How to Take Care of Your Horse's Hooves

It's best to have your horse trimmed and shod every six to eight weeks, in addition to picking your horse's hoofs daily to remove dirt and debris. Here are some more things to consider when caring for your horse's hoofs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hoof Picks

1. 

   Look at the angle of your horse's foot from the side. There should be close to a straight line from toe to pastern (where the ankle bends in front). Measure the length of the toe with a ruler or tape measure. The toe length can range from 3 to 3-1/2 inches on an average horse. The larger the horse the longer the toe, the smaller the horse the shorter the toe.

2. 

   Pick up the foot and look down the leg. Look for a perpendicular line across the bottom of the foot. The bottom of the foot should be trimmed square with the leg; it should not be higher on one side.

3. 

   Check to see how the shoe fits. A shoe should follow the outline of the foot after proper trimming. Check the very back portion of the shoe at the heel area. The shoe should completely cover the very back of the heel but not make direct contact with the frog (the "V" shaped bulge in the center of the foot).

Tips & Warnings

• Front feet should match each other in length. Back feet should match each other in length. But front feet should not match back feet in length.
• Feed your horse a biotin supplement to promote healthy hoof growth.
• Keep your horse away from wet footing or bedding to prevent soft hoofs and thrush, a stinky fungus that eats away at the frog and sole of the foot.
• Poor nutrition can cause dry, crumbly, cracked and split hoofs.
• Dry hoofs may be caused by a lack of exercise.
• Allowing your horse to stand in mud can damage their hoofs and legs.

[rubbershoe]

on 5/20/2008 please contact me about my rubbershoe that can heal just about all lameness problems at www.crown-rubbershoe.com

[rubbershoe]

on 5/20/2008 contact me, rubbershoe at www.crown-rubbershoe.com

[Drinx]

on 9/24/2007 I have a problem and I am looking for anyone that has had a similar one and maybe has a cure. My horse's cornet bands are very crusty and I will scrap the crust off and then they will bleed a little. I have tried corona, vitamin E, even ointments from the vets and nothing is helping. It is starting to affect his hoof growth. HELP

[bottomlein]

on 8/22/2007 I have an old gelding that turns into a monster when it comes to his hooves. I have been working with him and am able to pick up his front hooves and pick them, though some days he refuses to cooperate, and we have had several problems when it comes to trimming his hooves. Like him ripping apart a truck, havign to be tranquilized by our last farrier, and he actually broke someones hand a few years ago. He luckly has not had any problems as of yet but I am concerned about his hooves since he is ridden on gravel roads and the occasional ditch. Is there a way I can calm him down, or something I can do to protect his hooves on the road? Also can anyone tell me what it looks like when the frog sheds? e-mail me at [e-mail]....thanks

[BaadGirls]

on 1/7/2007 Black and White Hooves - I think that this must be an old wives tale that someone has picked up and passed on: Horses with white hooves need shoes and horses with black hooves do not. What a load of nonsense! I previously owned a Connemara pony who had 4 white hooves and he was never shod for the 10 yrs I rode him. He was ridden on soft and hard ground. He was ridden on roads weekly and he managed comfortably alongside his shod equine friends.
Each horse should be looked at as individuals and deciding whether to put shoes on your horse is a decision not to be made on an old wives tale such as this!