Healing Hoof Clay
One of the biggest issues I see regarding horses hoof health is thrush. For example, in Northwest Arkansas, our horses live in a very wet muddy environment approximately 9 months out of the year which creates an ideal breeding ground for fungus, bacteria, and yeast. I commonly see deep central sulcus frog infections that have traveled so deep as to affect the live tissue beneath the external structures. These infections can cause extreme acute pain.
If the infection is not treated it can damage the frog spine which can take 3-5 years to rebuild itself and completely heal. Central sulcus infections can create heel pain which in turn causes the horse to weight its hoof toe first. This new footfall can then cause a variety of hoof pathologies and overall body issues.
Many products you can buy at the feed store to treat thrush must be applied daily to be effective, can harm live tissue, and some even contain known cancer causing Ingredients. All Healing Hoof Clays contain all natural food grade ingredients that soothe on contact.
My first rule of hoof care is “Do no harm.” Healing Hoof Clay will kill a variety of fungus, bacteria, and yeast without harming live tissue.
Recommended use: Designed for the topical treatment of fungus (thrush), bacteria, and yeast in horses hooves. Can be used on Barefoot horses, shod horses, under pads, in boots, under glue-on shoes, under casting material, and under Formahoof.
Frequency of Application: A thin film or a thick coating can be applied daily. For best results, it is recommended that Healing Hoof Clay is applied at a minimum of 1 to 2 times a week for horses with active infections. As a preventive, apply 1 time per week.
How to apply: If you have no known allergies to the active Ingredients listed, Healing Hoof Clay is safe to apply with your bare hands! The zinc oxide provides a water proofing quality that will be difficult to wash off but is also why the clay stays in the hoof for days after being applied. Apply a thin or thick film at your discretion to any and all infected areas. For deep central sulcus infections, you will need a blunt tool (usually a hoof pick) to push the clay in and reach all the way to the bottom of the infected cleft. This area when infected can be quite sensitive and painful, so do this in the safest way possible for your situation.
Warning: Some horses that have existing painful infections can have an aversion to having their hooves treated. If the horse you are trying to treat is being reactive in a way that could cause you physical harm, seek the help of your hoof care provider or another professional to help you treat the infected area. Healing Hoof Clay will not sting or cause the horse more pain. It should actually soothe the infected areas immediately after application. This pain relief usually helps to create a new positive association for having their hooves treated in the future.
