Proper Horse Hoof Care Is Vital For The Health Of Your Horse.

Horse hoof care is one of the most important parts of horse grooming and horse care. A healthy horse starts with a healthy hoof. A healthy hoof depends largely on you and your farrier.

Choose a farrier wisely.

Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Anyone can say they know what their doing, but improper hoof care can lead to serious problems for you and your horse.

A good farrier should be very knowledgeable about horse hoof care. He should also be dependable, careful and conscientious. Talk to other horse owners in your area, or even your local vet. They can probably recommend a good farrier.

Whether you decide to shoe your horse or keep him barefoot, you will still need regular farrier visits, especially with senior horses. Therefore, finding one that is trustworthy and dependable is a must.

The horse hooves should be examined by your farrier on a regular basis. Usually if you horse goes barefoot he will need a good trimming about every 8-10 weeks. If he is shod, it will probably be about every 6-8 weeks. After about 6 weeks, the hoof begins to grow over the shoe.

You will know when your horse is overdue for a trim. The hoof will grow long and start to chip and crack. This can lead to your horse tripping or stumbling if they are allowed to grow to long. It is very important to keep track of your horse hoof care schedule.

Now you have to decide whether you want your horse to wear shoes, or whether you want him to remain barefoot. I, myself, prefer my horses remain unshod. I like for them to be as natural as possible.

In my opinion, the horse hoof should be left natural if possible. However, there are circumstances when shoes are needed, such as corrective shoeing or if your horse walks on concrete or asphalt a lot. This will wear the hoof down to much without shoes.

Natural hoof care relies on special trimming methods, to promote healthy hooves, instead of using metal shoes. Over time, metal horseshoes can actually contribute to unhealthy hooves by breaking down the hoof wall. This can lead to lameness and disease.

Metal shoes prevent the natural toughening of a horses feet, which in turn, actually weaken the hoof.The hoof is designed as a shock absorber. When a horseshoe is added, the horses joints will have to absorb the shock. However, when kept barefoot, parts of the hoof, like the frog, for example, will make contact with the ground. This serves to not only absorb shock, but also to circulate blood back up to the horses legs and to his heart.

Wild horses have been roaming the plains for thousands of years, over all kinds of terrain. They travel over mountains, deserts, rocks and just about everything else in between, and they do it without horseshoes. However, a horse that lives in a stall filled with soft bedding, may not fair as well when asked to work on harder ground.

If your horse has come accustomed to wearing shoes, it will take some time for his feet to toughen up. Don’t take his shoes off one day and expect him to go on a trail ride the next.

The horse hoof is a complex part of the horse that must bear his weight throughout his entire life. That is why it is so important to give them proper horse hoof care. A horses hooves should be checked on a daily basis. His feet should be cleaned and picked out to make sure he hasn’t got a rock or stick or something lodged in there.

Cleaning horse hooves also gives you a chance to inspect the overall health of the hoof. Remember, a healthy horse starts with a healthy hoof. Some of the most common hoof ailments are:

1. Hoof abscesses - an abscess is very painful to a horse, and generally will cause lameness to some degree. It is usually caused by a horse stepping on a rock or stone. If your horse has an abscess, heat will usually be present in the foot. If you suspect your horse has an abscess, call your farrier. He will probably have to trim or dig out the soft area to initiate draining.

2. Thrush - is a bacterial infection, in the horse’s feet, usually caused by unsanitary living conditions. It is more common in horses that are kept stalled versus horses that are turned out to pasture. Thrush is a black foul-smelling decay of the horse’s hoof tissue. If you see this, call your vet or farrier immediately. They can tell you what you should use to treat thrush. There are a variety of thrush remedies to choose from. A good betadine scrubbing once a month can prevent thrush from occurring. You should always keep a bottle of betadine in your first aid kit. The cleaner you keep your horse’s feet, the less likely he is to develop thrush. It's a vital part of horse hoof care.

3. Contracted heel - is usually caused by improper shoeing and develops over time. This condition does not necessarily cause lameness, but can limit your horses activities.

4. Quarter cracks - are cracks in the hoof usually caused by dry hoof walls.

First make sure your horse is squared up. This means, all four feet have to be under him. He cannot pick his feet up if he’s not standing square.Ask your horse to pick up his foot. Say, “Please pick up your foot”. No, just kidding. Ask him by gently tapping his cannon bone or fetlock. If this doesn’t work, grab the hair on the fetlock and pull upwards. He will most likely pick it up when you do this. If he tries to lean on you, drop his foot immediately. Start over and repeat until he stands on his own, without leaning on you.

Start at the bulb of the heel, using downward strokes. It’s easier to push down than it is to pull in. Clean all debris from the hoof and around the frog. If you have a stiff brush on the other end of your hoof pick, brush out remaining debris.

Gently release the leg, don’t just drop it as you would if he were leaning on you. Move on to the back leg on the same side.

It doesn’t matter what horse breed you have, what color he is or even what type of horse you have. The principals of horse hoof care are the same. Horses deserve the best horse care we can give them. This includes feeding, grooming and lots and lots of love.