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Every summer working horses experience rough looking hooves.  The summer of 2005 was certainly the worst I have ever seen.  I learned a few lessons from dealing with a high volume of heavily used competition horses also being turned out.

It's the flies!  Baths don't help (their hooves) either.

• Keratex:  This product is very effective.  You can get it from Wind & Withers.  Just follow the directions.  If your horses hooves are saturated regularly (daily hosing or wet/muddy turnout) then use the sealant product they offer or cover the dried hardener with Tuff Stuff (also available at Wind & Withers).  Saturation of shod hooves is destructive and cycling saturated and dry hooves is something only a few hooves can tolerate without damage.
• Fly Spray:  We all know fly sprays don't work.  I found one that does.  Tractor Supply sells an aerosol in the dairy section called CV80 D.  The new Pyranha (spelling?) aerosol also works, but not as well.  The Tractor Supply one is not a good smelling stuff and if your into all natural then it probably won't suit you, but you're horse will love you when those freaking things are not bothering at all. 
• Turn out not during the heat of the day: Night turn-out will help but wait... that is when the grass has dew on it of course.  A good time to use Tuff Stuff. 

Your farrier loses sleep about showing up to work on your beautiful horses that you intend to bring to the big show this weekend and next.  Your farrier wants to pay his bills and you want to be successful at the show.  Little can be done and sacrifices must be made when there is nothing to work with.  The above things can help tremendously. 

The same horses that had such horrible hooves last year are so much improved this year.