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best-hoof-products

Best Five Horse Hoof Care Products for Healthy Feet

Horse hoof care is an essential aspect of equine health and wellbeing. Proper hoof care ensures that your horse can move comfortably and reduces the risk of lameness and other related health issues.

Hooves are an essential part of a horse’s anatomy, and healthy hooves are vital to their overall well-being. The health of a horse’s hooves affects their ability to move, their level of comfort, and their overall quality of life. In this article, we will explore the importance of healthy hooves in horses and why they are so essential.

First and foremost, healthy hooves are essential for a horse’s movement. Hooves provide support for the horse’s entire body weight, and any damage or weakness in the hooves can limit their ability to move properly. A horse with unhealthy hooves may be hesitant to move or may show signs of discomfort or pain when walking or running. This can severely impact their quality of life, as it limits their ability to exercise and can lead to weight gain, muscle loss, and other health problems.

In addition to movement, healthy hooves also play a crucial role in a horse’s balance and stability. Hooves act as a shock absorber, cushioning the impact of each step and providing stability on uneven terrain. A horse with unhealthy hooves may be unbalanced or unstable, making it difficult for them to navigate challenging terrain or perform certain tasks, such as jumping or trail riding.

Beyond movement and balance, healthy hooves are also important for a horse’s overall comfort. A horse with unhealthy hooves may experience pain or discomfort, which can lead to anxiety, stress, and other behavioral problems. This can also impact their ability to bond with their owners and other horses, as they may be hesitant to interact due to their discomfort.

Maintaining healthy hooves is essential for preventing a range of health problems in horses. One of the most common issues is laminitis, a painful condition that affects the soft tissue within the hoof. Laminitis can cause severe pain and discomfort, and in severe cases, it can lead to the detachment of the hoof from the underlying bone. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Another common issue in horses with unhealthy hooves is thrush, a bacterial infection that affects the tissue around the frog of the hoof. Thrush can cause a foul odor, discharge, and can lead to lameness if left untreated. Other issues that can arise from unhealthy hooves include abscesses, cracks, and other injuries that can impact a horse’s health and well-being. (We recommend Thrush Busters, see below, it’s purple and stains but it works magic).

To maintain healthy hooves, regular hoof care includes regular trimming and maintenance to prevent overgrowth and ensure proper balance and support. Horses also require a healthy diet that includes adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, particularly biotin and zinc, which are essential for hoof health.

Healthy hooves are vital to a horse’s overall well-being. They are essential for movement, balance, and comfort, and maintaining healthy hooves is essential for preventing a range of health problems. Regular hoof care, a healthy diet, and attention to the horse’s overall health are all essential components of maintaining healthy hooves in horses. By prioritizing hoof health, horse owners can ensure their animals have long and healthy lives, free from pain and discomfort.

Here are some tips on how to take care of your horse’s hooves.

A very cute baby black horse takes first steps with mama nearby. Hoof care starts from birth!
  1. Regular Trimming
    Hoof growth varies with each horse, and while some may need trimming every four weeks, others may require more frequent trimming. It’s best to schedule regular farrier visits for your horse to ensure that their hooves are trimmed and balanced regularly. If you notice any signs of hoof problems like cracks, flaring or uneven wear, consult with a farrier.
  2. Proper Diet Rich with Biotin
    A horse’s diet has a significant impact on the health of their hooves. A balanced diet that provides adequate nutrients such as protein, minerals, and vitamins is essential for healthy hoof growth. Feeding your horse a good quality hay, pasture, or a balanced diet supplemented with high-quality hoof supplements can also promote healthy hoof growth.
  3. Provide Adequate Exercise
    This is good for you and your horse!! Regular exercise is vital for healthy hoof growth as it helps to stimulate blood flow to the hooves. Adequate exercise also helps to keep the horse’s weight in check, which is crucial for healthy hoof growth. If your horse is confined to a stall or paddock for long periods, consider providing a daily exercise routine.
  4. Provide Clean and Dry Living Conditions
    Nothing is worse than a horse who has to stand in his own urine, when the shavings are never cleaned, or they have to spend long hours in mud. The horse’s living environment plays a significant role in hoof health. Wet and dirty living conditions can lead to a variety of hoof problems such as thrush and bacterial infections. Make sure your horse’s stall, paddock or pasture is clean, dry, and free from manure buildup.
  5. Maintain Proper Shoeing
    Proper hoof trimming and shoeing can help prevent hoof problems such as cracks, uneven wear, and other injuries. Work with your farrier to ensure your horse’s shoes are properly fitted, balanced, and provide adequate support for the hoof. If you notice any signs of discomfort or uneven wear, schedule a visit with your farrier immediately. If you can go barefoot on the rear hooves, that’s great for hoof health also.
  6. Manage Stress
    Stress can lead to a variety of health problems in horses, including hoof problems. Take measures to minimize stress in your horse’s life, such as providing ample turnout time, companionship, and regular exercise. (See How to Calm an Anxious Horse for more)
  7. Inspect
    Regularly inspecting your horse’s hooves is essential in identifying any early signs of problems. This will enable you to take the necessary measures to prevent further damage. Check for any cracks, unusual odors, or signs of thrush, and take the necessary action.
  8. Use Quality Hoof Products
    Using quality hoof products such as hoof conditioners, sealants, and oils can help keep the hooves healthy and prevent cracks and other problems. Consult with your veterinarian or farrier to determine the best products for your horse’s specific needs.

Regular trimming, proper diet, exercise, clean living conditions, proper shoeing, regular inspection, stress management, and using quality hoof products are essential in ensuring the overall health and wellbeing of your horse’s hooves. By following these tips, you can help prevent hoof problems and ensure your horse can move comfortably and happily for years to come. Now for the good stuff! Our favorite picks for horse hoof health.

keratex-hoof-hardener
horse-shoers-secret-hoof-care
horse-hoof-care-product-durasole
old-timers-hoof-dressing-best-horse-hoof-products
BONUS

Hoof Care Products: Topical vs. Supplement

Horse hoof care breaks down into two camps: topical, like Keratex, and supplemental, like Farrier’s Formula. When your horse’s hooves are showing signs of being about to crack, or have already begun to crack, it’s best to use both products together. Hoof care supplements are a good idea for horses of all ages, but particularly those who work hard or have weak hooves to begin with.

Why does hoof care matter so much? Horses when they roamed free could enjoy hoof health based on frequently dry surfaces. As mankind stepped in, horses would be in smaller areas like an enclosed stall or paddock. Because stalls and maddocks get wet and muddy (plus when they pee the stall sawdust can get very wet), horses began to encounter lots of new problems with their hooves. Hooves matter because hoof health provides a strong foundation for the horse to walk, run, and be ridden! Hoof health care toggles from topical (strengthening gels, oils, cremes) to supplemental (nourishing hoof growth from the inside out).

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Hooves take a beating in the rodeo, horse hoof care is vital!

The supplements have longer term benefits. Just like for humans, you can polish and protect your nails but you also can take vitamins to grow healthy hair and nails. As a great side effect, long term horse hoof supplements will build healthy manes and tails.

My favorite supplement horse hoof care product by far is Farrier’s Formula, with Horseshoer’s Secret a great option as well. For topical, I recommend Keratex or Old Timer’s works well too. Once you look into Keratex you can see it comes in gel and cream. I’ve always liked gel better (you can see through it). Then for inside of the foot health, especially during winter or if the stall stays too wet or the paddock gets too muddy, ThrushBuster is my favorite product. It’s highly concentrated and stains purple, so use it sparingly. Don’t use a lot at one time. Just a few drops inside of the hoof area will work quickly to dry out the thrushy parts.

horse hoof care
Farrier’s Formula comes in double strength too

Bring in a farrier to help you with understanding the best tools and products for your horse’s hooves. If you notice a big crack, call for the farrier to file it back or trim it out and then begin supplements so the hooves grow in stronger.

Here are some of the qualities of Farrier’s Formula (from their Amazon listing):

  • Imported
  • Pelleted supplement that can be added as a top dressing or given separately
  • Supplies nutrients required for building strong hoof capsule connective tissue
  • Promotes strong and fast hoof wall, sole, frog and heel growth
  • Helps “grow out” wall cracks
  • Strengthens hoof walls and sole

Next up is HorseShoers Secret, a supplement designed to nourish hooves, manes and tails.

horse-hoof-products-horse-shoers-secret
HorseShoers Secret contains biotin for healthy hooves.

Now for topical solutions, Keratex hoof hardener is well-known for its hoof care qualities. Keratex Hoof Hardener strengthens worn, weak or cracked hooves by healing the molecular structure. It is formulated to work in wet or dry conditions. Keratex stops the horn from absorbing excess moisture, so it resists softening and getting weak in rain or mud. This has an added benefit of reduction in abcesses and loss of shoes.

Keratex Hoof Hardener does not seal the hoof; it ensures the hoof is able to breathe naturally. It doesn’t provide a resin or oil layer. Due to the structure of Keratex, moisture balance is maintained properly. Keratex may also be applied to the sole to prevent bruising. Keratex has a line of hoof health care and damage protection products including hoof hardener, hoof gel, mud shield powder, frog disinfectant, nail hole disinfectant, hoof putty, cooling gel and hoof shield.

To prevent cracks and splits, some choose Old Timer’s Dressing, an all-natural Amish recipe. It’s designed to prevent cracks and splits; and does not contain any petroleum products. It comes in a 32-ounce tin and contains pine tar, flax seed oil and processed animal oils.

For thrush, I’ve relied upon ThrushBuster for several decades. It’s violet in coloration and strong. You may choose to wear gloves when applying, as it can turn your fingers purple. When treating thrush, which shows up as a fungus in the central and lateral sulcus of the frog of the horse’s foot, the properties of ThrushBuster work exceptionally well. If your horse has to spend time in a muddy paddock or if his or her stall gets wet or isn’t cleaned enough, you may opt to pro-actively apply ThrushBuster to prevent thrush as well as to treat it when you see it. Here’s a pic from the barn where my horse lives, below.

Actual pic taken from the stables where I board my horse right after ThrushBusters was applied!

As with most things about horses and horse care, prevention is the best practice. If you can keep your horse’s hooves clean and clear of thrush; protected from the weather; and strong with biotin supplements like Farrier’s Formula or Horseshoer’s Secret, you’re going to enjoy a long healthy relationship with your horse and he or she can enjoy a long healthy relationship with his or her feet and hooves. As a caviat, bring in a veterinarian if you notice painful swelling or bring in a shoer if you are having trouble keeping the cracking at bay. Be sure to check for rocks and pebbles and clean your horse’s feet with a hoof pick daily.