Horse Hoof Maintenance – Advice and Information

Hoof maintenance is a vital part of looking after your horses health. Ideally you should look at your horses hooves every day, and at the very least two times per week.  You will be able to become very familiar with what is normal and what isn’t, and be able to to spot any issues that might be starting.

Using this simple guide will hopefully aid you in your grooming practices.

1. Looking at your horse ensure the symmetry is releatively close, they do not have to be perfectly equal, but very similar to being the same size and form.

2. Look carefully for faults in the hoof wall and coronary band.  Raise up each hoof, run your palm along the outside of the wall to pickup any defects.  Apply the exact technique for the coronary band and then squeeze it gently. Using these two techniques will also show tender areas and moisture bearing areas.

3. Inspect the sole. Check the colour of every hoof. If correct they should be the same in colour.  A clearly defined dark spot will indicate bruising or hole.

4. Look at and compare the frogs.  The front hooves should be of similar proportions and shapeand it should be a similr case with the back hooves. Try and softly depress each frog with your hoof pick, in most areas, with the exception of desert areas, they should be slightly spongy.

5. If your horse is shod, grasp the shoe and see if it is loose. Look for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may opt to take off it in case your horse loses it by itself and perhaps removes a section of hoof with it.

If you frequently check each hoof, you should avoid a lot of problems by catching the problem before it’s too late.

We recomend you include into your routiene a couple of simple steps. Use a hoof pick working from heel to toe.  If packed solid you may be required to loosen it up a bit before it can be removed. Once all the debris is removed, examine all the areas of the hoof and be sure that there is not a smelly odour as this is usually a clear cut indicator of thrush.  Be certain there are no pebbles or stones stuck anywhere, even under the shoe.

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

If you find a smooth level surface free of cracks, rings, dishes, flares and a concave sole that meets the shoe, then you can be positive that the hooves are in great shape.

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