Topical treatments for chipping hooves?

[AmeliaA]

My gelding is fully shod and we have no issues generally and my farrier has never mentioned anything - however he ALWAYS gets chipping around the nail holes. I think it’s just cosmetic but is there anything I can apply to help? Especially as we’re going into summer

He’s on a balanced forage based diet - fed foragePlus hoof and skin balancer plus Bozmerix in beet pulp and chaff

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

They might be just lacking moisture in the summer so often just water will help stop them cracking, but on the whole I find nothing you actually paint on will stop it intact alot of oils and moisturiser stuff will actually prevent the moisture getting in.

Good hooves are generally made from what you feed linseed is good to feed for hoof health you don't need alot about 50g a day.

 

[AmeliaA]

They might be just lacking moisture in the summer so often just water will help stop them cracking, but on the whole I find nothing you actually paint on will stop it intact alot of oils and moisturiser stuff will actually prevent the moisture getting in.

Good hooves are generally made from what you feed linseed is good to feed for hoof health you don't need alot about 50g a day.

Thank you - I’m a bit scared of linseed due to weight gain. He’s been fat for awhile and we’re just getting to a good place now. His balancer does have linseed in it as the base though I think so he does get some!

Do you think just giving his feet a bit of a scrub when he comes in from the field will be enough water to moisturise lol? My mum is quite old school and swears by cornucrescine but I think it’s horrible stuff to apply

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you - I’m a bit scared of linseed due to weight gain. He’s been fat for awhile and we’re just getting to a good place now. His balancer does have linseed in it as the base though I think so he does get some!

Do you think just giving his feet a bit of a scrub when he comes in from the field will be enough water to moisturise lol? My mum is quite old school and swears by cornucrescine but I think it’s horrible stuff to apply

In summer I wash them down with a bucket and sponge after I ride and just get a sponge full of water and put it on each hoof if the ground is dry. I just think stuff like cornucrescine puts a barrier on the hoof so prevents moisture getting in.

 

[Birker2020]

I ordered some of this Wednesday evening via Amazon and it arrived yesterday and I put in on this morning. It's like white body cream and there's a brush attached to the screw lid inside so it's dead easy to apply.

His feet must have needed it as they drank it up, it soon started to dissapear. Because he's on box rest on shavings and rubber matting his feet are getting very dry.

Photos of last two feet were before and after the vet rasped the toe for me.

Primarily for use in dry conditions, the Advanced, water-based formulation penetrates deep into the hoof horn to aid moisture replacement. If used on a daily basis this product maintains the optimum hoof moisture. Contains an integral, quality brush for easy application.

 

[sbloom]

Chipping around the nail holes would often be mild white line disease type thing, worth looking at the treatments the barefooters use, especially if you can find one that is thin and would track into the holes. Mild WLD is so common that farriers often don't comment on it.

 

[HelenBack]

If it is WLD then Swan Antibac is great for dripping sparingly into the nail holes. I say sparingly because it's liquid and I usually end up spilling loads of it everywhere!

It will dry the hooves out if used excessively so best to stick to about twice a week.

 

[littleshetland]

Try Aqueous Cream from the chemists. It's basically the same stuff as Hoof Moist and a fraction the cost. It seems to work ok.

 

[MystieMoo]

Try Aqueous Cream from the chemists. It's basically the same stuff as Hoof Moist and a fraction the cost. It seems to work ok.

I never knew that! That's definitely worth remembering

 

[Sossigpoker]

Use any water based moisturiser or a hoof dressing. Oil based ones like Kevin Bacon form a barrier and just dry the hoof more.
I really like Effol products.

 

[Goldenstar]

I use silver feet

 

[MystieMoo]

Use any water based moisturiser or a hoof dressing. Oil based ones like Kevin Bacon form a barrier and just dry the hoof more.
I really like Effol products.

Great, thanks. I'll look Effol up.

 

[Squeak]

I use NAF hoof moist as it doesn't form a barrier as it is like a moisturiser cream and it genuinely seems to have done a good job for my horses feet, particularly through the dry summer last year.