Hard chestnuts and ergots

[BeastieSlave]

I’m wondering how everyone else deals with chestnuts and ergots that grow like rocks or rhino horns as opposed to those nice flaky ones?

Most of my horses have/had chestnuts that just peel off in flaky layers and ergots that pop off. My young HAN moose is different. I cannot ever think of having a horse with such tough ones! Honestly, his chestnuts are so thick and dense they really do remind me of rhino horns - and they aren’t small!
His ergots are funky too. Instead of being layered and flaky, they will split (think clover leaf roll) into sections that run through the ‘nail’ part dividing it into sections when I try to get them off.
It’s an ordeal to remove them. Normally, I don’t think much about stuff like this, but I’m wrapping hind legs and the ergots had to go. The chestnuts are projecting a bit (I like them flush with the leg) and I have to work on them next.

This isn’t a deep or especially bothersome problem; I’m just curious… I know what I do, but does anyone else out there have to deal with such tough ‘extras’? Any helpful hints?

[CoolMeadows]

Coat on gobs of vaseline, wait 24-48 hours, peel off. My retired welshie has superhard chestnuts.

[War_Admiral]

Learned this one decades ago in 4H. Slather Corona Ointment liberally on chestnut/ergot. Leave on for 2 DAYS.

Peel off.

Works every time!

And thanks for bringing this up, you’ve reminded me I need to do it on Q fairly soon. :yes:

[Wayside]

Vaseline and/or hoof nippers are my go-to equipment for stubborn chestnuts and ergots.

[Freebird]

I have in the past (I have a Mini now, so they are about the size of a pea) and they can be a pain. For the really thick ones I paint them in hoof conditioner, and get the farrier to trim them down when he comes, that way they stay nice and short - and soft.

[coloredcowhorse]

Soften with anything oily/moisturizing and peel or trim with nippers (you might go to toenail clippers esp for ergots). I’ve also used a Dremel to grind them down for horses that tolerate that.

[FalseImpression]

Chestnuts = Coating of Vaseline, peel off next time I am at the barn, re-apply, peel off a few days later.

Ergots = Leave a note to the farrier to snip them at his next visit. My mare has long feathers and I don’t want to coat them in Vaseline, but my farrier happily snips them for me.

[ChocoMare]

Blob o’Corona on MEGA-chestnut…peel off in a few days

[BeastieSlave]

I just noticed that I didn’t share what I do! I coat with Corona or Bag Balm and come back later. I have, in the past, cut the ergots (once they sort of split) with my utility scissors, but I LOVE the idea of getting the farrier to snip them off! Using a dremel on the chestnuts has some appeal too.

See, the thing that got me thinking was the fact that I had sort of let the ergots go for a while and they were pretty long. I had to wrap the legs on short notice :rolleyes: so there wasn’t time to soften them up. I really didn’t think about them until one poked through the paper that went over the poultice. I realized they would probably be uncomfortable under the wrap and had to deal with them right away. Yuk!

[Lifting_Chickk]

I snip them off with my hoof nippers. I’ve never tried the corona trick…sounds neat!

[morganpony86]

[QUOTE=Daatje;5215699]
I snip them off with my hoof nippers. I’ve never tried the corona trick…sounds neat![/QUOTE]

Me too.

[WhiskeyB]

My new gelding has huge chestnuts and ergots… my previous mare has almost non-exsistent ones. Had no idea what to do with these ginormous horn things! After a bath I tried my trauma shears, worked great! And no danger of cutting myself or him!

[Jo]

I soak with baby oil… Same concept! Mostly can get a good chunk off, then repeat if needed.

[Magicboy]

Even water will soften them a bit. I tend to Che k and peel after a shower stall time