Horse Hoof care tips

We're all ready for a bit of rough and tumble come winter time. Our skin can feel the wrath of winter winds, while our extremities run the risk off snapping off due to the cold! Ok, an exaggeration perhaps, but when it comes to the horse, there are plenty of things to make sure you keep an extra special eye on over the winter months. And one of those is the horse's hoof. Hooves on horses and ponies are prone to damage and infection, especially in the wet winter months. 

So, we've stuck together a few tips to help you take good care of your horse's hooves this winter.

Pick out your horse's feet - A little basic perhaps, but it is easily the single most important thing you can do for your horse's hooves. Each time you clean your horse's hooves, take an extra couple of minutes after you've pried out any packed debris to gently clear the crevice of the frog, and scrape any remaining bits of matter off the sole, with the tip of the pick. You want to be able to see the sole's entire surface, so finish the job with a stiff brush. Some hoof picks come with brush attached, or you can buy a brush separately and inexpensively.
When picking out the feet, look for signs of...

• Thrush -  its early stage is simple to treat and is indicated by a foul smell and dark ooze from the cleft of the frog. Later, the frog becomes cheesy in texture. Some horses--especially those with upright, narrow feet with deep clefts that tend to trap more dirt, debris, and manure--are predisposed to thrush even when well cared for. If you think your horse has an early case, ask your farrier to check.

• Puncture - If a nail or other object pierces your horse's sole and then falls out, the entry wound will probably be invisible by the time you pick his feet and you'll be unaware of it until it causes an abscess. In some cases the object remains in place, to be discovered when you brush the last bits of dirt from the sole. DON'T PULL IT OUT. Put your horse in his stall (protect the punctured foot, and help the foreign object stay put, with wrapping and duct tape, or with a slip-on medication boot), and call your veterinarian right away. An X-ray of the foot can show how far the object has penetrated and which structures are involved. (If you pick your horse's feet out regularly, you'll find the problem within a few hours of its occurrence.) Then your veterinarian can remove the object and advise a course of treatment.

• Cracks - Some cracks are superficial; others can worsen without appropriate shoeing. If you notice a crack in your horse's hoof, call your farrier and describe its location and size so he can decide whether it needs attention now or can wait until the next regular shoeing.

• Abscess - If your horse's digital pulse feels stronger than usual and/or is foot is warmer than normal to the touch, this could be because of an abscess inside the hoof from a badly placed shoeing nail, a bruise, or an overlooked sole puncture. Your routine check can alert you to the problem and get your veterinarian or farrier involved before your horse. If you find increased heat and a stronger-than-usual digital pulse in both front feet, and if he's shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, call your veterinarian immediately. These are signs of laminitis, an inflammatory condition that can cause severe hoof damage--and, if not treated promptly, can even be fatal.

Learn how to remove a shoe - yes, you! Many farriers are glad to teach clients how to do this (and may even have used tools you can buy inexpensively). If you can remove a sprung or shifted shoe, you may save your horse unnecessary pain and hoof damage and make life easier for your farrier or veterinarian.

Try not to turn out in deep, muddy footing - Hours of standing in mud may encourage thrush or scratches (a skin infection in the fetlock area that can cause lameness). Mud is hard on shoes, too: The suction of deep mud can drag off a shoe already loosened by alternating wet and dry conditions. Mud also makes picking up his feet a harder job; if your horse is slow about getting his front feet out of the way, he may end up pulling off the heels of his front shoes because he's stepping on them with his back toes.