Recommend me a good hoof conditioner please

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Can anyone recommend me a good hoof conditioner for my WB gelding's feet? They are splitting and breaking up and he will have a job holding shoes before long. He's not due to be shod for another 3 weeks and he will never go that long as it is, let alone with cracked feet. The quality of his horn is poor and yet he has always had such good strong feet. I know I need to get him on a supplement of some kind but I just need something to get some moisture into his feet now.

I have three thoughts so far

1. Effol
2. Kevin Bacon
3. Keratex

Any suggestions/recommendations please for immediate help. Would tubbing the feet help in anyway as an emergency solution? I believe from reading previous posts that sealing in moisture can have just as detrimental effect as the feet becoming too dry so I want to be careful not to cause any problems.
 
Keratin would be your best bet, it's expensive but good. If your horse has really bad feet then I would try him on biotin or if you'd prefer a natural approach, seaweed and rosehip. You don't say if you feed him but if you do try to stay away from mollassed feed and cereals to help harden up the hoof.
 
I am currently tubbing my boys feet every evening for 10 mins, he loves it, no headcollar and just stands there with his front feet in the buckets snoozing, it does work and after the 10 mins I let them dry and put on some NAF hoof moist, it might seem like a faf but its all in all only 10 mins, and it is helping, he is barefoot (because of navicular) and this really helps, also if you pop some keratex hoof wash in the water, it has antibacterial properties that eliminate and nastys and help keep the hoof in good order. I haven't tubbed his hinds and there is a noticable difference so I guess its 4 buckets from now on! I only use the rubbery type of bucket, as normal plastic will just split under his 17hh warmblood weight!
 
FFF hoof supplement for starters :-)

Kevin Bacon Liquid cos the solid stuff is a nightmare unless its a hot day, that way you can use it in winter too

Effol Liquid same as above, although I've used their solid green one and thats better than Kevin Bacon's solid one on colder days
 
Have heard good reports about Kevin Bacon too .....

Have fed Hoof Power Plus in the past with good results and use cornucrescine for growth
 
My boy had extremely cracked feet last summer and he was losing shoes all the time which was annoying and a bit expensive as well.

When the feet get very wet and then very dry they are shrinking and expanding which really doesn't help- i know a lot of people say not to get their feet wet in dry weather as that is doing the same thing, but i don't think a little wash each day matters too much.

His diet was fine and not lacking in anything-I tried foot supplements over a long length of time, but they didn't really do much and his feet were growing anyway- i have always used either Effol or Derby hoof balm which is great and i also used the Life Data Right Step hoof dressing which is fab stuff! Feeding Alfalfa and Linseed oil is v good for their feet too.

My boys feet were cracked all winter as well and the break through for my boy was when through no choice of my own, i had to change farriers after christmas (the first one i tried after the change was not v good and made my other horse lame in 2 shoeings- so he got the boot LOL!!- but the 2nd one is fab!), and the new farrier has been using very lightweight almost aluminium type shoes (he always has quarter clips as well), and he took off all the cracks where they had grown out, and since Feb- no cracks, he has normal feet , all the hot weather and still no cracks!- i reckon the shoes he used to have were too heavy for his feet, and maybe the nails too light, but hey i'm no farrier, only i conclusion that I've come too!- i've not had to paint his feet since they've been stronger since last year whereas last year i was putting stuff on every few days!

I think sometimes it's a phase they go through, and if the feet are taken back to their strongest point, it can help!

Just thought I'd share with you what happened to my boy- it may or may not be useful to you! and good luck.
 
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Also agree with kevin bacon ... was giving my TB biotin in his feed. Asked my farrier what he thought of it and he said aside from making his mane and tail shiny it was doing nothing for his feet :rolleyes: (although my lad doesn't need it, is not to say it wouldnt benefit someone elses neddy :))sooooooo one supplement down & one tub of kevin bacon gained ... winner! Its amazing stuff.
 
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