Hoof oil.. How often do you apply

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mulledwhine

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As above really...

I was told not to apply it too often as it creates a barrier to not allow moisture in and can almost suffocate the hoof.

Now, more and more I am seeing horses even being hacked out with oil on.

So now I confused.

So what do you do?
 
I'd say when we remember we put it on our girls every other day or similar - 2 - 3 days maybe. One gets very brittle crumbly feet in summer and the other is a bit prone to cracking so we've been told the stuff we are using is good for them; and it certainly seems to help!
This is purely due to us forgetting I think though!! :o
K x
 
If I was going to a show then I'd bob it on just to make the hooves nice and shiney before going in the ring but I don't use it as a rule, I don't see the point of it apart from giving a sheen, but even then it drys in the or the dust sticks to it.

I'd rather apply a moisture type than an oil, but again, do they really work to condition the hooves?...who knows.
 
I think a lot of people use it for asthetic purposes mainly. Many years ago we were taught as kids to put it on as part of good turn out.

Haven't used it for years now, mainly on advice from my farrier.

I use good old cornucresine to moisturise my girls hooves in a vain attempt to keep the cracks at bay :p
 
There a two schools of thought on this...
-Never use hoof oil- I wouldn't if the horse had good feet, the weather isn't too dry and its out 24/7

Personally though I find especially with stabled horses, on my horse and at work we use hoof oil daily. Every horses feet have improved, as hoof oil moistures the hoof, just like cuticle oil does when people have manicures. I like the Carr,day and martin stuff, or the Kevin Bacon stuff is mean to be great. At work we just use vegetable oil.
On really dry feet I use C+d+m hoof moisturiser which is great. :)
 
I very rarely use hoof oil, only for showing shows. I use Cornucrescine hoof dressing every other day to moisturise my boys hooves.
 
I don't use it. I use a hoof moisturiser which goes on like E45 and soaks without leaving a finish, and at bath times mega-tek rebuilder for hooves, manes, tails and rubbed out coats. If I am going to a show I use a hoof gloss spray.
 
i use it 2 -3 times a week, but if its dewy in the morning i don't put on the sole so the feet can uptake the moisture, but in dry summers its invaluable for the hooves to retain their suppleness.
 
Thanks. I have never used it other than when I competed or now when pony has PC. It just seems that I am seeing it more and more in every day life and was interested to know why?

It was my farrier who told me not to use it.

What prompted this was as another p
Poster said, I put some on on Sunday and his feet sucked it up, so wondered if MY Pc days were right
 
Never use it, never have.

If I ever want shiny feet I use baby or vegetable oil applied with a sponge.
 
hoof oil is for the show ring, to maintain the natural moisture in the hoof hose the feet/legs twice a week in summer once a week in winter unless thier fields are wet enough.
 
Never.

I use red horse sole cleanse and sole paint to keep thrush under control when needed, and for shows I use absorbine show shine.
 
For good hoof strength the hoof need to have a correct percentage of moisture in it. (Latest research but can't remember where I read it)

In winter oil to keep excess moisture out and in summer to keep moisture in.

We used to oil the stabled horses feet twice daily, before exercise - it was a rule on the yard I worked in in UK that when we rode out we wore shirt tie, hacking jacket and hooves were oiled.

The feet then got oiled again when horses were strapped each day.

Think of the horn on the feet just like the nails on your hands, if you don't lok after them they flake, break and grow badly.
 
Never, if they need more moisture in their feet then they are hosed. As long as diet and exercise are right, then the hooves can take care of themselves very well indeed!
 
At the moment once-twice a week as the ground is very dry and their hooves aren't getting any moisture at all. It isn't hoof oil as such though - I use Effol Hoof Ointment which works really well.
 
Never use the stuff, it dries out the hoofs too much, I use Kevin Bacon every day (it is made out of animal fats and the farriers reccommend it because it keeps the hoof moist, it also comes with its very own bay leaf!!) :confused::confused:
 
My youngster had hoof oil on each time I saw him/tried him at his previous home, but I don't have any and never used it on my old horse, so I was wondering what the overall point is? I gather that, unless you get one for shows that makes it look shiny and nice, its used for strengthening hooves prone to cracking or drying? Confusing really, as he has excellently hard feet..
 
DappleGreyDaydreamer said:
My youngster had hoof oil on each time I saw him/tried him at his previous home, but I don't have any and never used it on my old horse, so I was wondering what the overall point is? I gather that, unless you get one for shows that makes it look shiny and nice, its used for strengthening hooves prone to cracking or drying? Confusing really, as he has excellently hard feet..
Click to expand...

This is a very old thread, the people selling the horse probably just wanted to make him look smart when you went to try him, I always use hoof oil for shows and as part of my preparation when getting one ready to be shown to a potential purchaser it adds a professional finish to the overall first impression, if they are in summer coats they will also have quarter marks.
 
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