Herbal Body Wash and Liniment Recipes for Horses (or Humans)

03/21/2010 in Horse Health, Stuff That Works by HoofSmart

Arnica montana botanical illustration

Arnica montana

(updated 07-24-10)

Use these skin-soothing body wash and liniment recipes on your horse (or yourself) after exercise – to remove sweat, to tone skin, and to treat bruising, sprains, or pulled or sore muscles.

Post-workout Skin and Muscle Soother Body Wash

1/2 cup dried flowers Calendula officinalis or Arnica montana
Quart jar of water
1 cup white or apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1 tbsp liquid dish soap
Few drops lime, lavender, rosemary, or peppermint essential oil

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Mix a Moisturizing Hoof Disinfectant Spray

03/15/2010 in Hoof Care, Hoof Treatments, Stuff That Works by HoofSmart

ingredients for moisturizing hoof spray

Use these supplies to mix your own moisturizing hoof disinfectant spray.

This gentle, simple formula for a moisturizing spray disinfects, deodorizes, and softens a horse’s hooves prior to trimming.  Helps treat and prevent thrush.  May also be used as a wound cleanser.

What You’ll Need:

8 oz trigger spray bottle

6 oz bottle of glycerin

2 oz bottle of tea tree oil

Dropper top

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Make Hoof Trimming Easier with the Right Rasp

03/12/2010 in Hoof Care by HoofSmart | 1 comment

two hoof raspsTrimming hooves is hard work and requires a fair amount of strength, so why not make it easier by treating yourself to a nice, sharp, high-quality rasp?  Lower quality rasps cost less, but aren’t very sharp even when new, and quickly get even duller with use.

Which rasp to choose?

I’ve been using Heller Legend 14” hoof rasps for some time, but Bellota, Simonds, and Wood-Miller brands are also excellent quality at reasonable prices – ranging from the Simonds Black Master at around $25 each to the Wood-Miller at around $17.  Bellota and Heller Legend rasps are in the middle of the pack, at around $20 each. The higher priced rasps in this group tend to stay sharp through more trims, so you get what you pay for.

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Maps of Horse Trails in Bankhead National Forest

03/08/2010 in Forms & Documents, Training & Riding by HoofSmart | 2 comments

map of horse trails in bankhead national forest

This map of the horse trails in Bankhead National Forest, Lawrence County, Alabama, shows the three main trail loops, roads, parking areas, trail mileages, and water sources.

Follow the directions below to make your own pocket (or saddlebag) size waterproof map of the designated horse trails at Bankhead National Forest.

  1. Print the pdf document linked below.
  2. Fold in half crosswise and lengthwise, with both maps facing the outside.
  3. Seal the folded map in a sandwich-size plastic zipper bag
  4. Stow the map in a pocket or saddlebag
  5. Hit the trail!

Print this pocket-sized, double-sided mini map of Bankhead Forest horse trails.

The trails marked on the maps linked above are designated horse trails, located in the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area, Bankhead National Forest, Lawrence County, Alabama.   Read the rest of this entry »

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Look Inside a Hoof with White Line Disease

03/05/2010 in Hoof Anatomy, Hoof Disorders by HoofSmart

The photo below shows a closeup view of a hoof with a fairly advanced case of white line disease. The infection has destroyed the inner unpigmented layer of the hoof wall, leaving behind a v-shaped slot between the dark-colored outer wall and the yellowish white line.

Because it is difficult to medicate the active disease at the top of such a deep cavity, the hoof wall has been cut away and diseased tissue has been removed.

labeled photo of hoof infected with white line disease

White line disease is an infection that can attack and destroy large areas of your horse’s hoof wall.

Click to view larger photo.

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