Helpful Information On Caring for Horses Hooves

Hoof maintenance is a crucial part of maintaining your horses health. Ideally you should check your horses hooves every day, and at least two to three times per week.  You should become familiar with what is usual and what is not, and will be able to to spot any problems that might be beginning.

Reading this simple guide will hopefully aid you in your daily grooming routiene.

1. Looking at your horse ensure the symmetry is close, however they don’t have to be exactly equal, but very similar to being the same size and shape.

2. Look carefully for faults in the wall and coronary band.  Pick up the hoof, run your palm over the outside of the wall to feel for impairments.  Use the same technique for the coronary band and then squeeze it softly. Using these two procedures will also highlight tender spots and moisture holding areas.

3. Inspect the sole. Examine the colour of every hoof. If correct they should be the same in colour.  A well defined dark spot should indicate a bruise or hole.

4. Examine and compare the frogs.  The front hooves should be the sae size and shape, the same applies to the hooves at the rear. You should lightly depress each frog with your hoof pick, in most areas, with the exception of desert areas, they should be slightly spongy.

5. If shod, hold the shoe and see if it is loose. Look for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may choose to remove it in case your horse misplaces it on its own and perhaps removes a piece of hoof as well.

If you regularly check each hoof, you will be able to avoid a lot of issues by noticing the issue before it’s too late.

It is recommended you work into your daily hoof cleaning a couple of simple steps. Use your hoof pick from heel to toe.  If it is tightly packed you will probably need to loosen it up a touch before it is taken off. Once the material has been taken out, look at all the regions of the hoof and be positive that there is not a smell as this is usually a obvious sign of thrush.  Be certain there are no pebbles or stones embedded anywhere, even beneath the shoe.

Your horses hooves should exhibit a natural gloss on the hoof wall.

If you see a smooth uniform surface free of cracks, circles, depressions, flares and a concave sole which meets the horseshoe, then you should be confident that the hooves are in great shape.

For more horse information, horses for sale and more, please visit the Horse and Pony Directory.

Tagged with: equine care • hoof • hoof care • hooves • horses

Filed under: horse back riding • horse health • horse safety

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