Hoof Hardener

[KJ94]

My girl has been off for a few weeks now due to a stone bruise, vets been out she’s on the mend almost all better fingers crossed?

Been looking at Keratex hoof hardener, says it’s good for soft souls prone to bruising, anyone have any experience with this stuff?

She does have good feet and first time she’s had a bruise vet says there’s been quite a few with how dry the uk has been this summer, little paranoid now we are coming into the wetter seasons just want to prevent anymore! Do have hoof boots now for our hacks

Wasn’t sure if a hoof hardener would be good for prevention or not and they’re quite pricey, never used the stuff before would love to know peoples experiences!

 

[Snow Falcon]

Euchalyptus oil applied with brush to sole.

 

[BSL2]

I'm using keretex hoof hardener at the moment. Won't know for a couple of weeks. I am also researching "hoof armour".

 

[MuddyMonster]

I personally wouldn't touch Keratex as found it made my horse's hooves more brittle. It has a lot of chemicals in it too which aren't great for the hoof IMHO. I use Red Horse Strong Horn when needed and really rate it

 

[magicmoments]

I use it. It does work, but I also know now it's not great for feet due to the chemicals, so once I've finished this one, I'll look at something like hoof armour. Can't afford to waste money at the moment, so using what I already have.

 

[only_me]

My farrier hates the stuff. Only makes the outside of hoof harder, but hoof becomes more brittle and cracks easily.

He loves red horse products, they have a sole paint you can do. His fave is the field paste, can completely change quality of a hoof in a session!

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I personally wouldn't touch Keratex as found it made my horse's hooves more brittle. It has a lot of chemicals in it too which aren't great for the hoof IMHO. I use Red Horse Strong Horn when needed and really rate it

I hate the stuff too for the same reason - full of chemicals (the same ones they used on dead bodies to stop them breaking down apparently!) and made bot my horses hooves brittle & snap off super easy. Red horse products all the way!

 

[AntiPuck]

I haven't used it for this purpose, but the Sole Saviour from Hedgewitch Essentials is supposed to be great for this - it has done wonderful things for the health of my mare's frogs and soles. May be worth checking out the reviews, as some mention hardening soles.

 

[Birker2020]

My girl has been off for a few weeks now due to a stone bruise, vets been out she’s on the mend almost all better fingers crossed?

Been looking at Keratex hoof hardener, says it’s good for soft souls prone to bruising, anyone have any experience with this stuff?

She does have good feet and first time she’s had a bruise vet says there’s been quite a few with how dry the uk has been this summer, little paranoid now we are coming into the wetter seasons just want to prevent anymore! Do have hoof boots now for our hacks

Wasn’t sure if a hoof hardener would be good for prevention or not and they’re quite pricey, never used the stuff before would love to know peoples experiences!

I've always found Keratex hoof hardener really good, I used to use it twice weekly with Bailey.
The only time I ever used it with Lari his shoe came off the following day but I think it was just a coincidence.

It stops the nail holes from enlarging in the wet which then makes the shoe loose (mud doesn't suck off shoes).
Its like when you are sat in the bath too long and your nails go all soft. The same thing happens to horses feet. The nail holes enlarge and the shoes loosen.

I've also used Iodine and Eucalyptus which is a good combination.

 

[KJ94]

Thank you ever one super helpful don’t think Keratex is our best option now! Think I’ll look into something less harsh as she’s a hardy native with good feet don’t want to mess with them too much.

She’s currently getting iodine soaked cotton wool In the cavity by vet instruction which is helping, was not sure if it could be used on the whole hoof or not though! Eucalyptus sounds like a good idea to try as well will defo try that!

 

[KJ94]

Euchalyptus oil applied with brush to sole.

I've always found Keratex hoof hardener really good, I used to use it twice weekly with Bailey.
The only time I ever used it with Lari his shoe came off the following day but I think it was just a coincidence.

It stops the nail holes from enlarging in the wet which then makes the shoe loose (mud doesn't suck off shoes).
Its like when you are sat in the bath too long and your nails go all soft. The same thing happens to horses feet. The nail holes enlarge and the shoes loosen.

I've also used Iodine and Eucalyptus which is a good combination.

Where do you get Eucalyptus for the hoofs? And is there a brand or type or anything?

 

[Birker2020]

Where do you get Eucalyptus for the hoofs? And is there a brand or type or anything?

You just buy it from a health food place or off the internet, like ebay for example.

The iodine is more expensive, the concoction the vet made up was thick iodine and eucalyptus but at something like £18 a bottle I thought I'd make my own up. However the stuff I could buy from the feed merchants was poor quality, runny iodine. So I went on the internet and bought a bottle for about £11 including delivery so I was still quids in.

 

[Landcruiser]

Red Horse products all the way. The sole paint and the field paste are easy to use and really effective (general hoof/frog health, not a hardener). Best thing for horn quality is a good balanced diet (and a bit of micronised linseed added daily). I wouldn't touch Keratex with a bargepole, it contains formaldehyde.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My girl has been off for a few weeks now due to a stone bruise, vets been out she’s on the mend almost all better fingers crossed?

Been looking at Keratex hoof hardener, says it’s good for soft souls prone to bruising, anyone have any experience with this stuff?

She does have good feet and first time she’s had a bruise vet says there’s been quite a few with how dry the uk has been this summer, little paranoid now we are coming into the wetter seasons just want to prevent anymore! Do have hoof boots now for our hacks

Wasn’t sure if a hoof hardener would be good for prevention or not and they’re quite pricey, never used the stuff before would love to know peoples experiences!

Yes Keratex is amazing stuff.

My pony gets soft feet in winter and goes pottery, 2 days of keratex and she does not snatch her foot away and walks better. Her feet improve, no brittleness or anything. I would not use anything else.
Also always feed the hoof from the inside too via hoof supplement to encourage the hoof to grow strong from the coronet

 

[KJ94]

You just buy it from a health food place or off the internet, like ebay for example.

The iodine is more expensive, the concoction the vet made up was thick iodine and eucalyptus but at something like £18 a bottle I thought I'd make my own up. However the stuff I could buy from the feed merchants was poor quality, runny iodine. So I went on the internet and bought a bottle for about £11 including delivery so I was still quids in.

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Perfect thank you will order some! How do you apply it do you just mix iodine and the oil together and apply with a brush or does it need diluting? or am I way off haha!

 

[Birker2020]

Here is an old post about mixing the two. I personally wouldn't add water, for one it will just dilute the ingredients and two water and oil don't mix.

 

[KJ94]

Here is an old post about mixing the two. I personally wouldn't add water, for one it will just dilute the ingredients and two water and oil don't mix.

Thanks so much! this is so helpful ?

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks so much! this is so helpful ?

No probs

 

[Fieldlife]

Iodine is harmful to foot tissue and should be used very sparingly.

 

[Lady Jane]

Keratex is very good, but you do need to follow the directions. Euucalyptus is not a hardener but has anti-bac properties. My farrier has me mix it with baby oil as it needs carrier at about 40-50%. The quality varies so you do need to read the small print. Iodine is for very short term use if you are trying to dry out an abcess. All are good in their place. As others have said, feed the hoof from the inside, there has already been plenty written on this subject. Nothing will change the hoof overnight but they can be improved over time - its a bit like hand cream, you put it on and your hands feel lovely but its very short term the way we abuse our hands!