Conference noted::equitation

    Maybe this will help -- go to a pharmacy and get some pure lanolin. 
    I used it once and it worked really well.  I had a mare whose hooves
    dried out terribly each summer.  When they were at their worst one
    year, I tried this.  I first soaked her hooves in a feedbin filled with
    warm bran (warm water sloshes around too much, and she didn't like to
    stand still).  Then I dried the hooves with rags, and smeared on the
    lanolin.  This worked well.  If it had not, my next step would have
    been to repeat the above, and then put something like Easyboots on her
    to hold the lanolin against the hooves.
    
    After I got her hooves back to normal, I found I could apply any
    non-oily hoof dressing to keep them in shape.
    
    -ellie

    
    I live in Colorado and have to deal with dry feet. 
    
    I do the following:
    
    1.  Feed SOUNDHOOF supplement (contains biotin and methionine)
    2.  Paint the hooves with TUFF-STUFF (which my farrier gets)  It
        helps to seal in moisture.  This last for a couple weeks.
    3.  Paint heals and frogs with Hooflex or Molimentum.
    
    Mary Jo

Here's another vote for the TUFF-STUFF!

My horse had it figured that if he can pull his shoes off at least
once a week, he could make me have one of the *most* entertaining fits.  I've
since learned to make sure his turnouts dont have any wire fencing and
to use the TUFF-STUFF.  Not only does it make the hoof stronger and
retain moisture, but it also helps to keep the nail holes sealed keeping
the shoe on longer.  Louie's feet have shown a remarkable difference.

I had a dickens of a time finding this stuff other than ordering
it through my farrier.  Now one of the local tack stores carries it.
From time to time, I notice an add for it in 'Practical Horseman'.

jan

    YO JANICE!
    
    You would thing that by working in the SAME building, we would see each
    other more often!
    
    Yes, I have used DX-510... my vet recommened it.  I used it for  6
    months and did not notice anything new.  I do feed Source also, and
    decided to quit the DX.
    
    I also let the water buckets overflow.  My nags also do not spend
    e'nuff time in the puddle.  So, I do their feet every-other day.
    I have not found anything I am thrilled with yet, so I have elected to
    use up what I have collected since moving here.  One day I use
    Superhoof spray (when I am pressed for time - it is quick to just spray
    on), Hoofmaker, Hooflex and the tan yecky stuff in the green can that
    costs big $$$$$$ (Maybe Rainmaker? or rain-something).
    
    When I feed at night I hose down where they are standing as they eat. 
    I hose their legs and really wet the ground.  This usually stays good and 
    wet until morning.  
    
    Even with all this, Cody's feet have already gone down one size in his
    horseshoes!  His feet are not contracted, my farrier says this usually
    happens to desert horses.  Janice, this may not happen to you in the
    GREEN, GREEN cattletown of GILBERT!  heh-heh-heh...

    You may be doing only half of what's needed by getting their feet wet
    with hosing, puddles, etc.  All that water will dry their feet even
    more if you do not seal it in.  Yes, you need to get water into their
    feet but unless you put something on while the water is in the hoof
    tissues, it will only draw out *more* of the hoof's natural moisture
    as it dries.  So do the water, but be *sure* to put some sort of
    dressing on afterwards.

    What about cheap corn oil? Someone recommended it to me because
    Jasper's hooves would crack even using .... (forgot the name) at $$$.
    SO I bought the cheapest oil I could find. For the real hot, dry
    months, I would wet his hooves and then apply the corn oil. Seemed to
    work fine for the years that I had him.
    			Cindy

    One old remedy we use is pine tar and linseed oil...three parts pine
    tar to one part linseed.  We also fed Source.
    
    When painting it on we avoided the frog unless it was "super" dry.
    
    GOOD LUCK...you will out of all these notes you will find something
    that works.
    
    Kathie
    

    
    
    You might want to try packing your horses's feet with Forshner's
    medicated hoof packing.  It comes in a tub and has pine tar and several
    other things that provide moisture for the foot.  It is black and about
    the same consistency of Play-doh.  
    
    To use it, you just dig some out of the can, roll it into a ball and 
    then push it down into the bars and around the frog until it is leval 
    with the bottom of the shoe.  I then put brown paper from grocery sacks 
    on the bottom to hold the packing in and then wrap duct tape around the 
    foot a couple of times to hold everything together.  I leave the packing 
    in for a couple of days and then take the duct tape off and clean out the 
    foot.  I have also found Forshners to be excellent when used with oakum
    under pads.  The medication in the packing helps to prevent thrush.
    
    I generally pack my mare's feet once a week in the summer as the
    summers here in Colorado tend to be very hot and dry.  
    
    
    Pat
    

                Another vote for pine tar and linseed oil.  It's
    fairly inexpensive and it works like a charm.  
    
                      Bob

    re.4
    
    
    flooding the watering area is proably your best bet, 
    i agree with you i never really found anything was i impressed with.
    I stopped using them and didnt really noticed a difference to be
    honest.
    
    
    	wendy o'
    
    

    I scrub off the dirt, using a scrubbing brush & water from
    the hose, making sure I soak the feet thoroughly.  Then
    I use Hoofmaker or Hooflex, and let the horse stand on
    a clean surface for 30 mins or so to let the stuff soak
    in.  Then I put another coat on all four hooves.
    I do this right before they go in the stall, so that
    the stuff can have a chance to sink in and not get rubbed
    off by the bedding.                             
    
    Lynne