Hoof hardener

[shadow jethro]

Jethro has soft hooves,especially at the back, and the farrier has had to put one of his shoes on three times in the 8 or so weeks that he has been with me because it has come off.  The edge of this hoof is very torn and jagged and the farrier says that putting nails in is difficult because the hoof tends to splinter rather than 'bind' round the nail. He has no suggestions of anything that will harden or strengthen the hoof. Does anyone have any suggestions to offer? Things might get better when the ground is softer, but that doesn't seem like a solution! It is very frustrating as things are coming along nicely otherwise...gggvvtfvv. Oops, cat has just walked across the keyboard.

[harveydales]

I don't think any of the so called hoof hardeners you can paint on help. You really need to think of improving the hoof from within with appropriate nutrition. There are some good supplements on the market to support hoof growth/strength but it will take months for new, hard hoof to grow through. Dales ponies usually have good feet - do you think he could manage without shoes behind? With the softer ground coming through the autumn this might be a good time to try?

[maggie]

My farrier always says that good hoof health comes from the inside and doesn't recommend anything to be put onto the hoof that could stop it flexing and 'breathing'. He says a tablespoon of oil in the diet can help (although it depends why the hoof is poor in the first place) as can standing the pony in running water to stimulate blood flow.

He's very old-fashioned, but I've always found his advice good.

You may want to consult a specialist farrier such as Dean Bland www.wellequine.co.uk/ someone I'd have a lot of faith in and who knows about Dales. I think Dean is also qualified to fit Imprint glue-on shoes, which may help to protect the hoof until a stronger horn grows down.

[shadow jethro]

Thank you both very much. I will follow up on your suggestions.

[dalesnfellfan]

I agree with both above, hoof health definitely comes from the inside, a good low sugar/starch diet with a good hoof supplement if necessary but as Pam says it will not happen over night, it takes about 10 months - year for new growth to reach the bottom of the hoof.

I'm also with Pam on trying barefoot, now is he ideal time to try but I would be inclined to go the whole hog and take off all 4 and boot if necessary.

When I had Connie although I intended to take her barefoot anyway, when my farrier took her shoes off the hoof was just breaking off/ very shelly where the nails had been, my farrier remarked that he was glad he hadn't got to try shoeing her again as he thought we would have trouble keeping her shoes on.

Her feet looked a mess and she also had underrun and contracted heals and very poor frogs, on the surface of it, it didn't seem like letting her go without the protection of shoes was the best idea, and it did take some nerve to stick with it, especially in the beginning when her hoofs were continually breaking up. She is now 5 months into being barefoot and her feet look so much better, her frogs and heels have opened out, her feet are still a bit shelly and do break off a bit when she is due for a trim but the line in her hoof (where the shoes came off/diet changed) is now about 3/4 down her hoof, the new hoof above looks much stronger and I'm looking forward to this reaching the ground.

She is good on all surfaces without boots except very stony ground, which she will cross but is very careful crossing.

I would definitely look at his diet and also consider whether he is getting too much sugar from the grass at the moment, it is certainly very rich where we are and consider going barefoot.

[nedales]

Ditto re all of the above but when it gets quite moist here and warm, the ponies tend to get footy even when it goes into a hard, dry period which kind of boomerangs all summer. My farrier has me using a mixture of basic foundation Venetian turpentine with tea tree oil (anti-fungal) and I add in Cod Liver Oil, Winter Green Oil and a little Safflower Oil to lighten it up. It smells lovely and results are excellent--ponies love having it applied (every other day in summer) and it really reduces cracks and seals the hoof. Also add kelp to pony diet-- whatever works, all hooves look very well!