25 replies to this topic

[eventchick218]

Hello!

I am new to this forum but I was reading some posts from a couple years ago and it looks like someone has a "home-made" recipe for Keratex? I just bought a bottle of it and experienced some pretty severe sticker shock ($45 for one bottle!) Would anyone mind sharing their home-made version with me? I have heard that people have great results with it, so I would like to continue using it, I would just like it to be affordable! Thanks!

[Ruth]

Hi eventchick and Welcome to Horsetrace.

Our member Loraine Patrick is the lady who has given out the recipe. Unfortunately she is on holiday this week. Hopefully one of our other members can supply it for you.

In the meantime, why not tell us about yourself and your horse/s

[ybhorsey]

Hello welcome!!

Not me I'm afraid but I'm to try a new bedding thats good for feet that you may know something about out in the states, its called Red Bed and is a baked clay granule?

[eventchick218]

Thanks guys! I haven't heard of Red Bed yet, but I will certainly be "googling" it as soon as I'm finished with this reply!

I'm 26 years old and live in Florida with my husband, two dogs (Nano - Jack Russell and Griffon - Min Pin) and my new horse Reno (aka Folsom Blues) I grew up riding and competed mainly in Hunter/Jumper stuff. Then I went to college and got married and lost touch with the horses for about two years (which drove me nuts!) This past March I told my husband I was finding a barn and I was going to take lessons again. After two lessons I had the fever and knew I needed my own horse. Luckily, he was at the barn that I had started riding at! Reno is a 7 year old 16.1 h TB gelding (not off the track) and I am going to compete with him in some low level eventing stuff. I have never done eventing but from what I have learned in the past 6 months I really love it and am looking forward to competing in our first 3-Phase show on November 3rd.

I started reading this board in search of a "cure" for his front right hoof. Whoever was shoeing him before I got him was not the brightest bulb on the tree. His two front feet looked like they belonged to two different horses. The front right is very upright and small, the front left is wider and much lower in the heel. The front right has always had problems keeping the shoe on and it is now to the point that the farrier can't even get a shoe on the hoof anymore. I am having him remove the three remaining shoes and will leave Reno barefoot for as long as it takes to grow out that front right hoof.

In the meantime, I want to do everything I can to strengthen his hooves. I already have him on a biotin supplement (40mg/day) as well as regular gelatin. I bought Keratex and have been using it for about a week now. I am curious to see how he does without the shoes. I have been hearing a lot about people transitioning their horses to being barefoot and I'm not opposed to the idea as long as he is sound and comfortable without them. Any thoughts? I plan on using the Keratex long enough to toughen up his soles and his hoof wall, then I will stop using it as I have read that many people are convinced of the negative effects of long term use.

Well, if you made it all the way through my rambling I appreciate it! Thanks for the welcome and for any additional ideas you might have!

[Cathy]

Hello, if thats Reno in your avatar he is gorgeous.

Is it possibly a club foot hes got? I was looking at a horse yesterday with one, three normal hooves and one very upright and boxy.

Good luck with the eventing!

[eventchick218]

Hello! Thank you! Yes, that's Reno, I'm quite partial to him I haven't thought about a club foot. I'll mention it to my trainer and farrier. I don't think it is only because when I bought him both my trainer and the previous owner told me that his feet used to be wonderful, they both looked the same and were very well balanced. The farrier they had been using moved so they switched to someone he recommended for about a year and he ruined Reno's feet. But a club foot is definitely a possibility and I will be reading up on that today and suggesting it to my farrier when he comes tomorrow. Thanks for the idea!

[ybhorsey]

Hi again.. hope you found the red bed stuff (This is the UK link http://www.red-horse.co.uk./index.htm though it is a product from the states) its brilliant for transitioning horse to barefoot as it has excellent exfoliating properties. There is lots of info about moving horses over to shoeless out there but its kind of hard as some of it goes aginst the grain walking them over gravel and tubbing the feet in water!!

Just to add further fuel to your investigation.. I have a 15 yr old Arab, she has always had great feet but she had an accident when she was 10 and broke her shoulder, her hoof on that leg stopped weight bearing and became very upright and boxy, it took about 3 years to change it and it is still slightly different. Perhaps your georgeous lad has had an accident that has made him bear weight unevenly.. they then do it out of habit?!

[Ruth]

He looks a lovely horse. My little pony has a boxy club foot. Over a few years my farrier has gradually lowered the heel and, although it is not 100%, it does look so much better.

I was reading about that new bedding recently YB.

[eventchick218]

Hello again!

I have taken some pictures of Reno's confirmation and hooves. I have posted them on the website you guys recommended, www.horseshoes.com. I just wanted to give you all the link to see if you had any additional ideas. I think you are right about the club foot, my farrier came out today and looked at him and agreed that it definitely was clubbed. Anyway, here's the link. http://renosfeet.blogspot.com Thanks again!

- Kristen

[Della]

Well hello there Kristen and WELCOME to HT!!

It's nice to see someone who lives a little closer to my 'neck of the woods!'

[ybhorsey]

Hes so georgeous!! No wonder you're in love!

His foot is quite different.. he seems to be standing a little back on his heels too, though the width from heel bulbs looks about a credit car width (Which I'm told is about right!!) Hows he doing, does he appear at all lame?
What did your farrier suggest?

[Ruth]

Do you mind if I ask a friend from another forum board, she is really good with this sort of thing. She is not a farrier but has had to study hooves as there are no farriers in a hundred miles of where she is, so she took a long course. She doesn't claim to be any expert, but her opinions I find are very sound.

[eventchick218]

Please feel free to ask anyone you can think of! I am admitedly lacking in this department and am soliciting advice and ideas from everyone I possibly can. Right now he is dead lame, can barely shuffle along. I was extremely upset and called my trainer to discuss the situation with her. She said it is to be expected as it has been a long time since he has gone barefoot. She said it should last about 4 days until his feet toughen up and then he will start to be more sound. It breaks my heart to see my gorgeous event horse hobbling around the barn! I feel like I've broken him! Here is the link to the whole story that I posted on www.horseshoes.com. I'm still waiting for a reply from some of the farriers on that site as well. Thanks for the nice welcome everyone and your suggestions so far!

PS - Hi Della! Fun to find someone on the same continent! My husband is from Calgary, so we have even more of a connection! We were just up there for Stampede this summer and had a ball!

[Sian]

Hi Eventchick! Welcome to HT!
Reno certainly is a stunning chappie. I can't help much with his foot problem but I just wanted to say - when the recipie for 'Keratex' comes available please can I have it too!! I have a pony with concave soles and his feet get quite sore when the ground is hard, maybe using that would toughen his soles up a bit?
All the best with Reno's foot.
Sian

[Denise]

Welcome to HT Evenchick

I also own a TB. Biotin takes a while to kick in but does the trick for cracks and definitely strengthens the hoof. I have only ever had problems with Mins feet when I have left her unshod as a youngster she got low in the heel and flat in the foot.

I love TBs but not their feet!!!

[eventchick218]

I certainly agree with you there! I will most likely always own TB's and I will most likely always be battling with their feet! Sian, I will definitely send you the recipe for Keratex as soon as I get it. I've heard rumors that Loraine has it but is on vacation right now. Hopefully she will come home soon, I'm starting to run out of my first bottle and I definitely don't want to pay the high price for a second one!

[Ruth]

Well, Loraine was here today and headed for home tonight. I said that you wanted the recipe so she should be on soon.

[Sian]

Loraine - when you read this - hope you had a nice and very well deserved holiday!

[ybhorsey]

Yay Lorraine, hope it was great but we've missed you!!

[Loraine Patrick]

Hi Girlies ,
I'm just about to pm you with the 'recipe'...... won't be a tick. All done.
I missed you too guys, no pc so no HT, no news no goss, back now though and catching up....

[Rachel & Rockstar]

Hello! I'm new here and was searching for help in toughening up the sole of my horses feet - he's 3 1/2 years and not shod yet. After a recent belt of snow I believe his feet have become sore - any chance I could get the receipe for the 'homemade' keratex please or any other tips on this matter?

Many thanks,

Rachel

[Ruth]

Hi Rachel and Welcome.

If yoyu click on the PM button at the bottom corner of Loraine's post above this one, send her a message and I am sure she will give you the recipe.

Please come back and tell us about your horse, and what your plans are.

[Henryhorse]

Hi

I'm new too and have an extremely thin soled arab. I too have just bought a bottle of keratex to see if it really does make a difference!! The recipe would be a godsend if someone could send it to me please!!!

Henry (or Muzcovado as he is registered) is a 13 year old bay arab gelding. I've had him on loan for 9 years and last month his owner gifted me half of him so now we are joint owners! We regularly compete in Endurance riding and achieved top competitive arab at the regional awards for 2009 and 2nd in the nationals!

His soles are causing me no end of issues as I'm now having to pick and choose which rides to do

Look forward to getting to know everyone!

[Ruth]

Hi henryhorse and Welcome to Horsetrace.

I will see what I can do to obtain the 'recipe' for you.

Love to see some photos of your horse

[Henryhorse]

Hi Ruth

As soon as I manage to log on at home I'll upload some.
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