Homemade Hoof Conditioner For Horses

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Someone once told me of a homemade hoof conditioner that went like this: Put some pinetar in a container and then put this container in a pot of water and heat until thinned. Then add some mineral oil and mix. After it cools, put it in a container and paint it on like any other hoof conditioner. I can't remember the proportions or if there were any other ingredients. Has anyone ever heard of this or any other homemade conditioner for hoofs.

-- Ed C (Hobotacoma@yahoo.com), June 15, 2001

Answers

I have used pine tar mixed with store-bought conditioner (hooflex or something like that.) I didn't heat the tar, just mixed it together. I don't think proportions matter too much, just so it's not too runny or too thick. It worked very well when we had a dry summer, but in Wisconsin here I hardly ever use conditioner. Usually I need something to dry out the hooves. To do that I use koppertox or iodine just dripped a little on the sole. To seal moisture either in or out, I've smeared SnowSeal over the entire hoof. I have heard of an old indian recipe to make a horse grow a tougher and faster hoof - twice a day rub egg whites on the coronary band. Seemed to work for my mom's horse. It really makes the hooves shiny anyway.

-- Malinda Z (teneniel_80@yahoo.com), June 15, 2001.

When I was a teenager the older people at the barn taught us to use pine tar mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with needsfoot oil. Got to thinking about this recently and pulled out some store bought conditioner and it was made with pine tar and needfoot oil.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), June 16, 2001.

I had problem with one of my mares hooves being dry. Tried everything. Then read an article in western horseman about adding linseed meal to their feed for dry hoof problems. I did this at about a cup per week and VOILA her hooves grew out and there has never been a sign of dryness since. That was 8 years ago. It will also give them the nicest shiniest coat you ever saw. And no more painting hooves.

-- Stacia in OK (OneClassyCowgirl@aol.com), June 16, 2001.

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys. I've never heard of linseed meal. Does anyone know where I can get some?

-- Ed C (Hobotacoma@yahoo.com), June 16, 2001.

Hi Ed!

Try the local feed mill for the linseed meal. You can also try soymeal or other seed meals. Just be aware some don't have much shelf life and can go rancid. Linseed seems to work especially well, though.

Another possible hoof dressing is made from 2 oz. by weight beeswax mixed with 1 cup mineral oil. Heat until wax melts, then stir until cool. Just apply with a stiff brush as needed.

An oldtime trick is to position the water trough in a spot where it can become extremely muddy. The mud acts as a moisturizer while the horse(s)are drinking. Sounds a bit strange, but really works.

Good Luck!

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 16, 2001.



When mud dries on a horse's hoof it sucks the moisture right out of it. Manure is actulally better at moisturizing, but can also cause other problems, like thrush.

-- Malinda Z (teneniel_80@yahoo.com), June 16, 2001.

Malinda,

Manure is one I've not heard before. Perhaps the mud issue depends on type of mud. Mud was actually one of the CORRECT answers on a multiple answer to this same question in one of my vet med classes.

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 19, 2001.


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