Hoof Care & Boots
Good hoof care comes down to four things: pick feet out daily, condition the horn so it stays flexible, support growth from the inside with the right feed, and protect the foot with a boot when the ground or a barefoot lifestyle demands it. This collection covers all four, with 349 hoof care products from trusted names like Keratex, Kevin Bacon's, Cavallo, Woof Wear, NAF and Carr & Day & Martin. Hoof picks start at £1.12, conditioning oils from £5, and in-stock hoof boots include the Woof Wear Medical Hoof Boot at £36.99.
In a hurry? Quick picks:
- Everyday essential: Shires Hoof Pick/Brush — £1.12, the daily non-negotiable.
- Dry, cracked hooves: Kevin Bacons Hoof Dressing Original — £20.70 for 1 litre, a farrier favourite for conditioning.
- Soft soles or crumbly walls: Keratex Hoof Hardener — £25.87 for 250ml.
- Poulticing or a lost shoe: Woof Wear Medical Hoof Boot — £36.99, sizes H2 to H8 in stock.
- Barefoot hacking: Cavallo Entry Level Boot — £68.02.
Which hoof care product does my horse actually need?
| Your situation | What to reach for | Good in-stock pick | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily mud, stones and routine checks | Hoof pick | Shires Hoof Pick/Brush | £1.12 |
| Dull, dry horn that chips | Conditioning oil or dressing | Kevin Bacons Hoof Dressing Original (1L) | £20.70 |
| Budget shine before a show | Traditional hoof oil | Carr & Day & Martin Vanner & Prest Hoof Oil (500ml) | £7.07 |
| Soft, weak horn in wet conditions | Hoof hardener | Keratex Hoof Hardener (250ml) | £25.87 |
| Slow, weak hoof growth | Biotin-based supplement | Hilton Herbs Hoof & Health With Biotin (2kg) | £15.45 |
| Poulticing, abscess dressing or a lost shoe | Medical hoof boot | Woof Wear Medical Hoof Boot | £36.99 |
| Barefoot horse on stony tracks | Riding hoof boot | Cavallo Entry Level Boot | £68.02 |
What does a good hoof care routine look like?
Start simple. Pick out all four feet every day — before and after riding — checking the frog and sole for stones, smells or heat as you go. A basic tool does the job perfectly: the Shires Hoof Pick/Brush is £1.12 and the Lincoln Hoof Pick is £1.63, both in a choice of colours. Then, two or three times a week (or daily in very dry or very wet spells), apply a conditioner to help the horn keep a healthy moisture balance. Popular in-stock choices include Silverfeet Hoof Balm (400ml, £11.83), Keratex Hoof Gel (from £13.39) and the Lincoln Hoof Oil Spray (£6.18) if you'd rather spray than brush. Applying is easy with a dedicated brush — the Shires Plastic Hoof Oil Brush is £1.80.
Hoof oil, balm, hardener or moisturiser — what's the difference?
Oils and dressings (like Kevin Bacons Hoof Dressing Original, £20.70 for 1 litre) condition the horn and give that classic finish. Balms (like Keratex Coconut Oil Hoof Balm, £15.72) are thicker and act as a barrier in wet, muddy conditions. Hardeners (Keratex Hoof Hardener, £25.87 for 250ml) strengthen soft or crumbling horn — useful for unshod horses and wet winters. Moisturisers (Keratex Hoof Moisturiser, 500ml, £12.44, or NAF Pro Feet Hoof Moist, 900g, £16.07) put flexibility back into brittle, cracked feet in dry summers. If your horse's frogs need attention in muddy conditions, Kevin Bacons Hoof Solution (150ml, £24.95) and Lincoln Pine Tar Spray (£8.70) help maintain a healthy frog and sole — though anything that looks infected or makes your horse lame is a call to your vet or farrier first.
Which hoof boots fit which job?
There are two very different kinds of hoof boot, and mixing them up is the most common ordering mistake we see.
Medical and poultice boots
The Woof Wear Medical Hoof Boot (£36.99, sizes H2 to H8 in stock) keeps poultices and dressings clean and secure during turnout or box rest, and doubles as protection for a lost shoe. For the dressing itself, the VetSet Poldress Hoof Poultice is £2.62.
Riding and turnout boots for barefoot horses
Cavallo boots are built for regular ridden work on unshod feet. The Cavallo Entry Level Boot (£68.02) is a sensible first boot; the Cavallo Trek Regular Sole (from £85.63) suits more mileage on tougher ground; and the Cavallo Simple Boot and Cavallo Sport Boot Regular (both £139.34) are the step up for serious hacking. Comfort extras like the Cavallo Comfort Sleeve (£17.30) and Cavallo Cushion Pad (5mm, £12.56) help fine-tune the fit. Sizing is based on careful measurement of the hoof after a fresh trim — if you're unsure between sizes, get in touch and our team will help.
Do hoof supplements make a difference?
Hoof horn grows from the coronet band down, so what your horse eats today becomes the hoof you see months from now. Supplements with biotin, methionine and zinc are formulated to support healthy horn growth — they support the hoof rather than fix it overnight, and consistency matters more than brand. In-stock options at different budgets include Hilton Herbs Hoof & Health With Biotin (2kg, £15.45), Dodson & Horrell Hoof Support (1.5kg, £18.44), Horse First Hoof First (from £19.65) and Equimins Hoof Mender 75 Powder (from £23.19). If hooves are persistently poor despite good farriery and feeding, ask your vet to investigate — diet or health issues can sit behind weak horn.
Repairs, cracks and nail holes
For horn that's already damaged, Keratex Hoof Putty (£13.47) fills cracks and cavities to keep dirt out, and Keratex Nail Hole Damage Repair (£16.64) disinfects and protects old nail holes after shoes come off. These support the hoof while it grows out — structural cracks and anything causing lameness need your farrier's eyes first.
Hoof care questions we're asked most
How often should I apply hoof oil?
Two or three times a week suits most horses, applied to clean, picked-out feet. In very dry weather a moisturising product helps stop horn becoming brittle; in constant wet, switch to a barrier balm or a hardener instead — too much moisture is as much of a problem as too little.
How do I size a hoof boot?
Measure the hoof's width at its widest point and length from toe to buttress, ideally within a week of a fresh trim, then check the maker's size chart — Cavallo and Woof Wear each use their own. If the measurement falls between sizes, get in touch and our team will help before you order.
Can hoof boots replace shoes?
For many horses in light to moderate work, yes — boots like the Cavallo range protect a bare hoof only when it needs it and come off afterwards. Whether barefoot suits your horse depends on its feet, workload and ground, so plan the change with your farrier or a barefoot trimmer.
How long before a hoof supplement shows results?
Be patient — a hoof takes roughly nine to twelve months to grow from coronet to ground, so expect to feed a supplement consistently for several months before new, stronger horn reaches where you can see it. Supplements support growth; they can't repair horn that's already grown.
What helps soft hooves in wet weather?
Limit standing in mud where you can, pick feet out daily, and use a hoof hardener such as Keratex on the sole and lower wall to help strengthen soft horn. A barrier balm keeps excess water out between applications. If the foot smells bad or your horse turns lame, involve your vet or farrier promptly.
My horse is suddenly lame — which product should I buy?
None yet — sudden lameness needs a vet or farrier diagnosis first, because abscesses, bruising and more serious problems all look similar from the outside. Once you know what you're dealing with, products like a poultice and a medical hoof boot support the treatment your professional recommends.
Not sure which oil, supplement or boot suits your horse? Get in touch and our team will help you narrow it down.
Free UK delivery over £50 · 90-day returns · Expert help
Last reviewed 2026-07-19 by the Just Horse Riders team.