Worst Hoofs I've Ever Seen. Need Advice.

I use Crudbusters (not sure who makes it) and MTG both with great results for scrathes. I have a friend that also uses Watkins Ointment (for people) and she swears by it for scratches but I've never used it!

I have never used that line that you are talking about, hopefully other people can help you with that.

No question is dumb when your trying to help a horse. Your actually being very smart by asking instead of protecting your ego. =)
You can go to a local horse supplier and get a solution called "Riotte"or you can search around for a different brand name. You could also get a spray bottle and mix it with warm water and a teaspoon of bleach and spray it on the infected area. The only way to 100% help is to put the horse in a dry area.

If the horse is having any problems picking the hoof up, walking or doing normal activities he could have an abscess. If it is one it might look like a bruise or a dark area. Get the farrier out to dig it out. To treat them you can get over the counter things and soak it. And provide a clean area.

Desensitizing her (by just handling her feet daily, for gradually longer periods of time) will help her get over her issue with pulling her foot back.

You could get some protective boots for her feet right now too...they have ones that go up and over the pastern a good ways...this may help keep her foot dryer, and help heal the scratches (as Equestriun said, those may not totally heal until she is dry for a long time!); I have had good success with simply washing a horse's fetlocks with a good medicated shampoo daily, and applying chlorhexadine to them 2 times a day. Keeping her clean as possible is the key here, so whatever 'medication' you choose, you will want to hose her fetlocks off before you apply it. Try to trim any excess hair away from her fetlocks as well, because all that excess will keep extra moisture in, which is what you don't want...get rid of it, so that even when she's out in the paddock, if she finds a fairly dry spot, she will dry fairly quickly.

ok more relevant questioin, since I've been researching online for days. How can I tell if I need hoof hardener as opposed to something like RainMaker for cracked/dry hoofs? I can't imagine needing them within the same month. My vet says I need hardener, but I'd still like to know how to tell which one I need.

While I would say since she is standing in mud she doesn't need a hoof moisturizer.

You know what would also be a great thing to do? Talk to another vet. Not saying your vet doesn't know what he/she is talking about but it's always good to get some fresh eyes on the situation. And two opinions are always better than one!

That's my whole goal. I have two vets, two farriers, lots of horse knowledgeable friends, and recently this topic in the forums. -although I cannot get in contact with my vet recently... or my farrier.
I am a collector of opinions lately.

Again a big thank you to everyone for you help!!!

Look into her diet - hooves grow from the coronary band downwards

Good feet are a combination of good farriery , good diet and good maintenance, if any part is missing then the end result will not be complete (e.g. you can have the best diet and farrier in the world but if you don't clean out your horses feet then you'll get thrush )

If your horse has foundered in the past and has rotation then you obviously need to be careful what you feed her but if vital parts of her nutrition are missing she will always have weak feet.

Hardeners and moisturisers are all very good but they don't contribute to the new growth or the real strength of the hoof .

I would wash her legs down daily but she is over an hour away from me and I cannot find an affordable stable closer by. :(

hence the biotin supplements. is there anything else I should look into

I know of two ways to teach a horse to lay down.

One method is quick and rough, and forces the horse onto the floor ( I don't do this as I don't agree with this method )

The way I teach involves holding one leg off the floor - and as you have a problem with this I don't think it would help at the moment.

As your horse is willing to pick her feet up it dosen't sound like she is being naughty. It is probable that there is extra discomfort in the leg that remains on the floor as it will be taking the extra weight. Try tending to the feet in short bursts - it may take longer but you will be causing your horse less pain, and she will be less likely to come to resent picking her feet up. Picking her feet up should get easier as her feet improve.

One of my horses has trashed legs and I rotate legs quickly, spending only a minute or two on each leg. I also only do one pair at a time - leaving severall hours ( if not days ) between tending the front pair and the back pair.