Compared to the other liquid hoof oils and conditioners I’ve tested, the Absorbine Hooflex Original was much thicker. The pot was one of the most sturdy – it’s made of a really firm plastic that would take a lot to damage. The screw top has a brush attached and the handle was easy and comfortable to hold.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The brush was also thicker and less yielding, which meant the application to the hoof wall wasn’t the neatest, but it was really good at getting into the grooves on either side of the frog. The brush picks up a lot on the brush each time, so in order not to use too much you need to scrape off the excess each time. I was worried that because the product was so thick that I wouldn’t be able to scrape the last bits out of the pot, however, the brush can reach all of the inside walls.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
This product costs more than many of the other hoof oils I tested (when compared per 100ml) but there directions suggest only to apply twice a week in order to maintain healthy hooves, whereas most suggest daily use. The shine does last longer than a day, but I would say this is more of a conditioning product than one to provide a show ring shine.
I also used the Hooflex Original to prevent snow balling up in my horse’s shoes when we had bad weather as he’s been known to lose a shoe most times it snows.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a hoof conditioner that you don’t need to apply every day and you’re not after show ring neatness or shine, this could be the one for you.
Who tested this hoof dressing?
Georgia Guerin looks after Horse & Hound’s shopping, fashion and product content. She spends her days at work researching and reviewing all kinds of products for horses and riders, and is often the first to hear about anything new to the market. Georgia owns a Norwegian Fjord horse who happily tests and reviews all the products she brings home. She is at the yard twice a day every day and spends a lot of time in the saddle, so is perfectly placed to test a wide range of products.
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Georgia is Horse & Hound’s deputy website editor and equestrian products expert. She curates content across the website with a particular focus on upcoming equestrian events horse care and buying advice. She also manages all the ecommerce opportunities that allow us to give you easy access to the best products at the lowest prices via our buying guides. Georgia has first-hand knowledge of all the equestrian brands and their ever-evolving product lines, having been working with them closely since she started in equestrian media in 2015.
