Re: RC: "Natural" hoof hardeners

[maryann.spencer@us.army.mil]

1. TIME
2. Do NOT trim the sole of the hoof.
3. Keep from getting too dry or too wet.
4. Find some rocks, etc to place where the horse will have to walk over 
them.  Keep horse in 'natural' surroundings, not stalled all the time.
5.  It takes ONE yr for a hoof to fully grow out.  Make sure the feed 
is good.  No need for protein over 12%.  
6. RIDE, RIDE, RIDE.
7. Put 'barefoot horse' into your search engine and it should bring up 
the website for barefoot horses.  
8. The part that needs to be toughened is the sole of the hoof.  Only 
use rasp to keep the hoof along the natural line of the fetlock joint 
and to even up the edges.  

This has been working for me but I only did 2 50s and one 25 this yr.  
AND still had to trim some hoof back.  I keep the toes down to keep the 
heel growing.  Use RASP mostly.  

Mary Ann

----- Original Message -----
From: guest@endurance.net
Date: Monday, December 3, 2001 6:24 pm
Subject: RC:  "Natural" hoof hardeners

> Tracy Snow-Cormier njctsc@mfx.net
> I was wondering if there are any tried and true natural hoof 
> hardeners out
> there.  I've just pulled my horse's shoes for the winter(I do use 
> ez boots
> when riding) but would like to see if he could possibly go 
> barefoot longer
> than the winter!  He does get "ouchy" and "short" sometimes on rocks
> barefoot.  Thanks!
> 
> Tracy
> 
> 
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