Hoof Care - Information

Taking care of hooves is a crucial part of maintaining your horses well being. It’s advisable to look at your horses hooves every day, and at least two to three times per week.  You will be able to become very familiar with what is normal and what isn’t, and will be able to to see any problems that may be beginning. 

Following this simple list might aid you in your daily grooming practices.

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

2. Look carefully for faults in the hoof wall and coronary band.  Pick up the hoof, run your hand over the outside of the wall to feel for impairments.  Apply the exact procedure for the coronary band and then press it gently. Applying these two procedures will also highlight soft spots and moisture holding areas.

3. Carefully inspect the sole. Examine the colouring in each hoof. They should be similar in colouration.  A well defined dark spot will indicate a bruise or damage.

4. Look at and compare the frogs.  The hooves at the front should be the sae size and shapeand it should be a similr case with the rear hooves. You should softly press each frog using your hoof pick, mostly, with the exception of desert areas, they should be a little spongy.

5. If shod, hold the shoe and see if it is loose. Check for lost clinches, if loose you might choose to take off it in case your horse misplaces it by itself and perhaps removes a section of hoof with it.

If you continuously check your horses hooves, you can avoid a lot of issues by catching the problem before it’s too late.

I would recommend you work into your daily hoof cleaning some quick steps. Use a pick from heel to toe.  If it is tightly packed you will probably need to loosen it up somewhat before it is taken off. Once all the debris has been removed, look at all the areas of the hoof and make positive that there isn’t a smelly odour as this is often a clear cut sign of thrush.  Make sure there aren’t any rocks or gravel lodged anywhere, even beneath the shoe.

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

If you see a smooth level surface free of cracks, rings, dishes, flares and a concave sole that touches the shoe, then you should be pretty sure that the hooves are in great shape.

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