Can Hoof Clay Save the Day?

Artimud works even in the rain and mud

For a lot of us, it’s still the wet season and we are constantly on the lookout for trouble brewing in our horse’s feet.  Thrush can be nasty and if not treated can lead to persistent lameness.  Yeast infections and white line disease can also be a problem when the ground is wet.  

When selecting a good treatment either to clear up an infection or to prevent one, the first goal is ‘do no harm.’  Some topical products and do it yourself concoctions include ingredients that can damage the hoof.  They may be great at cleaning up the infection but they also damage the healthy structures of the hoof and open the door for repeat infections.  

The second goal, in my opinion, is to use a product that is long-lasting.  This goal is a little harder to reach when the ground your horse is walking on includes mud and puddles.  How long is that product you sprayed, or brushed on, going to really last?  

The good news is, I have a solution that meets both of these goals.  Hoof Clay (or Mud) is a great option for these wetter months and really does last.  Confession here, the first time I was told that I could apply Aritimud and let my horse out in the mud I really did not believe it was going to last longer than a few minutes.  I was proven wrong.

Since my first experience with hoof clay, I’ve tried a few different brands and really like the products offered by Red Horse Products LTD.  Below is my review of their Artimud.  

ARTIMUD

The ingredients of Artimud naturally fights bacteria and fungi while supporting the healthy tissues on the hoof.  The eucalyptus oil is antifungal and antibacterial and you will like the smell it gives this clay.  I’ve tried some hoof treatments that stink so bad I don’t care how good they work.

Artimud has a base of green french clay. This clay creates an almost putty-like consistency.  The clay can be rubbed into small cracks and along the frog.  Here is the part that really impresses me.  I’ve gone back to horses three, even 5 days later to pick their feet out and found Artimud still present in the grooves along the frog (central and lateral sulci).  Try that with a brush-on application product!

Case Study – Pogo the Pony

One particular pony I have is a rescue.  He grows heel like crazy and had very narrow hooves with deep groves when I got him. I figured along with thrush he also had a fungal infection going on since they stunk when I’d pick them out.  My plan of attack with him was to soak his feet in apple cider vinegar for about 5 minutes.  After the soak, I dried them and applied the hoof clay.  About two days later I picked out his feet and was shocked.  I expected to see hoof clay because of my experience with other horses. What surprised me was the nice healthy grey color around the frog instead of the black it had been. Now that his hooves are spreading, the center sulcus in the middle of the frog is also spreading.  It’s still deep and can get stinky.  Every week I clean them and press the mud as deep as I can get in there. I know it’s benefitting his frog for days.  

If you have a bad case, especially in the frog or toe where you can’t reach the full infection I highly recommend this treatment of soaking the hoof in apple cider vinegar and then applying the hoof mud.

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