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HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Hoof Care, Hoof Trimming, Shoeing Horses » Care of the Hoof: an Overview » |
Discussion on Homemade hoof protection? | |
Author | Message |
Member: mleeb |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 - 8:56 am: Dr. O - Your article above mentions that a good product for protecting a horse's hooves from wet conditions would contain mostly oils, lanolins, and waxes. If I was to try and make such a product at home, what combination and amounts would you recommend for the ingredients, and how frequently would it be applied? Would you cover the entire hoof, coronet band down, including frog and sole?Thanks! |
Member: mrose |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 - 10:24 am: Many many years ago before "store bought" remedies were so readily available, we used bacon grease, crisco, or lard with good results. You can buy corn huskers lotion which works too. It's mostly glycerin. However, there are so many reasonably priced hoof salves on the market it would be much easier to just buy one imo. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 - 7:23 pm: The thicker the more protective it is likely to be Michelle and it should be applied to the wall. Johnson Floor Wax Paste (Deodorized Naptha, Carnauba Wax, Cera Microcristallina[?], Paraffin) is a favorite of mine. A very thin application and buff is cheap, protective, attractive, and does not attract dirt.Sara though I agree with the others you list, I would avoid glycerin based products as they may be water soluble. It all is a percentage thing, small amounts acting as emulsifiers may be Ok. It just is a flag. DrO |
Member: mleeb |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 - 7:27 pm: Actually, I'm leaning towards buying Keratex Hoof Gel, but it's not offered locally (practically nothing horse related is available here), so until I head out of town, or order it in, I'm pondering what I can whip up in the kitchen. I can easily get bees wax and most oils. Not sure about the lanolin.Last year was extremely wet, and we went into winter with standing water in the fields, followed by record snow fall. We're expecting flooding this spring, so I'm going to try to offset the damage all this wet can do for two of my horses who maintain a pretty delicate balance between sound and lame. |
Member: mrose |
Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 - 11:25 pm: Dr.O, does wax shoe polish work? We always used to put it under the paint on polish you put on show horses as a trainer told me it protected their feet.And, where do you find Floor wax or carnauba wax? I've been looking all over for it. all the floor waxes seem to be pour ons these days. |
Member: frances |
Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2011 - 2:23 am: DrO, I see that you specify applying the grease to the wall: do you not agree with applying it to the sole and frog as well? |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2011 - 8:46 pm: Sara, I really don't know what all is in the shoe polish. I believe floor waxes can be bought at any home improvement store but look for those that have all natural ingredients.As to placing it on the sole LL there is nothing wrong but it is entirely different environment and condition. The wall has to last for almost a year while the sole turns over relatively quickly. It wears fast and anything you place there will wear even faster. Placing oils and waxes on the sole may not be very effective so sole problems are better treated with improving the environment and toughners that work through protecting the horn from microbes. DrO |
Member: frances |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2011 - 11:34 am: Thank you. |
Member: cometrdr |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 - 1:52 pm: Floor Wax is available at home Depot in the cleaning goods section - it was in Santa Fe at least we actually needed it for the Floors. I think i will try that on the feet some to make them all Shiney!!! |