For fans of Zulu, the big lug

He's awesome! Have you tried treating his feet with something to harden them? I am using venice turpentine on my girl who has tender feet and it helps tremendously.

Zulu is so darn cute! You can't help but love the gentle giants. Hope you find the cause of his tender feet.
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Ooooh I lurv him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the pics!!! Too cute!

Dumb question, where do you get Venice Turpentine?

His feet "seem' to be really hard. The sole seems thick and is a bit "scaly", I mean you can see layers of material. He was unreactive to hoof testers 3 weeks ago when she pinched him.

But thanks all. There is just something about this horse that really does make you want to hug him. His gentleness is uttely endearing. And he really wants to please the rider, except when he is saying, "No, I really do want to go back home".

Once I was riding him behind a friend, and when at a canter up a hill he could not go as fast as he wanted, he threw a buck that felt like an elevator going up behind me. AMAZING mass and momentum.

If it is just him being tender footed, I have had success with Keratex Hoof Hardener.
It is a little spendy $38 for a bottle but you don't have to put it on everyday and a little bit goes a long way. It is not an oil or a sealer so the hoof is allowed to breath it actually strengthens the hoof horn.

I have found venice turpitine at any tack/feed store that carries hoof products. And I ordered the Keratex from Horse.com.

TINY

Where you say he seems to have very hard feet I would use Forshners Hoof Packing it stays in till you take it out easy to pack feet. Helps soften hardened frogs contracted heels etc etc. I use it on my big guys as they tend to get ouchy in the summer. I also use Rain maker along just the coronary band and add farriers Formula to their feed. Good feet start from the inside out.
I soooo love your big guy!!

TRR

Very cute! My fave is the one in the middle. She-woman!

LOt of good advice here. I am a total newbie when it comes to hoof care. Z is out on pasture 24/7. He never gets grain or supplements. It would be a bit hard to do, but not impossible . One has to go out and find him on the 40 acres every time you want him, and fend off the 12 other horses if you feed grain/supplements. I dont' mind doing it for a limited amount of time, or like 3 or 4 times a week. But, he is not that close to my house , so is nto that easy to do any kind of daily supplement.

My farrier said to use the venice turpentine (I got it at Tractor Supply) for 2 to 3 times a week the first couple of weeks, then once a week after that until she doesn't have ouchy feet. Then I guess only use it when she starts getting tender.