Explain Hoof Oil to Me Please.

[Portia]

Someone posted asking about hoof oils and shines on Off Course, and I posted this question there. But since hoof oil really seems to be a hunter thing, I'm asking about it here.

I still don't understand the hoof oil thing. I know it's traditional, and I know it looks good -- until the horse takes about 5 steps, then it's worthless. Still, at every hunter ring, there we are putting hoof oil on just before the horse steps into the ring, even though by the time the horse finishes the courtesy circle, you can never tell the stuff was there.

If you start out with a nice clean hoof, with all the mud and dirt off of it, I don't see the purpose of adding the oil that just sticks more dirt to it again.

Someone explain this to me, please.

[findeight]

Sorry, I'm with you, I don't get it. Especially since what most use is not so good for the hoof anyway.

[lauriep]

Because there aren't any viable alternatives that don't look so yucky artificially shiny. If you put the oil on while tacking up and let it absorb a bit, it won't "gather" stuff. But until they come up with something that LOOKS like Feibings, but dries quickly, I'll stay with it. Can't stand the look of the polishes.

I've used it for a hundred years, just at the ring, and have yet to ruin any feet. The polish isn't good, either, but I don't use that at home, either. Our feet are left alone at home unless farrier asks for something specific. So, if they get a little hoof oil at shows, it doesn't matter.

[jse]

I'm with lauriep...if you put it on in enough time, it doesn't gather as much dirt. And why is it bad for their hooves? We put a coat of it on at every grooming before heading out even to school and it's never hurt anything....and farrier has never said anything.
EDIT: Well you know now that I think about it, not EVERY time, mainly when they are dry and especially in the winter months.

[WorthTheWait95]

Well my farrier always tells clients that hooves are SUPPOSED to be dry. Over oiling/conditioning can cause some major problems. Personally, I will rub a little effol into the coronary band occasionally but that's it.

When I was showing we used to do a little oil before the class but when I swapped to jumpers I just cleaned them up a bit and made sure they were smooth and free of dirt/dust, etc and that was it.

If I was still showing I would probably give the raw onion trick a shot.

[veebug22]

I've always used a hoof polish or an oil that buffs to a shine without sticky residue. Apply it when tacking up and then buff at the in-gate. Yes, it gets a bit dusted up by the time you're finished, but the judge can still tell when you enter the ring that you've put the effort in, and sand doesn't stick to it or anything. They definitely look cleaner and shinier than if you hadn't bothered at all, even when you're done. Hoof polish isn't really good for hooves, you're right, so you have to moisturize well afterward, but it's not sticky. In terms of hoof moisturizer/dressing that buffs to a shine without sticky residue, I like Life Data Lab's Right Step. It's in a clear bottle with green lettering, brown formula. The spray bottle never works for me, so I brush it on. I use it as a conditioner at home, but it buffs up nicely, and is kinder to hooves than polish. You're right though, I don't get the straight oil thing at all. It's really sticky and defeats the purpose in my mind.

[findeight]

All my farriers have pronounced it bad as normally used.

Common sense tells me that it may also be that the 2 to 5 coats a day before 2 to 5 classes (1 warm up, 2 division, an Eq o/f and a hack for example) 3 days a week with 2 baths show days-before and after-3 weeks in a row has more to do with it then anything in the oil;).

My classes are usually a little spread out and retouching is needed even at the small shows, no way to carefully put it on. But I go with the flow Baaaaa like a sheep.:lol:

I still don't get it.

[mtpony]

I use Peanut Oil, before I go to the ring, while it doesn't really "shine", it gives the hoof a nice healthy looking sheen. Absorbs quickly, stuff doesn't stick. I hate the fiebings stuff and the polish is just plain nasty, and looks foolish. Have friends with Morgans that sand and sand and polish, then spray paint... I will stick to the peanut oil...

[Green Acres]

I use Peanut Oil, before I go to the ring, while it doesn't really "shine", it gives the hoof a nice healthy looking sheen. Absorbs quickly, stuff doesn't stick. I hate the fiebings stuff and the polish is just plain nasty, and looks foolish. Have friends with Morgans that sand and sand and polish, then spray paint... I will stick to the peanut oil...

How long does the peanut oil take to dry?

[Portia]

I'm not questioning whether the oil hurts or helps feet, and I have no interest in the polishes -- which do look artificial, and I'm not putting anything on my horses' hooves that requires sanding off. And I'm not talking about not properly cleaning a hoof and removing the dirt from the hoof as well as the sole.

My issue is that oiling the hoof is something that seems to have no useful purpose in terms of the showing or judging. It's not like whether you make sure your horse is clean and shiny, or you wipe the foam off their mouths and the dust off your boots before going in the ring. With oiling, you do it, and even if you give it plenty of time to soak in, it still disappears by the time the horse jumps the first jump. So why do it?

Or maybe I just don't know how to make the appearance of the oil last?

[Abbeyroad1791]

If I was still showing I would probably give the raw onion trick a shot.

What exactly is the raw onion trick??

[Trixie]

Rub a raw onion trick over their hooves, shines em up. I always think of it after the fact, it would never occur to me to pack a raw onion for a horse show.

I don't know, I don't get it either: hoof oil looks lovely but is completely illogical. Yet, there I am, putting it on...

[AHorseSomeDay]

I use the Feibrig (sp?) hoof dressing that comes in the yellow can. When I showed that's what I used before entering the ring.

I always thought it was good to moisturize horse's hooves. When I see that the horse's hooves are getting really dry I put Rainmaker on them. I do this in the wintertime when it's cold and I even use it in the summertime. Does anyone else use Rainmaker?

[theoldgreymare]

I use Rainmaker. I put it on let it sit for a minute or two and wipe it off. Hooves look good and no sticky mess.

[lauriep]

I'm not questioning whether the oil hurts or helps feet, and I have no interest in the polishes -- which do look artificial, and I'm not putting anything on my horses' hooves that requires sanding off. And I'm not talking about not properly cleaning a hoof and removing the dirt from the hoof as well as the sole.

My issue is that oiling the hoof is something that seems to have no useful purpose in terms of the showing or judging. It's not like whether you make sure your horse is clean and shiny, or you wipe the foam off their mouths and the dust off your boots before going in the ring. With oiling, you do it, and even if you give it plenty of time to soak in, it still disappears by the time the horse jumps the first jump. So why do it?

Or maybe I just don't know how to make the appearance of the oil last?

Because the minute you walk in the ring, you are making your first impression, long before you get to the first jump. Painted/oiled hooves are one of the tiny details that complete the picture of impeccable grooming. Not doing it would just not be right if everything else is perfect, as it should be. So what if it doesn't maintain its appearance for more than a few minutes? The judges have seen, and noted mentally, that the picture was one of care and grooming.

It won't last indefinitely, but if you do as I mentioned above, put it on when you START readying your horse for the ring, it will have soaked in/dried enough to stay visible for a large part of your round, unless the footing is VERY deep.

[superpony123]

i put effol on almost every day (at home) and use rain maker at shows while i tack up and buff the hooves before i leave the tent so its not sticky. the effols great. my pony already has nice hooves, but the point is to KEEP them that way. they stay hard but not too hard, never any cracks, never an issue of softnes. they're well moisturized. the point is it keeps in the moisture while not letting any in/out. it kind of 'seals' the hoof, in a way.

[dogchushu]

I put Feibings on while tacking up giving it a chance to "set" before the horse gets into the footing. Then I'll usually touch it up right before going into the ring. As lauriep mentioned, it stays for a while--never managed to get it to last the entire course, but it's there for the first few jumps!

I don't put it on at all at home. Never had a problem with hooves from it. My farrier said it's not good to use all the time, but "it's okay in moderation!" :lol:

[Gwendolyn]

The purpose is because it looks nice. If you are at a facility that properly waters and drags the ring (think WEF), then the ring isn't dry and dusty, hence no sand sticking to the hoof. Also, I agree that if you apply the oil early enough, it dries and nothing sticks to it.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=58385&id=1081821786#/photo.php?pid=58394&id=1081821786

Fence 8, you can still kinda tell there is some oil there ;)

As far as oiling daily, the point is not to moisturize, but to seal the hoof so that no moisture gets in or out. We oil before turnout in the morning, before each ride, and before bathing. The feet look fantastic (and the farrier agrees). Think about how your hands feel after you bathe your horse or if you wash your hands a lot. A lot of water = dried out. If you oil the hooves, it keeps the water out and keeps the feet moisturized.