Keeping Your Horse’s Feet Healthy

Healthy hooves are essential for your horse’s well-being. If they are neglected in any way, the chances of your horse going lame increase dramatically and will end up costing you time away from riding, and money.  There is an old saying –  “No Hoof, No Horse”.

In order to keep your horse sound and happy, here is a short checklist of things you can do.

• Clean their feet out regularly. Dirt and stones can get wedged under their feet and cause discomfort and bruising.
• Have them trimmed/shod regularly. Hooves should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks on average. It is similar for shoes.
• Check the soles of their feet for bruises,puncture wounds or cracks.
• Be mindful of the surfaces you ride your horses on, particularly if they aren’t shod.
• Minimise exposure to wet muddy ground in their paddock if possible. Standing in these conditions for too long can result in your horse developing thrush, seedy toe or greasy heel.

With these few tips, your horse should be sound and happy for the adventures ahead!