Hoof Care Basics
Every horse person knows that the health of a horse’s hooves can totally affect the health of the horse. If the feet hurt, the horse won’t be feeling so well. An infection in the hoof can lead to other injuries or maladies that can take time and be a huge expense to the horse owner. Something as simple as a bruise or chip in the hoof, can take the horse out of the show ring for weeks. Simple hoof issues can also affect the breeding soundness of those precious broodmares or stallions at stud. Major hoof problems often times start out as simple, easy to miss, yet easy to fix problems. Almost any hoof problem can be caught early and in doing so will prevent the small issue from becoming major. All it takes is some basic care and due diligence.
When a horse is in training it is customary to clean the horse’s hooves out before and after the training session. This gives the trainer an opportunity to examine the hoof, checking for cracks and bruising. It also gives them a chance to check for over growth and loose or improperly fit shoes. All of which can take a horse right out of training for days or even weeks. A back yard horse or a horse out on pasture doesn’t need to have its feet cleaned quite so regularly but they should be given a good picking and a close look every few days.
My favorite horse gifts to give are hoof picks that have the pick at one end and a little brush at the other. They are wonderful for thoroughly cleaning out hooves. Good farriers are also a must. To find a good one in your area just do a quick online search, for example type in farrier wa, and sort through the results. Another good way to find a good farrier is to ask around. Horse people know which farriers to avoid and which ones to use. Regular trims and regular cleaning and examination are the first steps to take to keep a horse’s hooves healthy.
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