Shelly Hoof Walls

bb21bfs · 07-18-2008, 09:33 PM

I work for 11 horses and all of them seem to have shelly hoof walls. When I started working there I saw no problems but now......They have Valintines Hoof Dressing applied every two to three days. Stalls are VERY clean. Leggs are fly sprayed everyday. The only thing I can blam this problem on is we are feeding Herbs of misc. form. I dont want to use names but this is supposed to be formulated specificaly for horses but I have a sneaking feeling the hoof problems are being caused by the Herbs. Any suggestions....Anything i can do different......Help. I hate these horses feet looking the way they do. Farrier care is every 6 to 7 weeks to try keeping the feet looking good.

crittermom · 07-18-2008, 09:43 PM

Are we talking seedy toe? Perhaps the farrier (provided he is good) could make some suggestions. It certainly sounds like it is feed oriented.

fishing_trex · 07-19-2008, 10:43 AM

Poor genetics can contribute to shelly, brittle hooves, but if it's all 11 horses, I'd say it's more than likely nutrition or a combination of nutrition, environment, and hoof care. Certain herbs can affect the absorption of various vitamins (such as biotin). But environment is the culprit the majority of the time.

Although it's sounds contradictory, too MUCH moisture can cause shelly feet. Moisture causes damage to the laminae, then the hoof wall becomes weak, then dry and flaky. Also, if a hoof is wet (and swells) and then is dry (and shrinks) it will weaken the hoof and cause them to become brittle.

I would ask a vet and farrier to try to identify the cause and go from there.

bb21bfs · 07-22-2008, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the input. Ill show this too my boss.

sunnygardenpath@shaw.ca · 08-12-2008, 09:32 PM

Fungus, or 'seedy toe" spreads quite fast from horse to horse, through stalls, dirt, walkways, pasture, wash area, riding ring, etc. Thoroughbreds tend to get seedy toe "fungus" alot easier. In certain areas, feeding extra selenium, or Vits supplements, benfits the horses being able to fight off the fungus. but generally it needs to be treated at the foot. At our boarding stable, all the horses got the foot fungus, or seedy toe, or very vertical cracked lines running through their feet. The only horse who didnt get it isnt a Thoroughbred. He still doesnt have it. The vet treated all the horses feet with coppertox, then Formaldahyde. Its about $15.oo a bottle. The formaldahyde had to be painted on with a paint brush on dry feet, they had to be kept out of the mud,, and kept in stalls for a few hours after treatment. It seems to have worked. Coppertox works good at the beginning or for continual treatment. The vet product is for killing the fungus, get it over with then treat for a week or so, then go back to copper tox for maintenance. the horse who didnt get the fungus, well his owner puts Tea Tree oil on his feet every couple of days... hope that helps......

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07-18-2008, 09:33 PM
bb21bfs Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2	Shelly Hoof Walls I work for 11 horses and all of them seem to have shelly hoof walls. When I started working there I saw no problems but now......They have Valintines Hoof Dressing applied every two to three days. Stalls are VERY clean. Leggs are fly sprayed everyday. The only thing I can blam this problem on is we are feeding Herbs of misc. form. I dont want to use names but this is supposed to be formulated specificaly for horses but I have a sneaking feeling the hoof problems are being caused by the Herbs. Any suggestions....Anything i can do different......Help. I hate these horses feet looking the way they do. Farrier care is every 6 to 7 weeks to try keeping the feet looking good.

07-18-2008, 09:43 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,473	Are we talking seedy toe? Perhaps the farrier (provided he is good) could make some suggestions. It certainly sounds like it is feed oriented. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

07-19-2008, 10:43 AM
fishing_trex Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,282	Poor genetics can contribute to shelly, brittle hooves, but if it's all 11 horses, I'd say it's more than likely nutrition or a combination of nutrition, environment, and hoof care. Certain herbs can affect the absorption of various vitamins (such as biotin). But environment is the culprit the majority of the time. Although it's sounds contradictory, too MUCH moisture can cause shelly feet. Moisture causes damage to the laminae, then the hoof wall becomes weak, then dry and flaky. Also, if a hoof is wet (and swells) and then is dry (and shrinks) it will weaken the hoof and cause them to become brittle. I would ask a vet and farrier to try to identify the cause and go from there. __________________ -- There are two ways to slide easily through life -- to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways will save you from thinking.

07-22-2008, 06:37 PM
bb21bfs Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 2	Thank you Thanks for the input. Ill show this too my boss.

08-12-2008, 09:32 PM
sunnygardenpath@shaw.ca Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Comox, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 26	Fungus, or 'seedy toe" spreads quite fast from horse to horse, through stalls, dirt, walkways, pasture, wash area, riding ring, etc. Thoroughbreds tend to get seedy toe "fungus" alot easier. In certain areas, feeding extra selenium, or Vits supplements, benfits the horses being able to fight off the fungus. but generally it needs to be treated at the foot. At our boarding stable, all the horses got the foot fungus, or seedy toe, or very vertical cracked lines running through their feet. The only horse who didnt get it isnt a Thoroughbred. He still doesnt have it. The vet treated all the horses feet with coppertox, then Formaldahyde. Its about $15.oo a bottle. The formaldahyde had to be painted on with a paint brush on dry feet, they had to be kept out of the mud,, and kept in stalls for a few hours after treatment. It seems to have worked. Coppertox works good at the beginning or for continual treatment. The vet product is for killing the fungus, get it over with then treat for a week or so, then go back to copper tox for maintenance. the horse who didnt get the fungus, well his owner puts Tea Tree oil on his feet every couple of days... hope that helps......