Hoof Help Please

[horse_lover]

I purchased a new horse in January, who was in a bit of a bad way. He is now looking much better, but has terrible feet (he is TB). I think my farrier is losing patience as he keeps pulling shoes off in 1 week I had him out twice (I know it is not the farrier as he has done a cracking job with my other TB).

This morning he came in and had pulled 3 shoes off in one night, taking half his hoof with it. He now has to stay in because he is too sore to walk Can anyone recommend anything that will strengthen his hoofs, either by supplement or hoof oil? Thanks

 

[Eriskayowner]

I fed Blackjack pure biotin to promote hoof growth and painted hoof moist on to keep his feet supple and to stop them drying out.
Cornucresin is also good for hooves but not used it much.

 

[brightmount]

It's a pain isn't it, you get in a vicious circle when horses (invariably TBs!) keep pulling their shoes off with bits of hoof, and the farrier has to nail higher each time until there's nothing left to nail onto, so with a weakened wall you are more likely to lose shoes.

It's usually said that a horse pulls shoes by standing on the backs of them, and there are heel guards that farriers can fit to prevent this, which you could ask your farrier about. It doesn't account for lost hind shoes though.

You may also need a period out of shoes to enable some growth, but it's a really bad time right now with the ground so hard, unless you have turnout in a sand school or round pen for a few months.

There are wraps that farriers can fit to protect an unshod hoof while new hoof grows. It goes on a bit like a bandage that sets like plaster, and helps the horse be less footsore during a necessary period without shoes. You could also consider boots, but most are only suitable for short periods such as riding, not for long periods turned out, but your farrier could advise you on that too.

I found with my horse that kept losing shoes, things improved when I changed to a more experienced farrier. He used finer nails that were less damaging to the hoof, and as her shoes stayed on longer, we gradually broke the cycle.

The only topical treatment recommended by the farriers I have known is Kevin Bacon. I used the one in the red tin with a brush in the top. A good supplement is Formula 4 Feet, but with any supplement, you have to feed it for a few months before you will see any improvement.

Hope this helps.

 

[Indigo Moose]

Feedwise, give him limestone flour, biotin and gelatine (even raw fruit jelly is good for this). Don't bother with products like Farriers Formula, they are overpriced cack. The limestone flour is just a good source of calcium, and you can see the improvement as soon as the new hoof starts to grow in. It's really cheap and really makes a difference.

Goose grease, tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil is a good mixture to paint on. You can get goose fat from supermarkets or butchers, and the oils from chemists.

Double clips all around can help to keep shoes on when he has good enough feet for shoes again. My mare has average quality feet but she stomps them very hard, and double clips in front as well as behind has really helped her keep shoes on.

 

[Oberon]

Alot of grazing in this country is high in calcium already, if you are feeding anything with alfalfa - that is also high in calcium. Adding extra calcium can inhibit copper absorption (which tends to be low in UK grazing too) - which then produces poor feet.

Farriers Formula (while not as ideal as a bespoke mineral supplement) is quite good, but tends to be needed as a double dose to make any effect, which is expensive.

Being a TB doesn't necessarily mean he will always have bad feet and that is that. If the horse was in a poor way - then his feet will be poor just now.

He'll need a diet high in vitamins and minerals to get the hooves to grow stronger.

 

[chestnut cob]

My horse has never had particularly good feet but they're improving since I've included magox, seaweed and brewer's yeast in his diet. My new farrier also suggest rosehips and putting Kevin Bacon stuff on.

 

[intouch]

Could you try him in hoof boots for a few months with lots of road walking to strengthen up his feet? Cut out any sugary feed and limit grains; loads of forage, micronised linseed and a good supplement.

 

[horse_lover]

Thanks everyone. Farrier is out tomorrow so hoping he will give me some suggestions. Went out and got some Biotin today as a few recommended it, but couldn't find any Kevin Bacon, which also seems popular so will look on the net

 

[tallyho!]

Sugary starchy food all contribute to weak hoof capsules - maybe you could try upping his ration of fibre and decreasing his straights. Alfa-a oil perhaps with speedibeet as a substitute.

Is he getting enough calcium? You can feed him buckets of biotin but if he's deficient in calcium and magnesium, he won't be able to utilise the vitamins properly and will still make no difference.

Topical ointments won't help in the long term - waste of money. If you had ridgy, cracking nails would you slap cream on? Well, you might but taking a hair & nail supplement (or eating more calcium & fruit and veg) will actually DO something.

Boot him until some decent horn grows.

 

[thatsmygirl]

Tallyho has said most off what I was going to say. I'm a great believer off what you put into your horse shows on the outside. Look into diet first and sort that and in time the hoofs will improve. Biotin on it's own isn't the best there's more to it than chucking a bit off biotin in a feed. Formula for feet etc is a waste off money, if you have your horse on a fully balanced diet there is no need for hoof supplements etc.

 

[Tnavas]

In addition to feeding Copper & Zinc supplement, apply Cornucrescene to the coronary band daily. Grows horn brilliently and also your own finger nails too.

Do oil at least once daily as in summer, oiling helps to keep moisture in and in winter/wet weather to keep excess water out.

The sole of the foot should be supple enough that when you press with your thumbs the sole gives a little. Dehydration of sole, frog and hoof wall results in the concussive forces being transmitted directly through the pedal bone and cannon bone. Dehydrated feet don't hold shoes well.

Standing in water doesn't work to keep the foot healthy as it encourages rapid drying out. Moisture needs to be developed from within. Applying oil daily traps the moisture inside so it doesn't evaporate.