|
|
Post by fleabitten on Jun 1, 2009 20:41:11 GMT
Noticed that Kierans hooves have become rather dry and cracked, especially where the nails are from his shoes. The farrier advised putting cornucrescine on them (he said they were slow growing) and we were doing that nearly every day in april but then it got all soft where we put it on so we stopped it and have only really started back to it this week now its hardened up again.
I found a tip on a website about using olive oil for cracked hooves - anybody used it? Or any other remedies?
|
|
|
|
Post by racaille on Jun 2, 2009 4:45:06 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by scattymare on Jun 2, 2009 8:01:44 GMT
Rac which one? I'm always on the look out for good hoof products. Sancy has such terrible feet particularly in summer. The farrier advised I hose them every day to get them wet.
Not tried Olive Oil. I use cornucrescine & Keratex Hoof Hardener. I used to feed Farriers Formula which was good but so bloomin expensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by racaille on Jun 2, 2009 8:52:41 GMT
Oh, that was a bit dumb, wasn't it? It's the Kerckhaert grease. I absolutely swear by it, but you really do need to pay attention not to put it up on the crown as the hooves positively shoot out, they grow so fast.
Paco has white feet and in summer, especially, I do a lot of 'over the mountain' stuff, all on sharp rocks, but he's never had a problem or lost a shoe (touching wood now!) But equally, I am fanatical about the boys' feet and use at least three different products, depending on the weather. And in wet winter time I grease before hosing down legs, for instance, to keep the extra moisture out.
I know everyone has their different regime, but this works for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by scattymare on Jun 2, 2009 11:13:53 GMT
Sounds like thats what the Doof could do with - she just doesn't grow any foot! Sorry I may be being daft here but do you order from that website? Can't see a price list. When I go to register with them it puts my home country as Australia - I wish!!
|
|
|
|
Post by fleabitten on Jun 2, 2009 13:59:16 GMT
So what sort of product (grease) would you recommend when i'm going to the tack shop? Just a regular hoof grease or a special hoof moistener?
|
|
|
|
Post by racaille on Jun 2, 2009 14:04:06 GMT
Scatty, I buy mine direct from the farrier at 14€ a pot. I daresay yours has it too? Or that website should work?
|
|
|
|
Post by scattymare on Jun 2, 2009 14:09:19 GMT
Thanks Rac will ask him. I think that website seems to be for Australia only. Will Google to see if anwhere UK based has it.
Flea I've always been advised to use a moisturiser or nothing at all - a lot of hoof oils can dry the hoof out more. But I say I use the Keratex hardener - think they do a hoof moist as well?
|
|
|
|
Post by racaille on Jun 2, 2009 14:15:12 GMT
Mmm, just googled it and it does seem to be a farrier-only product. But yours might have it or be able to get it?
|
|
|
|
Post by fleabitten on Jun 3, 2009 21:10:55 GMT
Update - we hosed his hooves today (suppose a bit late now) and put on some soft hoof grease that contains 'lanolin, pine tar and cod liver oil to condition and protect hooves' - not sure if this is the right stuff though.
|
|
|
|
Post by spotti on Jun 4, 2009 8:44:26 GMT
Sounds like thats what the Doof could do with - she just doesn't grow any foot! Sorry I may be being daft here but do you order from that website? Can't see a price list. When I go to register with them it puts my home country as Australia - I wish!! It's just let me place an order...although it didn't take my card details or tell me a price though  Hmm...more investigation needed me thinks! |
|
|
|
Post by solomon on Jun 5, 2009 21:26:47 GMT
My farrier has been today and i am pleased to say that the hard work with Pete's feet has paid off. He lost a shoe due to his cracked hooves last month, but i have been putting biotin in his feed and cornucrescine on his hooves and the farrier reckons there is an improvement. Interestingly he said to just put the cornucrescine on the coronary band at the top of the hoof smearing it all over is just cosmetic.
|
|
|
|
Post by fleabitten on Jun 5, 2009 21:30:03 GMT
Yes, my farrier said that too. Putting stuff on his feet is the only way atm as he is living off fresh air already!
|
|
ceej
Administrator 
im back.... :)
Posts: 5,363
|
Post by ceej on Jun 8, 2009 22:14:09 GMT
yup, wet first - farrier taught me that. i wet them and then use effol on top.
Some other stuff if you ahvent time to wet them is the barier fungicidal hoof oil - brill stuff and smells GORGEOUS!! it soaks in so adds moisture rather than sealing it in so works well too.
|
|
haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
|
Post by haffyfan on Jun 9, 2009 19:05:33 GMT
Solomon it's something to do with the lower hoof being dead tissue (or similiar) I believe so no point treating it, you just treat the 'live and growing' section.
|
|
|
|
Post by racaille on Jun 10, 2009 5:13:40 GMT
This makes sense but I have to report what I've seen with my own eyes: last summer I was a bit over-zealous with the Kerckeart (but not on the crown) and when it was time to shoe Paco he had so much new hoof growth that great sheets of it were coming away from his sole.
The hoof wall may well be dead but, like your nails, if it becomes dry and brittle it can crack.
|
|
|
|
Post by brigadier on Jun 10, 2009 17:48:45 GMT
Ive come across all sorts of opinions on this but have to say the best regime is:, grease a dry hoof in winter and a wet one in summer. Make sure your horse has access to plenty of fresh water, esp in hot weather. Cornucrescine on the hoof band only is good but I used to smear a bit over the nail holes (when horse was shod) as this seemed to prevent cracking. Interestingly my first horse had terrible feet until he met a good farrier and after just two shoeings he had great feet, but it was years until he met the good farrier!
|
|
haffyfan
Administrator
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
|
Post by haffyfan on Jun 10, 2009 18:37:00 GMT
Brig, wise words as ever. A good farrier is invaluable for good hoof care whereas the best feet in the world can quickly deteriate (sp) at the hands of a bad one
|
|
|
|
Post by fleabitten on Jun 11, 2009 13:25:22 GMT
What sort of grease do you use brig? I mentioned the one I have above - do you think its suitable? Might try putting cornucrescine on the cracks, although now that theyre cracked (badly I have to say) it might make them worse.
|
|
|
|
Post by brigadier on Jun 12, 2009 7:45:34 GMT
Ive used whatever comes to hand, vaseline even, I have even used lard, its just a barrier to keep water in or out! But I would put the cornucrescine in or on the cracks because you need to keep them flexible, not brittle. The stuff Racaille recommends must be good because in France they seem to have extremes of everything we do here so a product has to be good.
|
|
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
