I absolutely love how well Venice Turpentine works but find it extremely messy and frustrating to handle. The container is always a mess and sticking to everything and getting my hands mucky. Any tricks? I’d really like to keep using it but find myself reaching for other products because I haven’t found a way to handle it without a mess being made.
I’ve always used the Venice turpentine that comes in a can with a brush attached to the lid and haven’t had any problems with it being messy
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I use Farrier’s Fix, and have found that being careful not to drip when removing the brush, and wiping any spills immediately with a paper towel when closing and putting it away keep the jar fairly clean. If it dries, it’s a sticky mess, so it’s easier to clean up when still wet.
Edited to fix typo!
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Hawthorne’s is probably the best. Has a built in brush. Keep it in a climate controlled area, especially during colder months. Use heat to your advantage! I use nitrile gloves when applying anything to my horse because I have sensitive skin, but it makes clean up much easier. The outside of the can could be cleaned with paint thinner or mineral spirits to make things less sticky.
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Mix it with some DMSO, which makes it more liquid and workable. Use a retired toothbrush for application if it does not have its own applicator brush. I often put a hoof shaped bit of sheet cotton onto the sole surface after application, it usually sticks on pretty well. That just keeps from having it stick to everything else the horse stands on after you have applied it.
I second the Farrier’s Fix, I felt like I got all the benefit of Venice Turpentine with none of the hassle. It was definitely a piece that had helped my old TB’s hooves.
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If you do mix it with DMSO please be very careful about handling it and put a highly-visible sign on it saying that it contains DMSO. DMSO will travel through your skin, carrying the stuff that’s dissolved in it.
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And I’M assuming travel through hoof and frog tissue into the horse. Mixing in DMSO sounds like a bad idea
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Agreed. I am thoroughly shocked at that recommendation. DMSO should NOT be trifled with.
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@Giddyin
This is how I handle Venice Turpentine & other hoof dressing ~ but it’s still requires a RE-start occasionally •
Materials needed:
- A plastic container - think large clothes detergent plastic container or orange juice ~ with a sturdy handle •
- A tall narrow juice can or asparagus can - think single serving of tomato juice - lid removed and make sure to bend inward any sharp edges or put duct tape around the circle edge •
- A pair of sacrifice pliers ~ to use to pry open the turpentine lid and replace said lid without touching the lid
- A few folded paper towels or throw away shop rags •
- Extra narrow paint brushes.
To assemble 
- Cut out a big section of the front of jug (including the spout) leaving the lower front panel a few inches taller than your turpentine can • leave some area around the handle to make it stronger ~ making a large front opening shielded by sides of the jug * protected by front uncut panel. Think a window to reach into / big enough for your gloved hand /
- Place folded paper towels in the bottom of the jug
- Wrap pieces of duct tape around the cut edges of the jug ~ makes it hand friendly in the cold weather.
- Place the Venice Turpentine can or whatever oily hoof dressing in the jug on the paper towels.
- Place the narrow tin can in the front of the jug and it’s helpful to tape this can to one of the inside front corners of the jug /narrow can goes in front of the can of hoof dressing to hold everything in place.
6.The pliers and applicator brush can be stored bristles and plier point downward in the narrow can /
Yes your pliers are messy forever but used daily to prevent the other types of mess.
I hope this read accurately • the plastic jug makes it easy to carry the mess to your horses’ stalls or grooming area and use without getting your hands icky or leaving a mess … but takes a bit of practice and always wise to have a throw away rag in your grooming box
Good Luck ~ this has worked for me
Periodically, I have to prep a new jug and transfer the can / pitching the accumulated mess !
I buy the hoof dressing cans without the applicator - I pry the lid off with the pliers and leave pliers attached to lid /placing down on floor to be replaced when done
I use a narrow paint brush to apply the hoof dressing
Pliers and paint brush store in narrow can affixed to the inside corner of the plastic jug.
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I’ve found that temperature is EVERYTHING. Keep it indoors, even if that means keeping it at your house and bringing it to the barn with you when you plan on using it. Wear nitrile gloves when you apply it, and have dish soap like dawn available to wash your hands with after in case some gets on your wrist. You want dish soap as opposed to hand soap because in the event that it gets on you hand soap is wayyy too weak to cut through that. Brings to mind the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation scene with the sap on Clark’s hands after he trims the Christmas tree…
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Former farrier once told me to keep it on a coffee warmer, or place the can in hot water prior to using.
Agree with others, mine had a brush built into the lid. I never found it particularly messy.
I always tied up the tail first before grabbing it. Keep it in a warm tack room (or use a coffee warmer/soak in hot water). Wear gloves. If you’re really fastidious wipe the bottle down after use with as high-proof rubbing alcohol as you can get to keep the external stickiness to a minimum.
