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Discussion on Hard, brittle hoofs
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Member:
Letizia
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004 - 9:44 am:
My farrier says that my horses front hooves (walls and soles) are so hard that they are brittle. The hoof wall has separated from the sole. He says they are too dry and have lost all their elasticity and flexibility and are easily chipped, I thought hard was good but he says they have gone beyond hard and I should try using some hoof treatment such as Rainmaker (he really couldn't recommend any specific product except that it should be oil based). He said they have gotten much worse since the last time he shoed her (8 weeks ago). I have read the hoof overview article and don't see an answer. She is stalled and the stall has an indoor part and outdoor part which slopes so urine runs off. She only urinates outside so she is never standing in urine. I bathe her maybe 3 times a year. I live in California and it hasn't rained since last winter. So getting wet and dry repeatedly is not and issue.
Her diet consists of half alfalfa and half grass hay. I give her daily vitamins, Source (seaweed), and ground flax. I don't give her grain. Her coat looks great and she seems healthy in every other way. I used to give her Farrier's Formula because one farrier told me her heels weren't growing, but then another farrier said her heels were fine, so I stopped about 3 months ago. What should I do?
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004 - 10:08 am:
One thing I do in very dry, hot summer conditions when we go for long periods without rain (of course, we're in VA and this hasn't happened in a VERY long time!!) is to overflow the water trough so that there is some moisture and puddles for them to stand in when they come to drink. I'd definitely be looking at products with some moisturizing properties.
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004 - 1:48 pm:
The water trough idea is a good one. What I did for a mare that had very brittle feet - not hard, just the opposite, too soft and crumbly - was feed her Northwest Supplement. I don't know if you can get it where you are Letizia but you may be able to find it somewhere locally. Dayville Hay & Grain here in Washington carry it and sell it online:
https://www.dayvillesupply.com/doc/supplies_horse.htm
It really worked well on my horse. My shoer noticed a difference in just one shoeing cycle. They became elastic and healthy and didn't fall apart. Plus her coat never looked better.
You may want to give it a try - it really worked for me.
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004 - 10:24 pm:
I just left S. Cal (Mojave desert) and my horses would get very hard feet as the summer wore on. My question is are the feet chipping, or is this just the farrier saying they will? You have to know you horse's feet. I had a farrier that complained up a storm about my horses and their hard hooves, but the problem really wasn't the feet it was his $150 nippers; he didn't like dulling them. The feet held up very well even on long distance rides and I ended up with a different farrier.
Now, if you are having trouble with the feet breaking (I don't think chipping is really a problem, just natural wear) or cracking then try equal parts 'hoof flex' and 'pine tar'. If you want to thin it I use neats foot oil. Use a brush and paint the the foot starting about 1/4” above the coronary band to about an inch below. In the dry desert I applied the mixture every other day. DON'T apply 3-4 days before the farrier visits, unless of course you want to give something else to complain about!
I don't recommend soaking in water either. Anyone ever had chapped dry hands from doing dishes? It may soften the horn temporarily and please the farrier, but in the long run I believe it is counter productive.
Good day,
Alden
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 - 6:15 am:
Hello Letizia,
When the farrier says the wall has separated from the sole, what does he mean? We have had others post recently about this appearance, even putting up pictures, but the feet were healthy and functional. To see those pictures go to, Care for Horses » Hoof Care » Care of the Hoof: an Overview » Hoof wall separation.
If after carefully reviewing the foot the wall and sole looks healthy I think Alden's assesment is correct: your feet are very healthy and the farrier is having a difficult time trimming the very hard horn. Rather than a general softening program, I would wet (and keep wet) the feet thoroughly 30 minutes before trimming so the farrier can trim as he feels it is needed.
DrO
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 - 10:57 am:
Alden, I don't think Letizia was planning on soaking the feet, just when the horse goes to get a drink he stands in a puddle. It would be sort of like taking a mud bath to add moisture to the skin.  .
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Member:
Letizia
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Posted on Friday, Oct 1, 2004 - 4:26 pm:
Thanks, for all your suggestions. I'm still trying to get ahold of my farrier so he can give me a better explanation of what is going on with my mares hooves. I have a friend who recommended hair conditioner or baby oil on the hooves. Any opinions about these? I will wait until the farrier checks in and Dr. Olgesby gets all the facts before starting any treatment though. Thanks again.
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Friday, Oct 1, 2004 - 8:35 pm:
I dont think these 2 things would be much good. Aldens receipe is great. or even just 50/50 pine tar and neetsfoot oil is good. I like to add lanolin or pork fat is another good ingredient. Years ago that was how we made our own hoof treatment. Before all these ready made ones came out . I always found I liked my old formular the best. animal fats like lanolin and pork fat are great either on their own or with the above mixtures. Its cheaper as well.
Katrina
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Member:
Letizia
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Posted on Friday, Oct 1, 2004 - 10:26 pm:
Just talked to the farrier and he had better news (I wasn't there when he trimmed her). He said that after pulling her shoes, it turns out that it was the old sole that was flaking, so the sole wan't really separated from the hoof wall after all (relief!). He said the sole is really hard. However, he still thinks that she needs some softening because the walls are really brittle and they do chip big time. He was not complaining that they were hard to trim, he was just concerned because they are so dry and brittle and he worries that pulling shoes could cause the walls to break off at the nails. He likes Alden's recipe. Hopefully this is enough info to decide whether or not she still needs a softening program. Thanks.
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