Which do you prefer for a barefoot, senior TB with thin soles that is prone to abscesses and cracks. Durasole or Keratex? Turned out 24 hrs a day. We’ve had a very stormy, muddy past month.
I’ve used both in the past, but eventually at my farriers recommendation started applying Farriers Fix hoof oil 3x a week - it’s has made a fantastic improvement in my thin soled abcess prone gelding! Can’t recommend it enough.
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Durasole and Keratex are both formaldehyde type products that harden the hoof and keep it from chipping or exfoliating. I’ve never used either so I don’t know how to evaluate the different formulas. It’s an interesting idea and the only way to actually change the surface structure of the hoof.
The other hoof treatments tend to be in categories of grease/ oil to regulate moisture in/ out, or caustic/ antiseptic to chase off fungal and bacterial growth.
I feel that good hooves come primarily from diet, trim and exercise. I do like iodine on the sole in wet weather. And Venice Turpentine on freshly trimmed hooves.
Which is best for your needs depends on the climate and your horses issues.
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My farrier asks me to use durasole on the sole and keratex on the wall.
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Interesting. What difference do you find in them?
They always struck me as different products. According to the instructions, durasole can be used on the sole and frog only. Keratex (the hoof hardener) is labeled for use on the wall.
My farrier seems happy 
I like durasole for ouchy soles and thrushy stuff. The farrier gets excited about how the horse is holding the clinches with the keratex.
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I looked them up just now and Keratex seems to be saying it works on soles. Although neither give exact ingredients they seem to have the same basic function of using formaldehyde to preserve the outer hoof. That would cause a sole to be thicker because it wouldn’t exfoliate and a wall to be less apt to chip.
https://www.durasole.com/Durasole_chemistry.html
Here are the ingredients.
The ingredients of the two products are so similar that they should be interchangeable. Durasole also has iodine.
I’ve also always thought the two were quite different, with different reasons to use them.
I love Durasole - even in a few applications, you can feel and see a difference. Durasole can also be applied to the frog. I will use it in the fall leading up to the first frost, because we go through an awful cycle of wet-wet-wet and then instantly frozen pasture with ruts. The prolonged moisture can soften their hooves and then when the ground freezes abruptly they get very sore. Durasole helps with this.
I use Durasole regularly between trims. I’ve seen the best results with it by riding first, then painting their feet and then untacking and sometimes even cleaning tack while they’re in the tack stall. That 10-15m of standing still seems to really help absorption.
I haven’t seen the same results with Keratex. I know some people that swear by it but I always felt any application was instantly sheared off by them moving around after drying. I never felt that it really helped with sole hardening. I like Keratex for outer wall as a rain/moisture barrier, but you can get the same results (imo) with cheaper hoof dressing.
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This is also how I use the two products.
Look into Hoof Armour as well
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Keratex hoof hardener not just the gel?
It’s interesting that two almost identical.formulas can perform so differently. I wonder what the difference is? According to ingredients they are almost identical except the iodine in the durasole.
Yes, I remember a lot of discussion on this when it came out! I believe it’s basically a super glue to add a layer to hooves to prevent wear.
I wonder how all these impact hoof wear? With barefoot horses I rely on natural wear doing some work to maintain hooves. Also if the hooves wear they seem to grow faster. What happens if you effectively stop wear and exfoliation? Do you get more built up bars?
Just because they have similar ingredients doesn’t mean that they have similar proportion of ingredients.
I don’t even see their ingredients as all that similar. The first ingredient in keratex is aluminum chloride, which is not in durasole. The second ingredient is glycerin, which is not in durasole. Then formaldehyde, durasole lists formalin. Then alcohol, durasole lists isopropyl alcohol. Then methyl alcohol, which is not an ingredient in durasole.
Durasole also contains iodine, potassium iodide, tannic acid and acetone (and gentian violet), all not in keratex.
Sharing two ingredients is not “almost identical.”
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I am a recent convert to Hoof Armor. It’s way easier to apply than I thought it would be and I have seen a significant increase in the comfort level of two of my horses after only one application. I will add, I was a Durasole die hard before I found the Hoof Armor. But the Hoof Armor has out-performed the Durasole, IMO, for my thin-soled TB who got REALLY sore in this awful wet weather.
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My barefoot horse has thin soles, so I like Durasole. It really does seem to help, plus it’s antibacterial and antifungal. He doesn’t have issues with thrush or white line, but I like knowing Durasole might aid in keeping those things at bay along with toughening up his soles.
How often do you apply, are your horses out 24/7? The concept interests me. What do you spread it with, gloves?
I just started using it, so I’m not sure how often I’ll need to apply it yet. I’m guessing it’ll be every 2-3 weeks, so basically after every trim and then once mid-cycle. My horses are out 24/7, but I do bring them in to let their feet dry out when it’s really really wet.
I use a glove to apply it. I clean and prep all of their hooves first and set them down on towels. Then I quickly apply it. I can do all 4 feet with only one nozzle before it sets up.
It has helped my one gelding with the thin soles. It’s not a total miracle, but he is more comfortable than he was 2 weeks ago and it would be a heck of a coincidence if the Hoof Armor was not at play because our weather has certainly not improved. It has worked for my mare as well. She has great feet, but can take some ouchy steps when she hits a rock or crosses gravel. I applied the Hoof Armor before a horse show because I was worried about the walk from the barn to the rings. She didn’t take an off step. It has helped at home as well - my arena has some rocks in it and she doesn’t flinch anymore when she hits one. I am really hopeful it will help me keep her barefoot, or at least until we’re jumping big enough where she needs extra support.
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Same here
If you get Durasole on your hands, you know how it works lol. It swells the dead cells in the sole and kind of makes a pad out of the horse’s own foot. I always joke that if you wanted to commit a crime with no fingerprints you could just dip your fingers in durasole lol
Keratex seems like it does a better job on the wall- helping with moisture balance, cracking, etc
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Another vote for Hoof Armor. Used all three and have the best results with HA. Also great for filling in cracks (my gelding has a damaged coronary band before I got him and major split/scar down the front of his hoof) and keeping bacteria out. The crack even seems much smaller/stronger.
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Coming back to this because it’s about that time of year I have to pull hind shoes for the winter, since we do group turnout and I won’t put boriums/studs on hind shoes. Are you still using the Hoof Armor, how are you liking it a few months down the road?
I dread pulling hinds every winter, but it’s either that or solo turnout and I think he’d be miserable without his friends. 
