Re: chipping/hoof conditioners

[Abigail Aiyagari <abby1@itsa.ucsf.edu>]

Not going to jump into the soaking debate, since I don't have much of an
opinion (if I had one, you'd hear it).  :)  However, one thing that I have
read repeatedly that I feel is probably true is that it is best to avoid
oil-based hoof conditioners, since the oil will destroy the bonds between
the proteins in the horse's hooves.  It may make the hooves more pliable,
but it is at the expense of strength and integrity.  There are water-based
conditioners, but I personally have never felt the need to use one with my
horse.  I think good nutrition and good trimming are the best ways to get
healthy feet.  I only soak him when I trim (you'd need to be Popeye to be
able to use a knife on this horse's feet without soaking first, and yes
it's pretty darn sharp!).  Like us with our skin, I'm more ready to
believe that horses have internal ways of keeping the proper moisture
balance in their hooves, so that his diet has more influence on the
moisture level in his hooves than what we put on them.

About chipping and cracking--I've observed chipping in my horse and others
when they need to be trimmed.  Especially in the quarters, which will be
functionally long before the rest of the hoof (particularly on hard
ground), they tend to start chipping when they need to be taken down a
bit.  Another thing that helps with preventing chips on hard ground is to
roll the edges of the hooves slightly with the fine side of the rasp.  If
I do this, and trim often enough, his feet always have smooth edges and do
not chip no matter what type of ground I ride on.  At any rate, I don't
really view chipping as a terrible thing unless it's extreme--just the
hoof's own way of getting rid of unnecessary material.

Abby