Froggy Mud Mask: Fighting Thrush and Restoring Hoof Health
Froggy Mud Mask is a true labor of love, born from countless hours of research, formulation, and hands-on testing. My mission? To combat thrush while fostering healthier, stronger hooves. I have a Thoroughbred—need I say more?
Fragile and Cracked Thoroughbred Hooves
From the very start of our journey together, I’ve been diving deep into the world of hooves. Grayson stepped off the trailer with a less-than-ideal set of feet—let me tell you more...
He was started on a hoof supplement, and I was advised to focus on hardening his hooves using a variety of products right out of the gate. I was determined to get those hooves back in top shape. I invested in every product I could find to harden them up. By mid-2023, Grayson was showing some improvement. While he was still throwing shoes, due to his poor Thoroughbred feet, this was something I should have known buying a OTTB. They have “horrible feet.”
His hooves were still shelly, with cracks and imperfections, but they were gradually better than before. His feet were mediocre at best, but I was thrilled to see any improvement—until…
May 2024. I was feeling desperate. Grayson’s hooves, already brittle and cracking, seemed to be getting worse with the arrival of spring. The farrier was coming every 2-3 weeks, yet nothing seemed to help. I tried every “hoof-hardening” product I could find, but none made a difference. Grayson could barely keep a shoe on, and the farrier confirmed his hoof walls were “too thin.” Being a Thoroughbred, I assumed this was just the way it had to be according to many. By June, we had switched to aluminum shoes, but even those only stayed on for about two weeks.
In July, we moved to a new barn, where I met some wonderful friends who suggested a few products to try on Grayson’s hooves. The new farrier also started using a hard epoxy over the nails to stabilize his crumbling hooves and keep the shoes in place—his hooves were in such poor condition that it felt like our only option. The grim reality hit me hard: What had gone so wrong? We even discussed “casting” as a last-ditch effort to keep the shoes on long enough for his hooves to heal. Because each time he threw a shoe, his fragile hooves suffered more ripping and tearing, setting us back even further. For now, we focused on the epoxy. The material cured quickly, creating a strong, durable bond that gave us hope for improvement. After three rotations of the epoxy, we finally reached a point where Grayson started holding his shoes nearly to the 4th week by mid-October 2024. Progress was happening, and that’s when I began formulating.
Testing Through the Fall
My equine friends and I tested Froggy Mud Mask rigorously throughout the fall, a season notorious for muddy paddocks and damp stalls—a perfect breeding ground for thrush. The results were incredible. Hooves treated with Froggy Mud Mask became healthier, and more resilient. Horses that struggled with persistent thrush saw their frogs transform and Thrush was gone in a day or 2. Cracks began to heal as the hooves regained their natural flexibility.
The Breakthrough: Finding Balance
Through my experience in skincare and hoof care, I discovered that the key to healthier hooves wasn’t to “get them harder by drying out the hoof- because it was too soft” but to restore balance. Think of it this way: If you’re eating well and taking care of your body, your fingernails will grow strong and healthy. But what happens if you coat them in drying agents to make them “harder”? You’ll end up with dry, brittle nails that break easily. The same principle applies to your horse’s hooves. Over-drying products create a brittle environment that weakens the hoof’s natural structure. Perhaps the opposite idea of what has been the norm?
With this philosophy in mind, I set out to perfect this treatment that didn’t just fight thrush but also nurtured the hoof back to health. Every ingredient in Froggy Mud Mask was carefully selected for its specific benefits:
French Green Clay to draw out impurities and excess moisture while delivering essential minerals.
Castor Oil to deeply moisturize and improve flexibility.
Neem, Oregano, and Tea Tree Oils to fight bacterial and fungal infections.
A New Approach to Hoof Care
Froggy Mud Mask isn’t just a product; it’s a new philosophy for hoof care. Instead of stripping the hoof of moisture, we’re providing it with the tools it needs to thrive. By taking a balanced approach and using targeted infection fighters, we’re restoring strength and resilience while creating an environment where healthy hooves can truly flourish.
This is Grayson’s hoof as of this week—January 23rd. As I write this post, there is barely any trace left of that old, crumbling hoof at the bottom. We now have a fresh, healthy hoof! He is holding shoes through 5 weeks until his farrier visits-and the best part? When we arrived at our new barn earlier this month, the first thing the barn owner said was, “"Wow—look at his feet!" (She’s got Thoroughbreds too—lol.) The new farrier echoed the same sentiment, telling me to keep doing whatever I was doing. I’m beyond thrilled with how far we’ve come.
If you’re struggling with your horse’s hoof health, let me know—I’d love to help. I’m currently looking for Equine ambassadors that want to help others by sharing their story and test my Froggy Mud Mask. Together let’s see if we can bring your horse’s hooves back into balance?
Ready to Hop Into Healthier Hooves?
As a Master Esthetician with over a decade of experience in ingredient-focused healthcare, I’ve spent years perfecting the art of formulating clean, effective products. Froggy Mud Mask is here to bring your horse’s hooves back to life. Whether you’re battling thrush or just want to give your horse some extra TLC, this spa-like treatment is your go-to solution.
Green Gallop was born with a mission to provide equestrians and their horses with skin, hoof, and coat products that are not only clean and safe but also incredibly effective. Guided by the principles of biocompatibility, Green Gallop products are crafted using only ingredients that directly benefit a horse’s skin, coat, and hooves—ensuring they remain strong, healthy, and well-nourished. Whether you’re treating scratches, boosting balance, or fighting thrush, Green Gallop is here to help your horse thrive.
Founder Joy Pfister
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