Hi I got a new OTTB in November- hoping to use her for eventing and we also like to trail ride. I’m posting on this forum because everyone knows that endurance horses have to have great feet. She had some long toes from her racing days and my barefoot trimmer is working on getting her hooves right. Surprisingly, she has good feet. She is getting supplements that include biotin (platinum performance- as well as a mix of ultium and equine senior). At any rate, what do you do to keep your horses feet in good condition? I had been using straight arrow hoofmaker on her feet but have heard that it is actually better not to use that sort of product as you want a hard hoof. People rave about keratex to harden the hoof. Anyone use that? Also would it make sense to use a hoof hardener on the sole and wall and use a moisturizer on the frog, heel, and around the coronary band? So I eagerly await your wisdom on the topic!
As for topical stuff, I use…
- Durasole on the soles when she’s getting a bit tender. Works GREAT!
- Tuff Stuff on the hoof walls when it’s really wet and mucky out. Helps to keep her feet from softening up too much and then cracking or chipping.
Other than that, find a good farrier/trimmer, and keep the horse on a tight schedule! I’d say try not to go any longer than 6 weeks if possible. I used to do 8 week rotations in fall and winter, and since I’ve ceased that, my mare’s feet look so much better. 
Durasole on the sole, a few times a week – though I haven’t been bothering for the past couple months because there’s too much ice to leave the barn property, so she doesn’t need extra-tough soles. Vinegar/other anti-fungal into the crevices around her frogs, a couple times a week. Gets a trim every 4 weeks.
The trimmer recommends at least 20 minutes of road walking, three times a week, but we don’t always accomplish that (we haven’t been on a road since it started snowing/icing back in December, for example).
Nope, no “moisturizers”… Better off with Keratex or DuraSole on the soles to toughen them up. More frequent trimming to maintain an uber tight white line and good roll/bevel. I trim my mares every 3 weeks to the day.
I take a rasp to them every two weeks in the summer and 3 weeks in the winter. And then just ride them. get them out and moving over natural terrain. I think the exercise and work are more beneficial than anything else.
I’ve never coated, painted, soaked any of my horses hooves, I don’t feed any suppliments. I feed good quality hay, occassionally some beet pulp. Leave a white salt block out all the time, occassional set out a minerial tub.
Now that said, I do occassionally let them stand in some mud in summer before I trim them to soften their hooves. Makes it a lot easier to rasp than if they have been standing on hard dirt and gravel.
I’m not a fan of sole hardeners because of the way they work. They penetrate the cellular structure and expand, causing the tubules of the sole to swell and pack hard together. There are no studies showing what long term effect this may have on circulation.
I use Keratex hoof hardener in summer, and in “softer” footing climates I use it around the hoof edges (to prevent cracks) and I use it ON one of my horse’s cracks that is growing out. Then I let it dry and apply Keratex gel on the rest of the hoof, and on the sole. I do not apply it to the frog. I have had great success with Keratex.
The Keratex hardener really helped my gelding in summer - to prevent sand cracks, etc. he was getting from stomping at flies.
I apply every few days in summer and in winter, the gel once a week or so.
I use Venice Turpentine on the sole and Keratex on the horn.
I agree, Keratex is a great product. I like to use it on the walls when my horse is getting shod often and really working hard. Years ago I tried TuffStuff but eventually realized that it was not good for the walls. I suspect it has acetone in it and that eventually was destructive to the hoof walls.
Bonnie S.
[QUOTE=chicamuxen1;3855585]
I agree, Keratex is a great product. I like to use it on the walls when my horse is getting shod often and really working hard. Years ago I tried TuffStuff but eventually realized that it was not good for the walls. I suspect it has acetone in it and that eventually was destructive to the hoof walls.
Bonnie S.[/QUOTE]
My “summer farrier” (college student who brings horse home during summer, so I have two farriers), who’s a CJF, suggested the Tuff Stuff. So I figure it can’t be that bad.
I don’t do anything special w/ their feet other than rasp and trim as needed. I can most of them myself. They all have wonderful tough feet, out 24/7, no supplements, good hay, feed and vit/mins. My riding/driving horses are all barefoot and they’ve never been foot sore.
I think a lot of is how they’re kept and what’s going into them that gives them good feet. Well, good genes help, too.
Not a fan of hoof hardeners. My flat footed OTTB actually became more sensitive on hard surfaces after I’d used Keratex for a while. I think he needed a little more flexion in his soles. Other people have tried them and love them. I guess it depends on your horse.
My best advice is to have the horse trimmed often enough. If your trimmer will give you an old rasp and teach you how to maintain the roll at the toes and to keep the heels back, then you can help your horse a lot. I’ve found that most TB’s on my books do better on a 4-week trimming cycle because of the tendency for long toes and run-forward heels. If your horse doesn’t have this problem, he’s ahead of the game.
Hopefully your trimmer knows not to remove sole when trimming.
I don’t use anything on my barefoot horses in regards to hardener etc.
The main thing I keep in mind, is it’s important to remember that not every horse can do well barefoot. Every horse needs to be assessed individually, and some just plain do better shod or booted then barefoot.
I tend to figure that any horse that is required to be maintained barefoot through hardeners, whatever, shouldn’t be barefoot (but I’m odd I guess. hehe)
I kind go with the adage what goes in is what come out. If you good hooves diet is one of the first places to start. Plus a good hoof care provider.
Keratex for me and my QH with the little feet. Gads, why on earth did they breed these guys to have such small feet?? Mine looks like a tank on tippy-toes. Oh, well, I digress. Keratex and the farrier loves the results as well.
[QUOTE=CanterQueen;3861058]
Keratex for me and my QH with the little feet. Gads, why on earth did they breed these guys to have such small feet?? Mine looks like a tank on tippy-toes. Oh, well, I digress. Keratex and the farrier loves the results as well.[/QUOTE]
Breeder fads =ruin a nice horse. I like QH’s had a lovely QH years and years ago, now… I look at them and think. wow wtf were these people thinking:/
same with the arabs- was a trend to breed flat croups awhile (more halter madness- sigh)
