Basic hoof care:

I wouldn't want to do anything other than shoe horses, they are magnificent animals full of just as much compassion as they have power. All that power is being driven by their relatively small and fragile hoof structure. Basic hoof care is something that every owner and rider are responsible for. By taking a few minutes every time your horse comes in from pasture as well as before and after being ridden to clean and inspect their hooves you will do a lot to help your horse keep a healthy hoof. 

Stiff grooming brush

Hoof pick
(any kind works)

What do I need? 

• A few minutes time
• A stiff grooming brush
• A hoof pick

Horses hooves should inspected and cleaned regularly. A stiff grooming brush is helpful to wipe off any dirt or mud build up on the pastern and fetlock areas of the leg,  hoof wall, and sole of the hoof. Wiping off the hoof and limb allows not only for a clean leg to work with but it also allows us see if there are any cuts or other injuries on the lower limb, particularly the sensitive coranary region, as well as the hoof wall. After brushing the hoof and limb it is essential to use your hoof pick and clean out the entire ground surface of the hoof. Making sure to clean out the mud, shavings, and other nasty build up that gets along either side of the frog and back through the heels will go a long way to keeping your horse thrush free. While picking out the feet look for any injuries to the solar region hoof capsule. I have had a client call to say their horse came up lame after shoeing and upon showing up the next day I found a roofing nail imbedded in the horses frog. Picking the feet out wouldn't have prevented the nail injury not only could the nail have been found sooner and the horse would have been treated sooner.

Is the shoe loose? Is it sprung? A horse worked on a sprung shoe can become lame due to the new imbalance to the hoof and limb in the load and release phase of the horses stride. Often times rocks, straw, and small twigs can get stuck between the shoe and hoof or shoe and frog causing uncomfortable pressure points. Have these been cleaned out? Taking these few minutes helps you to help your horse have healthy hoof.

What do I look for?

• Are there any injuries such as cuts or scratches to the lower limb and hoof
• Is there any abnormal heat in the hoof capsule or pastern region
• Are there any new cracks or broken pieces of hoof wall
• Is the shoe still on the foot
• Is the shoe on tight and is it still level
• Is there anything foreign caught between the hoof and shoe
• Are there injuries to the sole
• Is there any signs of thrush

By taking these few minutes you can prevent working an uncomfortable possibly injured horse. You also are helping your horse maintain a healthy hoof while building an even stronger relationship with your horse.

When your horse has an injury its important to have the resources to clean, treat, and bandage the wound. The cold water from a hose or bucket and small towel are ideal for cleaning up most small wounds. A lot of time flushing the wound with clean cold water is all you need to do.  If you need something more I prefer to use Betadine an Antiseptic Microbicide. For some injuries you will need to bandage the area. A roll of cotton and some VetWrap works well. 

If your horse walked in a little funny and has abnormal heat in a particular hoof it could also be a sign of an abscess brewing or a close nail. A call to your farrier is in order to determine if it is something as simple as a close nail or if there is an abscess brewing inside the hoof capsule. An abscess is most often treated with stall rest and by soaking the hoof a few times a day with hot epsom salts and then packing the hoof with Ichthammol.

A horse that comes in missing a shoe should be inspected to make sure there are no nails left in the hoof. Once the hoof is cleaned and inspected for wounds it should be wrapped thoroughly with DuctTape and VetWrap and the horse should be put up in a stall until the farrier can show up (time frame should be under 24 hours). If a shoe is sprung badly it should be removed by gently pulling each nail individually. The horse should then be cared for as if it had lost a shoe. Even if the shoe is slightly sprung and can stay on the hoof the farrier should be called out to fix it. Even if your horse's  shoes are on it is good to notice if there are any new cracks or broken pieces of hoof wall. If your horse is barefoot you may be able to get your farrier to leave you an old rasp in order to clean any rough or broken up pieces that happen naturally  between trimmings.  I would advise against changing the balance, strictly use the rasp to clean up rough edges and chipped out sections.

While picking out your horses feet did you notice a foul odor? Does your horses frog appear cheesy, does it have a deep groove that extends back towards the bulbs of the heel, and  or is there a pasty oily substance around the opening of the groove? These are all common signs of Thrush. Thrush is an inflammation of the frog brought on by an anaerobic bacteria that starts as an irritation but can lead more pronounced lameness issues if left untreated. The easiest cure is keeping the frog area dry and clean with persistent hoof picking and doses of Thrushbuster, as needed. There are other medicines out there I have found Thrushbuster works best for me. It also leaves a purple residue so I know if my clients are really treating the thrush.

More serious puncture wounds will require the assistance of both the vet and a trained farrier. Often times the wound will need to be soaked, medicated, and bandaged multiple times a day requiring it to be protected by a shoe with a medical plate. 

Is it time to call your farrier? Are the shoes loose, have they worn out, does the hoof look long? These are questions that should be asked every time the hoof is inspected and cleaned.  Having an active relation with your horses hooves will help your relation with your farrier. I like most other farriers put my heart and soul into shoeing your horses. Its reassuring to see basic hoof care being practiced and with the owner/trainer involved in the process allows for a more open communication.

It is also common for hoof dressing to be used but is not essential to a healthy hoof. I would advise against dressing that advertise drying or sealing properties as the hoof needs to be able to regulate its moisture content. The horses hoof does not want be dry hard or rigid nor does it want to be wet soft and crumbly it wants to be firm but cushioning. I like to use Birdsall's Show Hoof Oil on all four hooves after shoeing a horse. It's made up of natural oils and does not seal hoof capsule.

Basic Hoof care supplies:

• A stiff grooming brush
• A hoof pick (any kind will work)
• Thrushbuster
• VetWrap
• DucTape
• Cotton
• Betadine
• Icthamayl
• DMSO 
• Shoe pull-offs or a creased nail puller
• Rasp
• Hoof dressing (not necessary)

Cotton and VetWrap for dressing wounds
and wrapping  a hoof that lost a shoe.

Betadine, Ichthammol, and DMSO ointments
for treating common injuries.

Rasp, Pull-offs, Creased nail pullers.

Thrush Buster

Birdasll's Show Hoof Oil