Regardless of the season, hoof care should always be a priority for your horse. It is one of those things that is easy to forget about, but hoof problems are a lot harder to repair than prevent. Keeping your horse healthy is more than just giving them good feed, grooming them regularly, and letting them run. It also includes making sure their hooves are well maintained.
Check hooves daily for general wear and tear, looking for any signs of injury or changes in condition. Potential hoof problems include chipping, bruising, cracking and thrush. Made from keratin, like our fingernails, healthy hooves keep your horse active.
Below, we discuss hoof care tips in more detail below and offer guidance on what constitutes good everyday care for a horse’s hooves.
Some Facts About Hooves
A hoof is made up of about 90 % protein, with keratin in the top spot. Keratin contains amino acids that have a major effect on the hoof. Sulphur-containing and essential amino acids such as cysteine and methionine ensure that the cells in the horn – the outer layer of the hoof – are connected together flexibly.
Vitamins are important too, especially biotin. Hooves also need other vitamins. Vitamin A, for example, helps to develop horn. Vitamins E, D and K, together with various B vitamins support the metabolism and hoof development.
Minerals are another group of key nutrients. Copper strengthens the outermost wall of the hoof, helps to protect the cell membranes of the cells in the hoof, and forms the key protein keratin. Zinc also helps to create keratin and supports the building and repair of cells in the hoof and hoof wall. Selenium also protects the cell membranes in the hoof. Hooves grow slowly at about 1cm per month so you will need at least three to six months to really see an improvement in the new growth.
What to Look for with Your Horse’s Hooves
When you regularly clean and inspect your horse’s hooves, you can get an early start finding any problems. These issues can become very serious, so if you do find any problems, reach out to your farrier and vet right away.
1. Good Hoof Balance
Horses with balanced hooves move better, and have less stress and strain on bones, tendons and ligaments. The ideal hoof has:
- A straight hoof-pastern angle
– A straight line from the pastern down through the front of the hoof wall.
– This correctly lines up the bones between the pastern and coffin bone. - Easy break over
– The toe is not too long and is squared, rounded or rolled.
– This allows easier movement with each step.
– Too much break over can result in health problems. - Adequate heel support
– The shoe extends back to the end of the hoof wall and supports the back of the entire leg.
– The back edge of the shoe is under a line drawn down the center of the cannon bone. - Medial-lateral balance
– The foot lands evenly from side to side as the horse walks.
2. Hoof Cracks
Horses are prone to hoof cracks for various reasons. Cracks can lead to the hoof chipping away in certain areas. Cracks can be a cosmetic problem that can be easily corrected, but sometimes, they indicate something more serious is happening within the hoof.
Cracks often form in the hoof wall in a vertical direction, following the hoof tubules. They often originate from the bottom hoof surface or, less commonly, the coronary band. At times, a hoof crack may run the entire length of the hoof wall. Cracks can also run horizontally, but these are less common and often have a different cause than those running vertically.
3. Hot Nail or Street Nail
A hot nail is a horseshoe nail that is driven into the sensitive structures of the hoof wall. Hot nails will usually cause lameness. Treatments include flushing the nail hole with antiseptic, packing the hole or bandaging the foot and administering a tetanus booster. A street nail is any foreign object that enters the foot. This is an emergency, and a veterinarian should be called immediately. Treatment depends on which hoof structure is affected.
4. Thrush
Thrush is the destruction of a portion of the horse’s hoof called the frog. This destruction is caused by anaerobic bacteria and fungi that are not contagious. Thrush brings with it a recognizable, strong-smelling odor coming from the affected area. Although thrush is a somewhat common condition, it shouldn’t be underestimated. If left untreated, it may penetrate the sensitive structures of the hoof and cause temporary to permanent lameness.
5. Abscess
Hoof abscesses occur when bacteria get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole. The bacteria create exudate (pus), which builds up and creates pressure behind the hoof wall or sole. This pressure can become extremely painful.
Equine hoof abscesses are a common cause of sudden, severe lameness. In many cases, the horse may have been sound the evening prior, and non-weight-bearing the following day. In some cases, an abscess will present as a slow and increasing lameness. Swelling is possible, which can extend from the coronary band as high as the knee or hock.
Healthy Hoof Care Habits
1. Know What Normal Looks Like
It is a good idea to know the starting point for your horse’s hooves so you know when something is amiss. Check the temperature by touch. A healthy horse hoof should be slightly warm and the temperature should be consistent. Take a moment to locate the digital pulse with two fingers pressed against the back of his pastern; you’re interested not in the rate of the pulse, but in its strength under normal conditions.
Check the frog, located on the underside of the hoof and triangular in shape. This area has about the texture and firmness of a new rubber eraser when it is healthy. Do not be alarmed if everything else looks OK but the frog appears to be peeling off–most horses shed the frog at least twice a year, sometimes more often.
2. Trim Hooves Based on the Season
Hooves grow slower in the winter, have them trimmed every 6 to 12 weeks based on how they grow. In the summer, trim the hooves every 6 to 8 weeks. Show horses will need to have their hooves looked at more often and possibly trimmed sooner.
Farriers do a couple of things for your horse in addition to trimming their hooves. First, they ensure the feet maintain proper balance. Second, they maintain the integrity and general health of all of the structural components of your horse’s hooves. Farriers play an important role in maintaining the health of your horse.
3. Keep Hooves Balanced
When your horse has balanced hooves, they can run and walk better. There will be less strain on the ligaments, tendons, and bones of the leg and foot. A balanced hoof will:
- Line up the bones correctly
- Provide easier movement with every step
- Give proper heel support
- Allow the foot to land evenly from side to side when your horse walks
4. Pick Out Their Hooves
This may sound pretty basic, but it is the single most important thing you can do for his hooves. Your horse gets a head start on healthy hooves, and you get a chance to take early action on many common hoof problems, if you pick out his feet…
- Before each ride, to remove any stones or small objects lodged in his feet before you add your weight to the situation, and to check on the condition of his shoes (more on that soon)
- After you untack him, in case something has gotten stuck in his feet during the ride
- When you bring him in at night, to check for objects in his feet, or for turnout injuries
- Before turning out the next morning, check for heat and pulse, remove manure, and check for signs of thrush.
5. Use Hoof Care Products
Hooves that are too dry are just as much of a problem as hooves that are too moist. In low-humidity environments, hooves can dry out and become brittle, leading to cracks and chips.
To combat hoof wall dryness, use hoof moisturizers to keep the horse’s hooves hydrated and healthy.
6. Provide a Healthy Diet
What your horse eats can affect their hooves and how they grow. Good quality hay, food, and vitamins will help maintain a healthy hoof. Fresh water will help your horse remain hydrated and not dry out the hoof.
7. Feed a Supplement
You might think that if your horse has naturally healthy hooves, you don’t need to feed a supplement. But again, hoof problems are a lot easier to prevent than repair.
Adding a daily supplement into your routine will help your horse maintain a strong and healthy hoof that will help prevent any major damage from occurring. Some of the best ingredients to look for in a good hoof care supplement are biotin, zinc methionine, lysine, Omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium.
8. Provide Regular Exercise
Exercise can also help to strengthen the horse’s core muscles, which further contributes to the horse’s health. Regular exercise is a must. Exercise promotes overall good health and also supports the condition of their hooves as it increases circulation and promotes good growth. Provide good surfaces for your horse to walk and trot on and get your horse out as regularly as possible.
9. Keep Horse Barns and Pastures Well-Maintained
Assess the horse’s environment regularly, as this can significantly impact their hooves. If the horse spends a lot of time in wet or muddy conditions, their hooves are more prone to bacterial and fungal infections.
The ideal living environment for hoof health promotes dryness and cleanliness. Horse barns should be clean and free of excess moisture, with plenty of bedding material to absorb dampness. Pastures should also be well-maintained and have minimal mud patches, as horses tend to stand in these areas for long periods, which can lead to hoof problems.
10. Schedule Your Farrier Regularly
A farrier, someone who works with a horse’s hooves, and a vet should be your best friends. Most farriers recommend every four to six weeks but talk to you to see what they recommend for your horse and their environment. Regular visits from your farrier will allow your horse to grow healthy hooves without any major cracks or damage occurring.
Maintaining a regular schedule will help trimmed hooves remain balanced. If they become overgrown, hooves can become imbalanced and create cracks, wall separations, and other issues. Your farrier will provide your horse with the right shoeing based on the weather and walking surface. They can help you treat any hoof disease that might come up.
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