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 Expert
Posts: 3534
   
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | If not, why not?
If you do, why? and what do you like to use?
Over the years my blacksmith has always been on me to oil. When life hasn't taken over and I actually ride regularly, I oil them 3, maybe 4 times a week and my blacksmith still tells me their feet are hard and dry. This past year 'life' has taken over and they were lucky to get oiled once or twice a month. My blacksmith is really complaining that it's like filing through concrete. I personally think their feet look better since I haven't been oiling them so much, but I also haven't been riding. When I ride regularly, their feet seem to chip really bad until I put shoes on. One mare has really bad feet and I keep her on Finish Line Feet First, but her one white hoof still has a spot that cracks and breaks off. Last Friday it cracked worse than it ever has. I was hoping to put shoes on her the next time he comes out but I don't think he will be able to, it broke off so bad.
So I don't know if I should oil or not and I'm not sure if the oil helps or not when they are barefoot and being rode. If it helps, I live in central Ohio. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I have never used any oils or lotion type products on my horses feet as I believe they are rather useless. All my horses are barefoot with strong healthy feet that do not chip or crack. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I don't use any kind of oil or hoof conditioner..I feed their hooves from the inside. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | What do you feed? |
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Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | When I was riding regularly they were getting ADM StayStrong, MoorGlo n Patriot 12%. they were on this combination for a few years n the blacksmith would tell me i wasn't oiling their feet when i was oiling multiple times a week. Since I haven't Been able to ride in the last year I stoped feeding the staystrong. In the last month my feed mill stopped carrying patriot n now has Tribute. So now they get Tribute 12% n Moorglo. I've been feeding the finish line feet first for over 2 years to the youngest mare with problem feet. I can tell a difference since I started feeding the feet first but I'm still having issues
the older mare, i honestly think her feet look better now that i stopped oiling but she is not being worked or ridden. Plus I think I'm just wasting a hundred dollars or more a year on oil. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | barlracr429 - 2015-03-06 10:00 PM
When I was riding regularly they were getting ADM StayStrong, MoorGlo n Patriot 12%. they were on this combination for a few years n the blacksmith would tell me i wasn't oiling their feet when i was oiling multiple times a week. Since I haven't Been able to ride in the last year I stoped feeding the staystrong. In the last month my feed mill stopped carrying patriot n now has Tribute. So now they get Tribute 12% n Moorglo. I've been feeding the finish line feet first for over 2 years to the youngest mare with problem feet. I can tell a difference since I started feeding the feet first but I'm still having issues
the older mare, i honestly think her feet look better now that i stopped oiling but she is not being worked or ridden. Plus I think I'm just wasting a hundred dollars or more a year on oil.
Sounds to me like I might wonder about the farrier's advice to begin with if he can't even tell when you DO oil! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 830
Location: Paradise , tx | I do oil occasionaly, but the best method I have found is to water down the area around the water tank and also around their hay where they stand for a while and the moisture can soak in |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I did off an on during the end of last summer for my gelding who chips when he's rode consistently. I took him to a podiatrist and he correctly trimmed his feet to help keep them from chipping. He's not being rode, but so far so good on the chipping! Now is about the time he'd start. I told him that I was putting oil on his feet to try and help and he said that he never has been able to see much of a difference and he said that in this part of the country we actually needed less moisture. Go figure! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I have a jar of oil but I rarely use it. As stated before, healthy feet come from the inside out. I had one mare that was turned out in a big pasture with nothing but grass. Her hooves were gorgeous. The were dark, healthy and actually SHINY like she had polish on. They were just amazing and I didn't touch them. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | No I don't use anything and mine are all barefoot as well........M |
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 Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | I read an article on FB put out by farriers that oil is actually not good for their feet. You have to feed healthy feet with proper nutrition. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| It sounds like she has an absorption issue, or not getting adequate nutrition.
My horses I don't have to oil, nor do I shoe and they don't chip unless I leave them too long. I feed 1/2-1 cup of flax daily plus a balanced feed with low NSC. Mine get free choice hay
If I get a horse that has shelly feet, I feed extra oil coconut, if I am riding the horse, canola if I am not (differing research saying canola oil is good or bad for inflammation), then I will feed the same as above.
If very malnourished, I will add red cell for a month.
If my healthy weight horses feet are not looking as good, I will look for symptoms of ulcers if they have any, I will treat for 30 days, then do another 30 days of probiotic to get the hind gut working at optimum level.
If no ulcer symptom and after the malnourished horse has been on the program for a month then I will add probiotics to his diet.
If the horses do have cracks and Shelly feet, I will use fish oil and apply on the cornet band. This was a recommendation from my vet. I use fish oil capsules use about 2 per foot. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | We do not oil their feet. They seem to do fine. Healthy mineral levels are most important. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| I don't as often as I should. I figure if they oil them at the tracks daily, it's probably a good idea. I always use SuPer Hoof by Gateway. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | I have never oiled feet before. I recently starting feeding Flax and have noticed a big difference my the feet and coats. They are all barefoot and we try to keep them that way as long as possible. Towards the middle of the summer we may have to put shoes on. I also overflow my water tank so they stand in a bit of moisture when they drink. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | never have and never been asked to. Hoof health (and most all horse health) has a lot to do with your feeding program. I would evaluate that first. Have you spoken to your vet about this situation? How qualified is your Blacksmith?
I would also suggest that if you're still dealing with cracks and hard cruddy feet that oiling isn't helping you enough. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | no I do not oil |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | I feel that proper hoof condition comes from proper nutrition. Balance the diet and you should see better feet without trying to drive condition into them from the outside. |
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 Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | Not unless there is a problem that needs to be fixed. When I lived in NV I did add a supplement to their grain to help their feet but now that I'm back in MT I don't. |
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Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | Griz - 2015-03-09 6:46 AM
I don't as often as I should. I figure if they oil them at the tracks daily, it's probably a good idea. I always use SuPer Hoof by Gateway.
Thank you everybody for the comments. I am definietly re-evaulating my feed.
This is the first blacksmith we've ever used that was adament about oiling. I just linked it together. he grew up with parents who raised, trained and raced harness race horses. He's spent most of his life in the race horse barn. This may be why he's always asking me if I oil them. My previous blacksmith told me that oiling was a waste and the guy we used before that told us to add CocaSoya Oil to their feed for their feet. |
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