Homemade Hoof Hardener?

[ET_s_Home]

[QUOTE=runwayz;6520393]
I’m sorry, I thought Toms post was pretty funny… When I worked for the vet, we used a combo of formaldahyde and iodine. And on a serious note, I could never fathom using gasoline.[/QUOTE]

A newbie comes onto this forum and supposed professionals suggest they don’t deserve to own horses??? Because they ask a question they deem ignorant? Granted the idea of using gasoline is absolutely insane to most but the snarkiness is not called for. An appropriate answer from them might be that gas is a bad idea as it is drying/toxic to the tissues, flammable, etc and here is what I suggest.

And now that you have admitted to using a homemade remedy, how will they respond?

Yes, I could see most of the farriers I know thinking those same responses and maybe even rolling the eyes, but how many clients are they going to keep if they continually insult those clients to their faces?

Ellen

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=ET’s Home;6520344]
I’ve had 3 separate farriers suggest the ‘home remedy’ of venice of turpintine.[/QUOTE]Venice turpentine has been sold in farrier supply houses for well over a century. How does something with such a history of commercial use suddenly become a home remedy? The same applies to iodine. Though due to its use in meth production, iodine is now regulated and not as easy to get in its more potent form.

Rick and Tom - Can you give us WHY gas, iodine, etc should not be used and what commercial products you would suggest?
See above.

Calling people stupid on-line does not make you appear very professional and does not contribute to the dialogue.

Instead of going into the chemical reactions involved which are detrimental to horn integrity, I’ll stand by while you make an argument that putting gasoline on a horses feet is NOT stupid.

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=ET’s Home;6520584]
A newbie comes onto this forum and supposed professionals suggest they don’t deserve to own horses???[/QUOTE]The Op may be offended by your supposition that my assertion regarding “some people” applies to the OP. Then you further insult the OP by referring to him/her as a newbie.

Because they ask a question they deem ignorant? Granted the idea of using gasoline is absolutely insane

Oh, but there are people who own horses that have done it. Fortunately these insane individuals now have you to defend their actions and advocate for their right to own horses.

[gumtree]

Some of the top racehorse trainers of yesteryear that I knew stood some of their horses in a tub of kerosene. Swore by it. I don’t know about gas it’s pretty caustic. The problem with venice of turpentine is when it dries it leaves a sticky film and what ever you are bedding on sticks to it. Especially shavings.

[ET_s_Home]

Tom

You may not have seen my last post where I agree that applying gas to hooves is not a good idea. My only beef is with the attitude given to OP.

Give us the chemical reactions and the professional knowledge that you can offer, not the 'tude.

ET

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=ET’s Home;6520630]
Tom

You may not have seen my last post where I agree that applying gas to hooves is not a good idea.[/QUOTE]
I saw it and responded to it. I patiently await your argument regarding the rights of insane people to own horses.

My only beef is with the attitude given to OP.

Maybe if you would respond to what I actually write instead of trying to assign a different meaning to my words . . .

[SCMSL]

Jesus!! glacial acetic acid?!!? Lead ethyl?!!? Good luck mixing this lot up!

Yep, I wouldn’t dream of mixing it up myself either, that’s why I said we usually have it done in pharmacies.

Its almost like a miracle cure, hardens the hoof, stops any sort of sogginess and I’ve seen it kill gigantic infections on the hoof. Only inconvenience? It absolutely ruins ladies nails!

[ET_s_Home]

[QUOTE=Tom Bloomer;6520644]
I saw it and responded to it. I patiently await your argument regarding the rights of insane people to own horses.

And who are you to decide who is insane and unfit to own horses, based on a single question?

Maybe if you would respond to what I actually write instead of trying to assign a different meaning to my words . . .[/QUOTE]

If this comment was NOT directed at the OP, then who was it for?

@Tom Bloomer;6519949

Ya know some people just shouldn’t own horses. :lol:

[jjgg24]

Wow I wasn’t trying to start some heated debate I was just trying learn from other horse owners. However, the snarky comments just seem a little unprofessional.

Yes I could have easily googled but seeing how all sorts of crazy info comes up there I’d thought it better to ask in a forum where professionals might frequent.

Now if you deem the question so stupid just move on if you are far too busy to explain why a certain idea is a bad one or what you would suggest instead.

Again I will reiterate I have NOT used gas on any horses feet before it was just something I heard that I wanted to see if anyone else had heard of too.

I appreciate the constructive feed back and other peoples favorite hoof hardeners they have been interesting to learn about. Thanks!

[ET_s_Home]

[QUOTE=Kwalker024;6520690]
Wow I wasn’t trying to start some heated debate I was just trying learn from other horse owners. However, the snarky comments just seem a little unprofessional.

Yes I could have easily googled but seeing how all sorts of crazy info comes up there I’d thought it better to ask in a forum where professionals might frequent.

Now if you deem the question so stupid just move on if you are far too busy to explain why a certain idea is a bad one or what you would suggest instead.

Again I will reiterate I have NOT used gas on any horses feet before it was just something I heard that I wanted to see if anyone else had heard of too.

I appreciate the constructive feed back and other peoples favorite hoof hardeners they have been interesting to learn about. Thanks![/QUOTE]

Good luck and remember you can never learn everything there is to know about horses!

ET

[SmartAlex]

I’m having a hilarious flashback of the WC Fields paint mixing routine from the movie Tillie and Gus

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=ET’s Home;6520682]
If this comment was NOT directed at the OP, then who was it for?[/QUOTE]
It was directed at people who put gasoline on their horse’s feet.

The OP did not in any way indicate that he/she has done this, but merely heard about it. YOU are the one inferring that what I said applied to the OP. YOU are the one twisting my words in attempt to make them into an insult directed at the OP.

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=Kwalker024;6520690]
Wow I wasn’t trying to start some heated debate I was just trying learn from other horse owners. . .[/QUOTE]
The point is that some of the horse owners you might learn from shouldn’t own horses. At the top of that list are the ones what do stupid things to their horses like put gasoline on their feet as a “hoof hardener.”

[jjgg24]

[QUOTE=Tom Bloomer;6520734]
The point is that some of the horse owners you might learn from shouldn’t own horses. At the top of that list are the ones what do stupid things to their horses like put gasoline on their feet as a “hoof hardener.”[/QUOTE]

I agree in due diligence and being responsible. Hence that is why I stopped by and asked.

[Xanthoria]

@ET's Home;6520584

A newbie comes onto this forum and supposed professionals suggest they don’t deserve to own horses??? Because they ask a question they deem ignorant? Granted the idea of using gasoline is absolutely insane to most but the snarkiness is not called for.

Hopefully any newbie will look up Tom and Ricks past comments and see that 9 times out of 10 they post snark instead of relating to others politely. Best just to click the ignore button.

[quote=ET’s Home;6520584]Yes, I could see most of the farriers I know thinking those same responses and maybe even rolling the eyes, but how many clients are they going to keep if they continually insult those clients to their faces?
[/quote]

None. Which is why Tom and Rick come on here to vent their true feelings about their clients. Or maybe they do and that’s why they have so much snark time on their hands! :lol:

snarkily yours…

[Tom_Bloomer]

When does the consensus of anonymous strangers become “due diligence?”

[Tom_Bloomer]

[QUOTE=Xanthoria;6520763]
Hopefully any newbie will look up Tom and Ricks past comments and see that 9 times out of 10 they post snark instead of relating to others politely.[/QUOTE]
How does one relate politely to a repugnant idea like putting gasoline on a horse’s feet as a hoof hardener?

[Rick_Burten]

Durasole, Crossapol, Keratex are all good choices. My preferred one is Durasole.

Venice Turpentine while very good for pulling soreness out of the bottom of the hoof and as a bactericide , is messy and not as effective as the other products at hardening/toughening the bottom of the hoof. It is not a home remedy and is routinely used, usually mixed with pine tar, under pads. It is also a component of Magic Cushion which has proven its efficacy but not as a sole hardener.

Before the advent of the current products, it was not unheard of for a farrier to melt some mothballs/crystals(those that used naphthalene as the main ingredient) into the bottom of the foot to help relieve soreness and to provide a hard covering over the sole. It was also not unheard of for ‘white gas’(ie: Coleman lantern fuel which has as its base, naptha) to be painted on the soles of sensitive/sore horses. However, I am not aware of anyone recommending that practice today.

A more relevant question is why you need a hoof hardener in the first place? And, what part of the hoof are you trying to harden?

Another problem with Iodine and the like is that it is very caustic and if you happen to get some on the coronary band or above it, you will give your horse a nasty chemical burn. OTOH a 2% mixture of tamed iodine(betadine) won’t do harm, but its also not a very effective hardening agent.

Calling people stupid on-line does not make you appear very professional and does not contribute to the dialogue.

I did not specifically call anyone here, stupid. I did however opine that " using a homemade concoction as a hoof hardener rises almost to the level of performing self-surgery on one’s brain. IOW, it is TSS*"

[Rick_Burten]

@Xanthoria;6520763

Hopefully any newbie will look up Tom and Ricks past comments and see that 9 times out of 10 they post snark instead of relating to others politely. Best just to click the ignore button.

Demonstrably untrue.

None.

You know this because…?

Which is why Tom and Rick come on here to vent their true feelings about their clients.

Oh ye of little faith…Further, I don’t have clients of that ilk.

Or maybe they do and that’s why they have so much snark time on their hands! :lol:

In my case, I’m semi-retired now and ever since I was hospitalized a few years ago with heat stroke, I find I am much less able to handle high temperatures. My clients know this, accept this and we work around it.

snarkily yours…

If that’s the best you can do, then you’ve brought a knife to a gun fight. ymmv:)

[jjgg24]

[QUOTE=Rick Burten;6520823]
Durasole, Crossapol, Keratex are all good choices. My preferred one is Durasole.

Venice Turpentine while very good for pulling soreness out of the bottom of the hoof and as a bactericide , is messy and not as effective as the other products at hardening/toughening the bottom of the hoof. It is not a home remedy and is routinely used, usually mixed with pine tar, under pads. It is also a component of Magic Cushion which has proven its efficacy but not as a sole hardener.

Before the advent of the current products, it was not unheard of for a farrier to melt some mothballs/crystals(those that used naphthalene as the main ingredient) into the bottom of the foot to help relieve soreness and to provide a hard covering over the sole. It was also not unheard of for ‘white gas’(ie: Coleman lantern fuel which has as its base, naptha) to be painted on the soles of sensitive/sore horses. However, I am not aware of anyone recommending that practice today.

A more relevant question is why you need a hoof hardener in the first place? And, what part of the hoof are you trying to harden?

Another problem with Iodine and the like is that it is very caustic and if you happen to get some on the coronary band or above it, you will give your horse a nasty chemical burn. OTOH a 2% mixture of tamed iodine(betadine) won’t do harm, but its also not a very effective hardening agent.

I did not specifically call anyone here, stupid. I did however opine that " using a homemade concoction as a hoof hardener rises almost to the level of performing self-surgery on one’s brain. IOW, it is TSS*"[/QUOTE]

Thanks for all the info that was very helpful! Currently I’m not in need but had heard the gas thing and wanted to mainly see if anyone else had heard that too and if not what their go to products are. Again thanks for the info and explanations!