Keratex HH

[LSM1212]

My guy sustained a stone bruise a few months ago and my farrier recommended I start using a hoof hardener (keratex) to toughen up his feet. My guy is fine when I apply it on his front feet (sole) but when I do his hind feet, he jerks his leg up as if it "stings" him. So I stopped using it on his hind feet and then stopped using it all together.

I switched to the "Hoof Heal" suggested by a fellow cother for the stone bruised hoof.

http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr....FQgNDQodmmk0DQ (http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=50114&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D198%26Tree%3D%2CComplet e%20Catalog&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D122%26Tree%3D0%2CEquine&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D1107%26menu%5Fid%3D%26T ree%3D1%2CHoof%20Care%20%2F%20Farrier&3=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D556%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tr ee%3D2%2CHoof%20Care%20Dressings&HSLB=False&gclid=CJOV-NDspZsCFQgNDQodmmk0DQ)

And now I'm not doing anything.

The new barn I am at can get a bit swampy when it rains hard so was thinking about starting the Keratex back up for a "barrier".

But does anybody know why my guy is resistant of me putting it on his hind feet? Would the Gel be better? Or maybe start back using the Hoof Heal? Or maybe another product all together? ;)

* I posted this on another thread but I'm sure it will get buried so figured I'd post it in the correct forum and start my own *

[Nezzy]

i love K HH. It has helped my horse who has terrible feet. BUT you never brush it on the frog. make sure you keep it far enough from the frog it does not run into it. Also not too high on the outside of the hoof.

[LSM1212]

i love K HH. It has helped my horse who has terrible feet. BUT you never brush it on the frog. make sure you keep it far enough from the frog it does not run into it. Also not too high on the outside of the hoof.

Thanks.... I was always VERY careful not to get it close to the frog and only 1/2 way up the outside of the hoof. I did the same application on the hinds as I did on the fronts. Just was strange that he only reacted when I put it on the hinds and not the fronts.

If it helps... he's shod all the way around.

I'm wondering if there is an ingredient that for some reason irritates him but only his hinds.

[Nezzy]

my horse never reacts to it. i don't use it as often anymore, i use it mainly after each farrier visit and on occasion.

[findeight]

Probably hurts his hocks or stifles when you keep the back feet picked up long enough to apply anything. Likely not what you are trying to apply hurting the soles of his feet.

And Hoof Heal is mainly linseed oil (we use it) used on the cuticle and outside wall and will not do a thing to toughen the sole like Durasole or Keratex will.

Especially given Stitch's medical history, it's more then likely it just hurts him to hold the feet up long enough to apply them.

[highlands]

So strange...I have one that does this too!

I have a barn of 11 horses and one of my 4 year olds reacts when I put it on his hind feet. Keep in mind that I am only putting it on the outside, not the sole, but he still picks up his hind feet like it bothers him. He's not hostile about it, but does protest just a little bit. He is not shod behind.

Very, very strange. Honestly, I have just been ignoring it and letting him deal. He doesn't act bad enough that it is seriously bothering him...he just seems a little irritated.

I use Keratex on all 11 of my horses on a nearly daily basis and have never seen this before.

[LSM1212]

F8 ~ Good point but it takes longer to pick his back feet out than to apply the Keratex to the soles. I pick his foot up the same when doing either one. And he doesn't react this way when I pick his feet out. So I don't think it's his hocks/stifles. And after I've applied it, he stomps his foot slightly and then wants to do a circle in his stall. Like it irritates him. It only lasts for a few moments and then he's fine. That doesn't happen when I pick his feet.

Thought it was strange and wondered if for some reason, it bothered him. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.

He's just a special boy, I suppose. :) Never a dull moment!

[chism]

My TB's do the same thing. I think they must not like the sensation of it.

[mybelle]

I use Keratex on all 11 of my horses on a nearly daily basis and have never seen this before.

My farrier (and I think the bottle too) says not to use it daily. My farrier was adamant that it can be used too much. He even said to only use it if its been raining/wet weather.

[Nezzy]

the directions on the bottle tell you to use it daily for a while then go to weekly, etc.. you should follow the directions on the bottle.

[LSM1212]

My TB's do the same thing. I think they must not like the sensation of it.

That's what I was thinking... my guy is an Appendix (TB/QH) and he seems to follow the TB way of sensitivity. :)

BTW, the directions say apply daily for one week. Then twice a week for maintenance.

[vxf111]

Stoney acts the same way about Keratex, I think it stings a bit.

My farrier SWEARS by Birdsall Farrier Barrier, and I am a dyed-in-the-wool convertee :)

[LSM1212]

Stoney acts the same way about Keratex, I think it stings a bit.

My farrier SWEARS by Birdsall Farrier Barrier, and I am a dyed-in-the-wool convertee :)

Tell me more... :)

What's funny, if it stings... wouldn't he react on all 4 feet? :lol: