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Maintaining the Magnificent Clydesdale
Hoof and Hide Re-discovering an old
time secret |
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Whether
focused on winning events and competitions, selling a champion-bred horse, or caring
for a working horse or beloved, giant, equine friend, maintaining healthy
hoofs is paramount for your Clydesdale, perhaps more than any other breed. Healthy
soles and strong hoofs are integral to performing their work pulling carriage,
cart, hitch, plough or sleigh. These super-sized feet need to be vital to grip
the roadway, ground or snow surface. Dealing
with white feet in preparation for the show ring is also important. Other
breeds of draft horses, such as Belgian and Percheron, have dark hoofs which
their owners paint a shiny black for the show ring. The Clydesdale hoof is
naturally white and presents a showmanship challenge. All
horse owners and barn managers must contend with a wide range of skin, mane,
tail problems, cuts and wounds, even sunburn. What
are owners, drivers, winners in the show ring and top breeders using in their
health care regime to maintain and enhance the Clydesdale hoof and skin? Many
have discovered a Canadian-made product, Fiske’s Hoof & Hide Balm. Fiske’s Hoof & Hide Balm is both a regular maintenance product and a treatment remedy for a wide range of foot, skin and muscle conditions affecting horses and all livestock. It is a blend of natural ingredients gentle enough for regular, ongoing care yet formulated to provide anti- fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties for those common situations requiring healing attention. As explained by David Hayne, Farrier, AFA Member and VP of the Nova Scotia Farrier Association, "Horse's hooves are made of Sensitive/Insensitive and Elastic/Inelastic structures. Hooves are affected by the dry environment creating hard and brittle hooves and also from wet conditions whether created through housing or rain conditions causing hooves to become soft. Both of these conditions affect the normal makeup of the hoof capsule and can create lameness issues. I have found using Fiske's Hoof & Hide Balm has surpassed any product that I have used in my 30 years of Farriery. “Fiske’s is made of all natural ingredients” “Where most hoof dressings are petroleum, alcohol and/or acetone based, Fiske’s is made of all natural ingredients which is the main reason why I have seen the results that I have in maintaining a healthy hoof and hide. Not only can it aid in the prevention and cure for Thrush but also for most skin conditions on animals. I have found it dissipates water and mud preventing a hoof from getting too soft and also, with its consistency, allows the hoof cracks and holes to be filled, preventing dirt from going into the underlying structures of the hoof wall. It aids in maintaining a softness to the elastic heel structures which helps in expansion and contraction of the hoof…motivating blood flow to the veins of the hoof. Whether your farrier is trimming or shoeing your horse, at times we both need that extra help in between farrier visits in maintaining a healthy foot and Fiske’s has proven this to me by the sound horses I work with. I
have tried many hoof care products over the past 30 years that come
from the States. I strongly believe that Fiske's can stand up there
with the rest of them and be the hoof care product of choice. It's all
natural and it works. Goats, cattle or any hoof that has a bacterial or
fungal problem can benefit by the use of Fiske's." “We have found it to be great for healing sores and
scrapes, growing the hair back in as its original colour. It is also great to
improve hoof texture.” A true, multi-purpose product, Fiske's treats a wide range of bothersome skin conditions such as mud fever/scratches, scald, ring worm, mange, rain rot, itchy tail, sweet itch, dandruff and wounds, cuts, boils as well. As noted in this comment from Lloyd and Marlene Langille of Hopewell, Nova Scotia, "We have been using the Fiske's product on our Draft horses ever since it came on the market. We have found it to be great for healing sores and scrapes, growing the hair back in as its original colour. It is also great to improve hoof texture. We gave some to our neighbour who found it worked great on her horses as well. We would recommend it to anyone." There
is some good history behind Fiske’s. It all began at the end of the 19th
century when a respected veterinarian, Dr. Clarence Simms, of When
the good doctor retired he entrusted his formula to a keen horseman,
Leon Fiske of Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. During his lifetime Leon owned
horses of all breeds from adorable Shetlands to athletic Hackneys to
the Titans of horses, the Clydesdales and Percherons. Draft horses
always held top spot in his heart.
Without any advertising, news of Fiske's Hoof Lotion spread and soon found its way to clients as far away as Ontario and the United States. Some of the most famous draft hitches in North American became (and still are) devoted users of Fiske's. In
2004 Leon passed away at the age of eighty. The last pair of Percheron
horses that he sold carried him home to the sound of bagpipes. Before
he died, he gave a small, crumpled up piece of paper with Dr. Simms'
formula to his daughter, Melanie, and said, "Put this recipe in your
safety deposit box because you are going to be making it someday." Scott
Daniels, Standardbred Canada's Area Director, Farrier, Horse Breeder
and Trainer summed it up nicely, "This product was introduced to me
over fifty years ago by my father who used it faithfully in his (horse)
business long before I came along. It is my product of choice because
it puts life back in the hoof in a way that I have never been able to
get from any other product." In
July 2006, Melanie officially launched the newly re-packaged Fiske’s Hoof and
Hide Balm at Can Am East and the response was overwhelming. “I thought this product was lost forever when
your father died.” farrier Leon Hebb told Melanie. “It’s a great product; it
works to put the correct moisture balance in the hoof.” Fiske’s
is now sold across “Comfort,
cost and results are among the benefits of Fiske’s,” states Henry Brubacher of
Brubacher Harness Supplies and Tack Shop in “One
wish I had when I began making Fiske’s was to be able to offer employment to
the disabled community” says Melanie smiling. “As of November 2007, this goal
was accomplished. All products in the Fiske’s line are poured, packaged and
shipped by members of the community of disadvantaged men and women in the In September 2008 a new product was introduced (rather, re-introduced), Fiske’s Horse to Hound Skin & Wound Salve, known to the old timers as ‘Black Salve’. It was produced in response to the request of dog owners who used Fiske’s lotion on their canine friends but wished for a creamy consistency that was easier to apply to cuts, wounds, salt burns on pads and hot spots. Fiske’s Horse to Hound Skin & Wound Salve is the original, century-old recipe thickened with additional, natural ingredients: shea butter and Vitamin E according to Dr. Simms’ formula. The Horse to Hound Skin & Wound Salve is a good healing option for "Clyde Itch" under the heavy leg feathers. While Fiske's Hoof & Hide Balm is known for its ability to heal itch, it has a liquid viscosity, making it a little harder to target this area and increases the chance of temporarily staining the white feather. Fiske's Horse to Hound Skin & Wound Salve is easy to apply by hand directly onto the hoof and skin up and under the feathers without affecting the natural colour. Fiske's therapeutic properties work to enhance a natural, healthy appearance of the Clydesdale's hoof and it is also an excellent choice for a pre-show polish - a cosmetic bonus. As a treatment for common conditions, injuries or damage to skin, hoofs and muscles as well as for preventative maintenance, Fiske’s has become known as the ‘everything product’ often alternating between the barn and house – yes, people still use it, too. It has rightfully earned a place in the tack box, trailer and first aid kit. Home | Products Info | Testimonials | Shopping | Connect with Us | Community
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Leon