White Hooves- Also in SY

jinxy

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My horse has four white feet and I have found that over summer they tend to get brittle (?) and break away so obviously he doesnt keep his shoes on very well. It is a nightmare that the few chances I get the opportunity to go and compete he has loose shoes or has lost one.

Please can anyone suggest a hoof moisturiser/supplement to keep my boys feet intact!

Also has anyone else found that their horses need shoeing more often, mine has only gone 5 weeks and needs doing again normally goes 7?

Thank you
 
Try Keratex hoof hardner, its very good.
Its quite normal for horses feet to grow more in spring, mine only lasted 5 weeks last time too and they were very wobbly!
x
 
White feet are reputed to be weaker...but I'm not fully convinced of this.
I've tried Keratex hoof hardener, but found it made the feet harder, but more brittle and therefore prone to cracking.
Instead I use Hoofmoist, and Effol for my horses' feet...or you could try standing him in water e.g a stream, or putting his feet in tubs for 5mins a day...which should help moisten the horn again.
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Try Kevin Bacon hoof dressing - it's brilliant stuff. Will stop hooves getting saturated in wet conditions but will moisturise in dry weather. My farrier swears by it & my boy has 4 white hooves and his feet are in excellent condition.
 
I had the same problem with one of mine a few years back, as Shilasdair has said standing in water is very good for them, also the products she has said are also good, but the product I can completely recommed is Kevin Bacon Hoof Dressing, it seems to keep the hoof at the correct moisture and my farrier recommended it to me (I must add that he did not sell me the product, he gave me some to try and I have never looked back!) it is sold in all good tack shops or 4dobbin.com is cheap!
 
I used the Ketatex Hoof Moisturiser when Baron had cracked brittle hooves. It worked wonders and after 2 farrier visits all the cracks had totally dissapeared and have never returned
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Farrier was quite impressed too.
 
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Fraid im old school and swear by Cornecresin- Also works wonders on your own nails!

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Cornucrescin (sp?) is only for the elite few who can avoid wearing more of it than their horse.
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I would be inclined to get some eucalyptus and iodofem from the vet and cover the hoof with them - staying away from the coronet band. ans also the soles of the hoof. Often the reason why a foot cracks and breaks away is because of a fungal infection which sets in behind the wal and in any cracks or chips. using dressings will make no difference if the fungal infection is not killed. And you can't really see the fungal infection - only the results. It certainly wont harm the feet if you haven't got it and will work wonders if you have. I had a mare with bad feet - we would loose shoes within 2 weeks of being shod. We were spending a fortune on Farriers formula and dressings but nothing worked until the farrier suggested the Eucalyptus. It was miraculous. I would then use either summer hoof, or hoof moist - something water based on a daily basis to ensure high moisture content. Oils prevent the uptake of moisture so increasing the problem
 
Vaseline twice a week! sponge hoofs so they are damp then Vaseline. My old mare had a flint come up & hit her corrent band, she had a huge crack grow down her whole foot, cutting a long story short, she still has very brittle feet, but she has been better since she has had her shoes off (She's been retired a good few years now) the feet are brittle then the nail holes make the foot crack, she has lovely feet now she's 33 years old & has the best feet. nothings going to work over night but give it a try so cheep to!

Also I just got a yearling with all white feet & I asked my black smith this morning if they are weaker he said no its just a myth?
 
There is absoluely no truth in the idea that white hooves are weaker than black.

I would recommend either standing in water for 5/10 mins daily or using Effol or olive oil daily. (brushed onto the hooves)
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My lads white hoof is actually stronger than all his dark feet???So the weaker theory is null and void for him,lol!!!His white hoof never cracks when the others do!
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