Magnesium Chloride

I was also under the impression that being thin soled was an inherited thing and can be 'managed' but not fundamentally altered.

After Apollo's injury he had a lot of complications relating to his feet (not specifically being thin soled, but he is tender on hard surfaces now and needs to be managed differently). I found a high level biotin supplement most helpful, in helping with the quality of new growth. That being said, biotin must be fed everyday and for quite some time before it really starts to have a noticeable effect.

I was also going to suggest Venice Turpentine. I have been using it on Benny and it works like a charm. It is cheap and works way better than other stuff I have used in the past. Just be sure not to get it on anything as it is a real bugger to get off. I have found it is easier to apply when slightly warmed. Benny is also on a biotin supplement and you can now notice the difference it has made in his feet. For me the Venice Turpentine and the biotin is a winning combination.

I unfortunately have never heard of Magnesium Chloride for feet (or anything really) but will be googling tonight to read up on it! One can never have too much knowledge. If I come across anything interesting I will post it here.

found this:

balance the minerals www.drkellon.com
Feed straight grass hay (take away alfalfa and oat)
boot 24×7 or glue on synthetic shoes or boot shells
add boots for all exercise if left barefoot
change the environment to be non abrasive ; add soft dirt, saw dust, move to a soft pasture
change the trim technique to NOT trim sole and to let the walls get to be 1/8 to 1/4″ beyond the sole
Try Keratex applied daily. www.keratex.net/hoof_hardener.htm “Keratex Hoof Hardener is a gentle acting chemical formulation which forms additional intermolecular bonds between molecules of keratin through the process of cross-linking. Keratin is the main protein constituent of horn and is best described as the building block of the horn structure.”
Try Hoof Armor www.hoofarmor.com/ “Hoof Armor® hoof protection is an easily applied adhesive coating that Farriers and horse owners alike can utilize to protect their barefoot horse’s hooves against abrasion and wear.”

Biotin supplements do take a long time to work, and like Horselover said, it is not the biotin alone that does it, it need to be combined with other ingredients.

The stuff Benny is currently on (and that I am very happy with) is called GroHoof. greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=HOO4521&stricSKU=HOO4521

It did take about 7 months of feeding it every day before I saw improvement in the quality of the new growth of his hooves. Now that it has been about a year and a half the improvement in his feet is dramatic (significantly less chipping and cracking, faster growth and easier to deal with the few cracks he had prior to me buying him)

The one I used with Apollo was Leaps and Bounds marystack.com/leaps-and-bounds-equine-hoof-supplement-1lb/
This one was recommended by the vet that was treating him at the time. While it does still take a while to work, I did notice improvement faster than with the GroHoof (about 4 months). That could just be the difference between Apollo and Benny, or the fact Apollo had nowhere to go but up from where he was when he was started on it vs Benny whose existing hoof quality was Ok.

I will try and get a pic of his feet to share. The issue is not his hoof wall - his hooves never crack or chip at all anymore. And when I say a trim every 6 weeks it is more like a rasping to keep his heels low and his toes rolled. All 4 of our horses feet look amazing after switching farriers. Steve's issue is most definitely the sole being too thin - and our farrier does not ever touch his sole - so I know that is not the issue.

I hope the mud clears up enough to get some pics. Expecting a few inches of tonight so maybe things will firm up enough for a pic tomorrow.

The Magnesium Chloride is something I am very interested in trying. Neither Remission or Heiro have enough Magnesium to really make too much of a difference. My vet said give it a try and let him know what I see.