Hoof Care – Useful Information

Hoof maintenance is a vital part of ensuring your horses health. It’s advisable to check your horses hooves daily, and minimum two times per week.  You should become familiar with what is usual and what isn’t, and will be able to to spot any issues that may be beginning.

Following this simple guide might assist you in your grooming routine.

1. As you approach your horse be sure the symmetry is relatively close, they do not have to be exactly equal, but very similar to being the same size and form.

2. Carefully examine for faults in the hoof wall and coronary band.  Raise up the hoof, run your palm over the outside of the wall to feel for impairments.  Use the exact technique for the coronary band and then squeeze it softly. Applying these two techniques will also point out tender areas and moisture holding areas.

3. Examine the sole. Examine the colour of every hoof. They should be the same in colouration.  A well delineated dark spot will indicate a bruise or damage.

4. Look at and compare the frogs.  The front hooves should be similar in size and shape and the same with the hooves at the rear. You should gently push each frog using your hoof pick, mostly, with the exception of desert areas, they should be slightly spongy.

5. If your horse is shod, clasp the horseshoe and see if it moves. Look for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may opt to take off the shoe before your horse misplaces it by itself and perhaps removes a section of hoof with it.

If you regularly check each hoof, you should avoid a great deal of issues by catching the problem before it worsens.

We recommend you include into your hoof cleaning routine a few quick steps. Use your pick working from heel to toe.  If packed solid you will probably be required to loosen it up a touch before it can be removed. Once the material is removed, look at all the parts of the hoof and make sure that there is not a bad odour as this is normally a obvious indicator of thrush.  also make sure there aren’t any rocks or stones lodged anywhere, even underneath the shoe.

All hooves should exhibit a natural sheen on the hoof wall.

If you see a smooth uniform surface free of cracks, circles, depressions, flares and a concave sole which touches the horseshoe, then you can be positive that your horses hooves are in good condition.

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

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Filed under: Horse Anatomy • horse health • horse safety • horses

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