a vitamin and mineral block either way, the 2 things together made a difference

 

[Rueysmum]

I use neat iodine on my old recently barefoot TB's soles. It certainly seems to be working.

When he was still shod his sole would give under thumb pressure. Horrid!