Two years ago I had my first pedicure and I loved it! 40+ years were shaved off my heels and they were actually pretty! But now, in the name of love, I have opted to forgo such spa treatment in order for my horse's feet to look great. I am hoping to keep Oberon barefoot. The ferrier said his feet looked great but perhaps a tad dry. So off to the store I went...
and based on advice I received, I selected Pro-Care plus. It's easy - I just brush it under and over every bit of Oberon's hooves. I plan to alternate every few days with Bag Balm - or at least I think I will... the brush that comes with Pro-Care is so EASY to use and the Bag Balm is more like a moist paste and I need to find a rag to apply it. I also purchased Thrush Buster - getting ready for the wet and rainy season. But REALLY, there are so many products - it's like standing at the cosmetic counter at Macy's!
What do you use for your horses hooves?
This is how relaxed I used to look in my massage chair while getting my wonderful pedicure - I hope he appreciates my sacrifice.
15 comments:
Aw, I love his face! He looks so chill:) Now I want a pedicure.
He's a handsome guy. :-)
Hi Margaret. I have never had a pedicure but have to say I desperately need one..it's getting too hot to sleep with socks on to let the camphor cream soak into my skin overnight now!! Can I make you jealous..? My husband is a qualified farrier! He qualified in Ohklahoma! I always keep some mentholated spirits in a spray bottle and spray that on the underside of the hooves during the rainy season! It works a charm..In response to your question,the dogs have never yet picked up a thorn...it is a total mystery to me too...!
I don't use hoof treatments but their daily vitamin does have things in it that promote hoof health. I'm a firm believer that a dry hoof is a healthy hoof. Harder to trim, however.
Now that I see that your hoof treatment helps prevent thrush, I'm tempted to try it out, and I'm interested in the mentholated spirits Liesl mentioned. We always have thrush here in the wet season. I have used Thrush Buster in the past, as well as many, many others. I haven't found one yet that is as good as it claims to be. But Thrush Buster was one of the good ones, and not messy or hard to use.
Following advice from our farrier we don't use anything on our horse's hooves. He believes that supplementing feed is unnessary unless there is a real problem and even then in most cases feeding more of good quality forage will sort it out.
Dryness in the summer is usual, you'll also see changes to the hoof in winter, nothing to worry about.
If you pick your horses feet out you don't have to worry about thrush and certainly won't need to use a product to prevent it. Mud isn't going to damage a hoof, prevent mud fever by applying sudacreme (yes the cream for babies) around the fetlocks in excessively muddy conditions.
Our farrier also advises not to use hoof products daily as they can prevent the hoof from naturally absorbing water and cause even more problems.
LOL. He looks like he's being put to sleep, Margaret...just like you'd feel, I know. I've actually never had a pedicure or manicure in my life. I probabluy wouldn't know what hit me! Mine are still done the old-fashioned way. By me, myself and I. HA!
I have got onto a good thing ....we have a local college who trains beauticians.....I can get a trainee to give me a pedicure for a fraction of the cost and still afford my horses feet.Check out someone local who might be learning.
And I just love the dapples on your gorgeous boy
Fascinating ... all the different approaches. When I was teenager - 22 years of age, I NEVER did anything with my horse's hooves (1/2 arab and 1/2 QH). He had perfect feet - well, maybe a chip here and there. Not long ago, I met a real nice lady who used Walmart Olive Oil on her horses hooves... and he had GREAT feet. I also had a friend tell me that I should leave well enough alone...
So what to do... Maybe once or twice a week I will put it on and see. I also read that a hard hoof (frog) was very good, but then my vet and others have said no, that is not the case.
UGH.
Liesl - yes, I'm jealous :)
New Horse Owner - post about it! I will follow your progress!
Ginnie - I don't care so much about my nails... but the foot massage blew me away!
Saly - !!!! Great idea. I will check that lead out... :)
Oh my gosh lucky horse! I knew a lady once who used bag balm on her hands and feet (so maybe you could borrow some ;>)
He looks to be enjoying that, Niko will go to sleep when he is being shod he tries to use the farrier as a cushion it’s quite funny. We don’t use any form of hoof care apart from picking out the hoof and having the farrier in to trim and shoe, you have to be careful if you go mucking about with their feet as you can do more harm than good. Good luck with the hoof care I am sure you’ll work something out.
Regards
Edward
My two are barefoot and although they live on pretty wet ground most of the year (rain all year round is the bane of this island) their feet are hard and healthy. I put some stockholm tar on their soles once a week in the winter if it's very muddy, but I generally leave their hoofwalls alone. If they do get dry hooves, I soak them in water.
I think if you feed your horse right, he'll have good feet. Hoof health comes from the inside out. If they are too hard for your farrier. you can hose them down or stand him in a creek or puddle for a bit before the farrier gets there.
For thrush, the best prevention is keeping the feet clean, and away from mud and manure. If my horses get thrush, I use Young Living essential oils- Melaluca Alternafolia, Theives, and Melrose all work well.
Sallie - in the middle of winter when I am at my worst... who knows, bag balm might be my best friend! :)
Edward, Twohorses & Shirley - You have given me MUCH to think about. I found a few websites that were VERY interesting and went against many farriers advice... I will be posting about them after I get done reading and comparing them. Thanks for the valuable input.
The only topical that I use is Thrush Remedy by Absorbine. Hard feet are very good, just difficult to trim. I use a water bottle and spray my horse's feet as I trim. A little bit of water makes the trimming process go much smoother. Cheap, too!
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