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Discussion on How to Toughen Soles
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 12:43 pm:
My gelding (I have reported about this before) had his shoes removed about 8 weeks ago. He was fine for about a month, but the last month, in which he had his second trim, he has pretty much been off on both front the whole time. The farrier claims he is fine, but whenever he goes outside, and hits rocks, he is very gimpy. I would like to try to toughen up his soles, but if he is still off next trim, I am going to put the shoes back on. Any suggestions? I currently use 10% bleach, and have tried koppertox.
Alicia
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 1:24 pm:
Hi,
If he was fine for the first month I would think that the farrier took to much off his next trim.(trimmed him as a shod horse) Did he leave the sole untouched so it toughens. Most farriers dont wont to do that. Also you dont have to trim as often or as short when they are barefoot as they wear down some by them selves. Ask your farrier not to trim his soles and to take less off, see if that helps. I have had the same problems with many farriers all with great reputations. Can you find one that specializes in barefoot trimming? I would also not get him trimmed till the ouchiness is gone (unless they grow too long of course). Did the farrier say his soles were soft? My horses were rock hard and he was gimpy after trims. Just something to think about.
Katrina
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Member:
Onehorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 1:40 pm:
Alicia:
The use of Koppertox will have little effect in toughening the foot -- it is a formula used for thrush. A product to toughen the hoof is Kerotine or Kerotox -- I'm not sure of the 'tine' or 'tox.'
I agree with Katrina that if your horse was fine the first time he was trimmed to go barefoot, then he should be this time also. The possibility that he was trimmed too short is a good possibility. Also, the 'hardening' of the foot varies from horse to horse -- some are fine immediately and others take a few days, weeks or even months. She is also correct that the need for trimming on a barefoot horse - in most cases - is less frequent.
You say he goes out on rocks ... have you checked for stone bruises?
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 2:00 pm:
Try www.keratex.net and good luck!
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Member:
Sross
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 6:44 pm:
I've just started with Keratex (on the advice of my farrier) on my barefoot horse, and I love it!
Pricey, though.
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Member:
Longhorn
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 12:00 am:
When Bennie was sored up from getting shod a little short (say THAT ten times fast), my vet recommended Jim Ricken's Foot Formula #1 for the soles of his feet. It was about $15 for 4 ounces at the local feed store. That equates to about the same for the Keretex which is $36 for 250 ml (8.5 ounces) on the Keretex web site. It seemed to work pretty good.
Active ingredients are: Wormwood, thymol, acetone, iodine, phenol, menthol, and chloroxylenol formulated with essential oils. "Non flamable." (Well, shuh.)
It's manufactured by the Jim Ricken Co. in Ruidoso, New Mexico. You can also find it on line if you just type the name in your browser search engine.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 7:51 am:
We have an article on horn quality Alicia that approaches the problem a bit more holistically, see Equine Diseases >> Lameness >> Diseases of the Hoof >> Poor Horn Quality: problems with the wall and soles.
DrO
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 10:05 pm:
All,
To answer questions, yes, I did try to see if he was sore (bruise) but couldn't see any thing, and palpation yielded nothing, so I think it is further down in the foot than I can palpate. Also, no, he was not trimmed short. The rim of the hoof is about 1/2 cm longer than the sole. Also, his sole was not trimmed at all. I think my baby would just have taken time, and I can't in my heart make him suffer that long to wait it out. I am getting him reshod Friday. I will try the keratex anyway, though.
Thanks 
Alicia
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Member:
Redmare
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 4, 2004 - 11:41 pm:
Alicia- If your horse' hoof wall is visibly longer than the sole plane, you could have flaring which might explain lameness on hard ground. You say he was not trimmed short, but how would you know? Can you post photos?
Many people give up too quickly on barefoot. Proper trimming and use of boots make it possible (and beneficial) for most horses.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 12:41 pm:
Redmare,
No, I made sure there was no flaring. Of course, maybe the pictures I was using as a point of reference were really bad, but his wall went straight down, except at the heels, which angled out more than the front. It is a moot point now, as I had him shod last Friday. Rode him the first day, and he was totally sound. The farrier said he had bruises on both toes (the lady who held for me said the farrier said there were indents on the toes), and that he can't go shoeless at our place. Of course, no one at our barn goes shoeless, so I guess it was a lost cause from the start. He was in pain for several weeks, I couldn't let it go on any longer. I don't think two months is giving up too soon. We just have too hard and rocky ground to allow our horses to go barefoot.
Oh well,
Alicia
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Member:
Juliem
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 3:52 pm:
Alicia, don't let the "one size fits all" thing make you feel guilty your horse isn't barefoot. Every horse, every situation, , every location and the goals of every owner are different. While barefoot may be the best for many horses, it is not the only proper way to address the needs of every horse and owner. Sometimes in a zealous drive to get every owner to keep their horses barefoot this is forgotton. You do what you deem best for your horse and situation. Julie
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 3:59 pm:
Julie,
I wanted to try it, as I think it is best for him, but in the circumstances he is in, it just won't work. If he ever moves to a place with fewer rocks, we will de shoe again 
Thanks
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