The application for Sole Pack Dressing for maintenance and prevention program is applying the dressing to the frog (the “V” shaped area on the bottom of the hoof see attached photo), sole (the bottom of the hoof) and heel bulb (back heel area of the hoof) area. I also recommend applying the Sole Pack Dressing to the cornet band (where the hair meets the hoof) 3-4 times a week to promote hoof growth and stimulate circulation. In this application the dressing may run down the hoof wall (the outside of the hoof e.g. the part you see when the horse is standing) but I would not worry about that. We do not recommend applying any dressings to the outside hoof wall as they weaken the hoof wall.
Painting the cornet band is especially important in cases where we are trying to grow a hoof very fast–like in a case of white line where the disease is progressing up the hoof. In this application I like to use a toothbrush and gently massage the dressing around the hairline. The outside hoof wall has a tough coating like our fingernails. If dressings are applied regularly to the outside hoof wall then it becomes weak. There are some exceptions. The hoof pictured below has very bad cracks. First, I would recommend treating the cracks with Hoof Freeze or a strong iodine tincture (the real iodine not the stuff you can buy over the counter) to kill any existing infection, and then I would smudge in some Sole Pack Hoof Packing if the cracks were deep enough to permit this application. If the cracks are not deep enough I would apply dressing over the cracks (after the Hoof Freeze application). These applications of Sole Pack (dressing or packing) after the Hoof Freeze would be to prevent other bacteria or fungus or debris from entering the hoof through the damaged cracks.
It is our opinion that hoof dressings break down the hoof wall when applied regularly. Hoof Sealants can be applied to the hoof wall and help to seal in the moisture and add strength to the hoof wall. Hoof Sealants and Hoof Dressings are not the same.
The frog is very important–I like to think of it as the heart of the hoof (& horse) as it is responsible for pumping blood up the horses leg each time it makes contact with the ground. It is an important part of the circulatory system and health of the horse. The frog also acts as a shock absorber for the foot when it makes impact with the ground, decreasing the force placed on the bones and joints of the leg. Healthy frogs are important. This is why I stress taking care of the hooves (the foundation of the horse) because this is where a lot can go wrong and cause a ripple effect with issues appearing all over the body.
The coronary band (also called the Coronet band) is the line where the hoof meets the hair. This is very much like our cuticle as it is primarily responsible for the growth and nutrition of the hoof. It is important not to wrap the hoof so tightly around the coronet that the circulation is cut off.