Hoof/horn support - which supplement/feed/topical application?

[PolarSkye]

Kali (16.2hh sporthorse, rather boxy/upright feet) has appalling feet - period. They are much, much worse in the summer - horn becomes brittle and dry. He can barely hold onto shoes for four weeks (which is costing me a fortune). He was shod two weeks ago and has already had to have the clenches tightened.

He is in medium work, doesn't do much road work (just the yard and the track down to the field). I currently feed him Alfa A (molasses free), Blue Chip Original and H&H Seaweed and Rosehip . . . he gets Keratex as a topical application (the hoof hardener) and Cornucrescine on the coronet band. We're just coming out of our second summer with him and his feet are really awful (again). They pick up in the winter - don't know whether that's because there's more moisture in the ground, or b/c he spends more time in on soft, moisture-holding bedding - but I'm taking a look at what else we can do to support horn growth (and quality) better. I really don't want to change his base feed (the Alfa A and the Blue Chip) as it's taken us a while to find something that allows him to build/maintain topline without hotting him up - and I feed the Blue Chip b/c I don't want to be feeding him a ton of supplements.

My trainer has suggested Farrier's Formula - but as it's alfalfa based, what would he be getting that he doesn't already get in his current feed?

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance . . .

P

 

[Cashew]

I had this problem with my horse last year and like you used Keratex And Cornucrescine and also used NAF Pro Feet as a supplement. I too felt it was due to the hard ground and was forever having to replace shoes with little/poor quality hoof to work with. This year I got ahead of the game and although I continued to paint the Keratex on throughout the winter and apply the Cornucrescine to the coronet band once a week, I resumed the NAF Pro Feet in early spring and also started to use NAF Pro Feet Rock Hard which you paint on like the Keratex and have had no issues this year at all. my blacksmith is really impressed with the results! I also used to use the linseed/iodine mix but had to slow this down as his feet were growing too quickly! Hope this helps. ps they are quite pricey but they do seem to last ages.

 

[PolarSkye]

I had this problem with my horse last year and like you used Keratex And Cornucrescine and also used NAF Pro Feet as a supplement. I too felt it was due to the hard ground and was forever having to replace shoes with little/poor quality hoof to work with. This year I got ahead of the game and although I continued to paint the Keratex on throughout the winter and apply the Cornucrescine to the coronet band once a week, I resumed the NAF Pro Feet in early spring and also started to use NAF Pro Feet Rock Hard which you paint on like the Keratex and have had no issues this year at all. my blacksmith is really impressed with the results! I also used to use the linseed/iodine mix but had to slow this down as his feet were growing too quickly! Hope this helps. ps they are quite pricey but they do seem to last ages.

Thanks Cashew - we had been discontinuing the Keratex and Cornucrescine in the winter but will maintain it this year. I wonder if he needs another hoof supplement on top of what he gets in the Blue Chip and the HH? Or just replace the HH with something? We tried him on Pro Feet and he wouldn't touch it - didn't like the taste - so would need to look at something else.

Anyone got any suggestions? To be honest, the cost of a decent supplement (that works) must go some way to defraying the cost of having to have him shod (or re-shod!) once a month .

P

 

[Sneedy]

I've been through the same and it really is soul destroying, so I feel your pain!!

Last summer was my worst with my chap, he had so much glue on his feet it was unbelievable! Thankfully things sorted themselves through the winter!

So this spring I took his back shoes off, as I don't need to go on the roads so thought it worth a go. Result = the best his back feet have ever been! I appreciate this won't suit everyone, but it really has helped us, and only gives me 2 feet to worry about !!!

I also put him back on Formula for Feet last summer (had a trial period off it, not wise!), I'm sure this has also helped. However, I think you'd be over doing the supplements if you added this with Blue Chip, could you consider replacing the BC with F4F?

The other thing I did this spring was have aluminium shoes fitted in front. They are not as hardwearing as steel, but I only hack about twice a week so they have stood up to 5 weeks ware. My thinking behind this was lighter shoes may be less likely rip through the poor quality horn, so far this has worked well.

I also started to use Kevin Bacon hoof dressing, this has helped too as his feet were looking really dry and brittle.

So the result of my ramblings is that I have not lost a shoe this summer, he is on a 5 wk shoeing interval, and I have not had any stress from feet. So if you can try any of the above I would say 'go for it'!!

PS. he is fed Alfa A and Allen and Page Ride & Relax

Hope that helps?! Good luch

 

[PolarSkye]

I've been through the same and it really is soul destroying, so I feel your pain!!

Last summer was my worst with my chap, he had so much glue on his feet it was unbelievable! Thankfully things sorted themselves through the winter!

So this spring I took his back shoes off, as I don't need to go on the roads so thought it worth a go. Result = the best his back feet have ever been! I appreciate this won't suit everyone, but it really has helped us, and only gives me 2 feet to worry about !!!

I also put him back on Formula for Feet last summer (had a trial period off it, not wise!), I'm sure this has also helped. However, I think you'd be over doing the supplements if you added this with Blue Chip, could you consider replacing the BC with F4F?

The other thing I did this spring was have aluminium shoes fitted in front. They are not as hardwearing as steel, but I only hack about twice a week so they have stood up to 5 weeks ware. My thinking behind this was lighter shoes may be less likely rip through the poor quality horn, so far this has worked well.

I also started to use Kevin Bacon hoof dressing, this has helped too as his feet were looking really dry and brittle.

So the result of my ramblings is that I have not lost a shoe this summer, he is on a 5 wk shoeing interval, and I have not had any stress from feet. So if you can try any of the above I would say 'go for it'!!

PS. he is fed Alfa A and Allen and Page Ride & Relax

Hope that helps?! Good luch

Thanks for this very comprehensive reply! Not rambling at all.

It's good to know we're not alone. The stress is reduced slightly by the fact that he's on full livery so I don't need to organize getting the farrier out - I just have to pay the exhorbitant bills .

Removing his back shoes is certainly an option his hinds are the worst - huge flipping chunks missing. I guess the only caveat is that he's most definitely at the bottom of the herd and while none of them are remotely nasty (the "bad" boys all go out in their own little gang so Kal's nighttime playmates are all nice) is he at a disadvantage having no back shoes? It's something to consider, though.

Loving the idea of lighter shoes - will definitely discuss this with his farrier (who I trust). Thanks for that.

Re the F4F - I agree with you re the double-dosing the BC. I kinda don't want to take him off the BC, though, b/c it also contains supplements for his bones, joints, respiratory system and nervous system - so if I took him off it, I'd be looking at separate supplements again - something I'd really like to avoid (and the reason he's on BC to start with). Perhaps a chat with a nutritionist is in order (again!).

You've given me some good things to think about - thank you!

P

 

[Cashew]

Thanks Cashew - we had been discontinuing the Keratex and Cornucrescine in the winter but will maintain it this year. I wonder if he needs another hoof supplement on top of what he gets in the Blue Chip and the HH? Or just replace the HH with something? We tried him on Pro Feet and he wouldn't touch it - didn't like the taste - so would need to look at something else.

Anyone got any suggestions? To be honest, the cost of a decent supplement (that works) must go some way to defraying the cost of having to have him shod (or re-shod!) once a month .

P

yes my boy wasn't keen on the Pro Feet granules but is fine with the liquid.

 

[PolarSkye]

yes my boy wasn't keen on the Pro Feet granules but is fine with the liquid.

Kal didn't like the liquid either . For a greedy boy, he can be quite decisive about what he eats (or doesn't!). He also doesn't like many of the global herbs supplements. But he loves raspberry/cranberry tea and has stolen both a prawn sandwich and a sausage roll right from my hand before now. Go figure!

P