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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
  
| Two of my horses are in a rocky pasture and their feet have gotten HARD. They're not chipped or in bad shape, but they're hard as rocks. What is the best thing to soften them up? |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | If they are walking sound don't do anything If you are trimming you can soak bout five mins just for the trim. |
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Veteran
Posts: 169
| I would not want to soften them! |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Hard feet is a good thing. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Whiteboy - 2016-03-14 10:52 AM Hard feet is a good thing.
That's what I thought........ |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I agree, hard feet are good, but I'm worried they're too hard/dry. My Shoer remarked at the difference and said it was a good thing the didn't need shoes as he wasn't sure he could get a nail in, lol. They are rock hard compared to the other horses that are in a grassy pasture with no rocks.. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | The feet have adapted to the horses living conditions. It's a good thing.  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Tell you shoer to sharpen his tools 
If you want to help him out, you can soak their feet in water the day he comes to shoe them, but he needs to be aware of it and know once the feet dry back out, they will contract back up to their dry, hard state.
Good hard feet are definitely a good thing, unless they don't have any spread to them and want to contract up too much. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Lol, that is the exact opposite of a problem. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Tdove - 2016-03-14 1:38 PM
Tell you shoer to sharpen his tools
If you want to help him out, you can soak their feet in water the day he comes to shoe them, but he needs to be aware of it and know once the feet dry back out, they will contract back up to their dry, hard state.
Good hard feet are definitely a good thing, unless they don't have any spread to them and want to contract up too much.
I'm afraid of getting to that point; these 2 are 1/2 sisters and they've always had good feet but I'm afraid they're getting a little too dry and once it really warms up they're going to start splitting. They don't have any give in the frog and don't spread much/if any between trims. I'm trying to prevent any future problems... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | I use SOUND hoof conditioner. It helps the most from what I have found. It's not good for their feet to be that hard. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
| Proper trimming and they shouldn't crack. Good callus is what we strive for! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| Keratex |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Rain maker is good for dry feet if you think they are on the virg of splitting. the frog is supposed to be hard as it takes the brunt of pounding.If the frog and heels have a good spread they are in great shape. I wouldn't soak in water as that will cause them to crack, as another said have your farrier sharpen his tools. If it aint broke dont fix it.  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I use fish oil capsules apply the oil to the cornet.
You also need to look at your feeding program, if the feet are too dry and brittle, your feed program is lacking. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I used to "grease" feet every time I rode (now, I have gotten lazy). Yes, I want hard, nice feet but I also want them to be able to absorb shock. There is sort of a fine line between nice, hard and brittle. I always use something with fish oil in it as a dressing - usually Su-Per Hoof from Gateway. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Thanks for the suggestions! I may try the fish oil or one of the conditioners suggested. They are on pasture and getting alfalfa 2x a day, unlimited grass hay, oats+flax, and have free choice minerals.
Edited by veintiocho 2016-03-15 10:24 AM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Hard feet is a good thing, thats what I want in my horses. Now are the feet dry and flaking as in peeling and cracks? If so you need to look into a good supplement for them. But me I'm always hopeing for good hard healthy hooves |
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