Thin soles

[Mouse19]

My horse has just recovered from an abscess.

My land and the hacking round here can be stoney.

I’ve always been aware he has thin soles but this is the first time he’s had an abscess in the 2 years I’ve owned him. My farrier thinks he is a candidate for pads as a preventative measure but I am wondering if I could improve his soles before going down this route.

Farrier has recommended Keratex hoof hardener. I used this about 20 years ago on an old livery and I’m aware it is a harsh formula that may do more damage in the long run.

Are there any other products people would recommend? Has anyone successfully improved sole condition or am I better going for pads?

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'd give Red Horse Stronghorn a go before Keratax personally.

I'd probably be looking at hoof boots before shoes and pads too in an ideal world but appreciate it isn't always an ideal world!

 

[Gloi]

Hoof armour works well.
So do boots.

 

[Mouse19]

Hoof armour works well.
So do boots.

Have you used this? Did you apply or did your farrier?

 

[Gloi]

Have you used this? Did you apply or did your farrier?

I've been using it for nearly two years now. I put it on, it's easy once you get the knack. It lets me ride most of the time without using boots , I use scoots for really long rides, but it could be used on soles when shod if necessary.

 

[Mouse19]

I've been using it for nearly two years now. I put it on, it's easy once you get the knack. It lets me ride most of the time without using boots , I use scoots for really long rides, but it could be used on soles when shod if necessary.

thank you. I think I will give it a go.

I will have to keep shoes on for the foreseeable I think.

 

[Ceriann]

Hoof armour and/or boots. The best hoof friendly diet too - so a good quality supplement (pro hoof or similar) and a low sugar/starch diet, which may involve restricting grass. My mare has very thin flat soles and summer grazing can make her footy, so we boot and restrict grazing. I am hoping to install a track in the next 12 months. Mine is out of shoes now and has been for some time - she’s slowly more comfortable but boots/hoof armour support as needed.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Pads were a game changer for my boy. He has thin soles too and was struggling on stony tracks and kept getting bruises. He started off in leather pads whilst the hooves recovered and now has the plastic ones. I wouldn’t change them for him, they have made him so much more comfortable. They are reasonably expensive but they are refitted each shoeing and he only has new ones probably twice per year.

 

[ycbm]

If Keratex damaged the feet they would have been sued out of existence by now, it's been being used successfully to harden feet for over three decades.

Used as instructed, the damage claims are just a myth.

But formaldehyde or sheep hoof dip watered down to 8% will do the same thing at a tiny fraction of the price.
.

 

[splashgirl45]

My first horse was half TB and had thin soles and I had the same problem, my farrier put pads on and they worked but they stop the frog and sole from breathing and , long term I didn’t keep them on as I felt his foot wasn’t getting better . I used Stockholm tar to keep his frogs healthy and ended up just being very careful on stoney paths. This was 50 years ago so pads might be better now but I would use keratin rather than pads now

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The only thing that improved my horses soles was removing shoes using boots and hoof armour, he did have a while in shoes and pads but it's not really solving the issue it's just covering it up.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My horse has just recovered from an abscess.

My land and the hacking round here can be stoney.

I’ve always been aware he has thin soles but this is the first time he’s had an abscess in the 2 years I’ve owned him. My farrier thinks he is a candidate for pads as a preventative measure but I am wondering if I could improve his soles before going down this route.

Farrier has recommended Keratex hoof hardener. I used this about 20 years ago on an old livery and I’m aware it is a harsh formula that may do more damage in the long run.

Are there any other products people would recommend? Has anyone successfully improved sole condition or am I better going for pads?

My pony has thin soles and I was recommended Scoot Boots. I have been using this, and been happy with it https://hoofbootique.co.uk/stronghorn/