hoof softener?

[vickers22]

What is the best cream/oil etc to apply to dry cracked and brittle hooves?Im using hoof moist atm, but it doesnt seem to be helping

 

[Eceni]

Um.... water?

Stand them in water for an hour a day. It's what they've evolved for. YOu can make up a tray with a sponge in it and stand them there while they eat

E

 

[wench]

I use this stuff on my horses hooves, its really good

hoof stuff

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

Cod liver oil !! Thats the only thing I would use on my horse.

I occasionally put hoof moist underneath in the dry months, but good old fashioned cod liver oil is the way to go for me.

Its all we used on the race horses, and their feet were perfect.

 

[Eceni]

I hate to rain on the parade, but I think you'll find if you read any of the barefoot websites that oils on feet are a disaster - they leach out all the oil in the foot rather than the other way around. If it's worked, it's more by luck than adherence to the science...

E

 

[dixie]

Cornicrescent (sp)? Soaking in water too per my farrier - better than all the creams.

 

[SSM]

I've been feeding sunflower seeds and use Kevin Bacon

 

[fizzer]

kevin bacons fab, had one with terrible feet, dry, brittle and after 6 months on bacons were great

 

[vickers22]

ooo-what if i make him stand n the river and put his food on the bank?!will this work?(if its not mean!)sounds dum but just checking in case running water wont work or anything!

 

[fizzer]

i would of thought that applying water to the hoofs when very hot would dry them out more?

 

[Eceni]

Apparently its how mustangs keep their feet in such good condition. that and galloping barefoot over stony countryside for 40 miles a day...

yes, running water should work

read up some of the barefoot sites. Can't remember URLs offhand, but a google search should turn up lots of stuff

E

 

[Judie]

Hooves need water! Putting oil on them keeps the water out.

Horses out all winter standing in wet fields don't end up with soft hooves, they may end up with soft frogs etc but the hooves are designed to absorb water, hence why they crack in the summer,especially when it dries up so quickly like it has.

 

[vickers22]

i have just googled a really good website;
dry hooves website
It seems that you are right Eceni!!I think effol would work as a hoof sealer?

 

[spaniel]

The hoof wall is designed to let water in and out so no amount of putting on oil will help. In fact IMO all it does is seal things up and stop the natural balances. Water is really the way to go but you arent going to see any real benefit until the brittle summer hoof grows out anyway.

Its natures way.

 

[vicm2509]

Keratex hoof moisturiser. Used it last year and his hooves went from dry and very cracked to near perfect in 6 weeks. I started using it the day after he was shod and by then next shoing all cracks had almost gone. After finishing the bottle I didnt buy another and his hooves have stayed lovely.

Have just ordered another as its coming to that time of year again.

 

[Miss Tipps]

Keratex definitely. This time of year is one of the biggest problems, when we start turning out 24/7. The dew on the ground in the morning soaks into the hoof, causing the hoof to expand. Then the sun comes out and dries the hoof which causes the hoof to contract again and this causing the cracking and separation. So just soaking your horses foot in water can have a detrimental effect.

Keratex apparently works by slowing down the evaporation process to prevent the rapid expansion/contraction of the hoof.