I was at a mini clinic to see FormaHoof applied and then participated in two applications of Forma-Hoof with a trim client.
– We had worked together for three years to rehab her gelding’s HORRIBLE feet. Prior to coming to me, she’d gone through 13 farriers and another trimmer in 4 years.
While we made great progress with him, had him about 97% sound and much more willing to move, due to assorted living condition issues he just did not put out the depth of sole he should. Consequently, he’d bruise easily and blow an abscess.
Now, FormaHoof is NOT cheap. The mold and initial pack of product was over $800 for my client to lay out… but: I’ve seen it work. In just two rounds of application, he added sole depth and was 99.9% sound.
What I don’t like:
–The overly aggressive way you have to trim the hoof and how much hoof wall you have to rough up to make the stuff stick.
–It’s nowhere near as easy to apply as the videos show. Those folks have been doing it for years, so are good at it. For my client and I, it took me holding his hoof with the mold on and her frantically pumping product into the holes in the right sequence.
What I did like:
–Unlike boots, the FormaHoof (when applied correctly) can last for weeks. I would never let a horse go more than 6 tho, prefer 4 to 5 weeks from application to removal.
–The traction nubs on the bottom of the finished product really help if your environment has concrete, asphalt and/or wet mats around. No more slipping.
–The instant comfort provided to the thin-soled horse. No more egg-shell walking.
At the mini clinic, it was first applied to a laminitic/post-founder Paso Fino. This poor horse was crippled and within just 5 minutes of application, moved confidently on rough rocks & dirt.
So, is FormaHoof for everyone? No. Just like anything else, it depends on the horse and how good of a team the owner has to work together. It’s not a one-man/woman band.
Can it help? Absolutely. If you have the $$$$, the time and are willing to give your horse the time off needed to rehab, it is an excellent tool to have in your box.
Lastly, as part of your program to rehab hooves, you have to examine yourself & your horse’s life: what got them to the point of needing such a product? Look at The Equine Care Square:
DIET: Is it low-starch/low-to-no sugar? Higher in fat? 24/7 access to grass hay? The right minerals? etc etc
ENVIRONMENT: #1 IS IT CLEAN?! Is the horse stalled more than a few hours? When out, does the terrain vary from grass to dirt to rocks and change in elevation? Are they out with other horses, moving moving moving?
EXERCISE: Are they getting the supplemental exercise needed for a healthy, fit horse?
TRIM: Is the cycle short enough? Are they sore after a trim? Does your hoof care practitioner & vet work together with you?
I know any horse can come up laminitic for a million reasons. It’s our job to eliminate as many as possible.
This was probably more than you want to know, but I believe in speaking truth.
