Very dry hooves

dollymix

dollymix

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In this very warm, dry spell, my mares hooves seem to have become extremely poor. Very dry and cracking despite wearing shoes. I also use cornecresin (sp?!) everyday.

She is out 24/7, no hard feed. She's in regular work and in other ways looks the best she ever has. Although she's been slow to shed her winter coat.

Do you think she needs some dietary support? The grazing she's on is limited and well grazed, but as she's prone to resembling a barrel I think that's a good thing.
 
If you have a water trough in the field and the only reason for her poor hooves is a lack of moisture then one thing I have done in the past for a horse out 24/7 is to keep the ground immediately around the trough very wet and muddy by constantly dumping bucket loads of water over it. The horse will have to stand in the wet mud every time it goes to drink and so will get some moisture in its feet.
 
Dry hooves are only a reason for poor hoof quality if your horse is a Connemara with HWSS. Moisture comes from inside the hoof, not outside it. Research has shown that soaking hooves affects the sole, but has no impact on the water content of the hoof wall.

OP, I suggest you start using one of the no iron high copper supplements used by barefoot people.
 
dollymix said:
Thanks YCBM - can you recommend a good supplement?
Click to expand...


The two I know of, but there are more now, are pro hoof, available on ebay from progressive earth. I like this one best because it has yeast in. The other is from forageplus.co.uk, also very effective I'm told.
 
My farrier advises against hoof oil. We Use Kevin bacon hoof moisturiser slapped on with a brush into small cracks and nailholes especially, there hooves always look great
 
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