Using Keratex

[Jericho]

2 weeks ago I had the front shoes off my mare as she is ridden about once a week and has very good strong hooves. My farrier was more than happy to do this saying she would have no problem with the transistion if I take it slowly to give her feet time to adjust etc but he did recommend the use of Keratex, which I havent actually used yet purely because we have been away and no time to get it.

However today I noticed she has lost a few small chips/ chunks out where the nail holes are which I was expecting but she is coping fine on concrete yard and out in field and doesnt seem foot sore at all even on frozen rutty ground

Can anyone tell me what exactly this does other than harden hooves? I am a little worried because I have heard it can make them very brittle. Is there any point starting now or should I just let the hoof adjust itself?

 

[Izzwizz]

Ive used it on my mares hooves to help strengthen them and painted it on the soles of her feet as she used to feel stones, especially in Summer, and my Farrier said she had thin soles. The instructions in the box are very informative and from memory do say to paint well into the old shoeing holes, but not to paint near the top of the hoof. Just to use on the lower part and not to paint onto the frog atall. I was impressed by it and you hardly have to use any, thinks its just once a week. Worked for my horse and her hooves suffered no ill effects. Will last you ages.

 

[brightmount]

When a horse first has its shoes off, there is usually a period when the false sole exfoliates naturally which it should be allowed to do, so I wouldn't put Keratex on the sole to start with.

The nail holes should soon grow out, though as they are doing so you may get some chips which may not look pretty, but regular trims should be all that is needed. Keratex isn't recommended for the wall which should be allowed to flex naturally.

To be honest, Keratex isn't that useful, except for keeping the shoes on horses with bad nail holes, and only as a temporary measure, as Kevin Bacon is better longterm for the hoof wall in keeping it flexible. I have a barefoot horse and Keratex isn't recommended as a rule. It may only have some use on the sole in extreme situations where the horse is footsore, but the usual transition to barefoot only involves gradual conditioning so soreness shouldn't be an issue except if the ground conditions are extreme.

If you can manage without it I would.

 

[LightBuckskin]

Using the Keratex Hoof Hardener does a lot more than simply hardener the hooves. For starters, when applied to the sole (but not the frog or heels), it hardens, toughens and strengthens the sole.

Next when applied to the outer hoof, starting below the coronary band, it hardens and strengthens the horn, and also manages moisture in and out of the hoof as it allows the horn to continue to breathe. Because of the products unique plasticizers, it does not make the hoof brittle.

I have been testing and using all topical hoof products for more than 15 years, and Keratex is absolutely the best available.

 

[gingerthing]

i used kerratex on my old horse, he had really brittle feet and it worked wonders at building up a good hoof wall. Only needed to use it 2-3 times per week, it also protects stabled horses hooves against ammonia damage so i was told. My farrier recommended it also and would apply it on freshly shod feet as that is when the hoof is meant to be most absorbant?