Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Steve - does your farrier have any ideas on why the one front hoof is
weak?  How is the other front foot in comparison?  and the
hinds?  Have you got photos?  It would help a lot to see what
you've got before getting too detailed with advice.

Keeping a competing endurance horse barefoot can be a challenge in
itself, but even moreso if you are starting with hoof problems.  It
takes several months for a hoof to grow out so even if you start giving
new supplements and make other nutritional changes now you won't see
things show up in the hoof wall for a few months.  

I use a really good all around supplement on all of my horses that I'm
really happy with and have used it on them since I pulled their shoes in
early 2005.  It's called Mega Dose by Horse Guard.  It's great
for hooves but also has the organic selenium in the quantity that my
horses need:

https://www.horseguard.com/shop/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=catshow&ref=Mega+Dose
    and it comes in pellets so they will eat it readily
without it needing to be mixed with anything else.  

There are topicals that you might try like Hoof Armor, or Durasole
(
here is a blog post I did about using Durasole, it really works) that
can help with converting to barefoot and keep your horse comfortable
during the transition.  The other advice about getting a rasp and
keeping up with flares and cracks is good, as is the one about figuring
your horses nutritional needs and if there are any deficiencies. 
You should also seek additional advice from another hoof care provider
that has the skills and education to help you.  The really good ones
can work with you to help with your whole horse management program. 
Which really, if you want to keep a horse barefoot it takes looking at
the entire picture - how your horse lives, your nutrition program,
exercise program and last but not least, the actual care of the
hooves.  It's a lot easier to keep an endurance horse shod, but it
sounds like you are trying to find the best solution for your horse even
if it means more effort on your part.  (and, your current farrier
may be that person, without knowing him or her, it's hard to say but a
2nd opinion never hurts)    

Good luck!

Karen   
http://www.enduranceridestuff.com/blog