How To Do Hoof Care for a Horse

Hoof care in horses is very important.  Because of the horse’s size it is far easier to prevent hoof conditions than to treat them.  Despite the horse’s great strength, a hoof injury or infection that is left untreated could cause the horse to be destroyed.  Mud and water can soften the walls of the horse’s hoofs if they are left standing in it.  If the horse is kept stalled it is very important to clean the stall thoroughly every day.

The first step to cleaning the hoof is to pick up the horse’s foot.  There is a special tool called a hoof pick that is used to clean the hooves.  The hoof pick is available at tack stores or farm supply stores.  After removing the packed mud or debris in the horse’s hoof with the hoof pick, take an old toothbrush and gently remove the remaining mud or dirt. Rinse the hoof and examine it for injuries.  Wipe the entire hoof down with a very weak bleach solution to disinfect the hoof.

Horse’s hooves grow all the time just like our fingernails.  They need to be trimmed on a regular basis.  Some horse owner’s trim their horse’s hooves themselves, but most people call a farrier.  The farrier has had special training to shoe the horses and can sometimes help correct problems with hoof problems with corrective shoeing.

There are several conditions that cause problems in a horse’s hooves. Thrush was once thought to be caused by neglect, but that has been proven to be untrue.  The foul odor of thrush is very hard to miss. Thrush is an infection of the frog area of the hoof.  If caught early it can be treated with a brush-on medication available at farm stores.

Canker is another hoof condition similar to thrush.  Canker affects the entire hoof rather than just the frog.  It is a more serious condition that requires a veterinarian to treat.  It looks like red and is covered with pus-filled blisters.  It usually won’t respond to thrush treatments.

Other hoof problems are stone bruises and punctures.  A horse’s hooves should be checked after being ridden in an area that has gravel or small stones that could be picked up in its hooves.  If there is a stone embedded in a hoof and the horse is ridden it will cause the horse to be lame.  Usual treatment is removing the stone and letting the horse rest until the lameness is gone.  Punctures will require antibiotics and regular cleaning to heal.

To prevent hoof problems a horse’s hoof should be cleaned every day if it is stalled or kept in a small corral.  A horse that is out in the pasture should be cleaned every few days. Good hoof care can let your horse lead a longer, happier life.