The long-standing saying "NO HOOF, NO HORSE" is very true. So to take care of your investment, take care of your horse's hooves.
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- A miniature's hoof is much different in care and repair than a full sized horse - We are experienced Miniature Hoof Care Specialists and understand the differences and unique care that a miniature horse requires and that most full sized horse Ferriers do not specialize in.
- We are experienced Hoof Care Specialists and can help diagnose, correct and prevent hoof problems.
- We can train you to take care of basic daily hoof care needs.
The
Hoof
The hoof is quite different from a human foot or a dog’s paw. A hoof
has unique parts and features that require special care. If you looked
at the bottom of the hoof, you would see the outer layer of the hoof
that is called the hoof wall. This is also the part of the hoof that is
visible when the horse is standing with feet on the ground. This hard
surface is what braves the elements and is somewhat like a fingernail. Just inside the wall is the white
line. And the sole of the foot is the area between the white line and
the triangle shaped anti-slipping device known as the frog that is in
the center of the foot.
The hoof is a structure made up of bone, cartilage, joint surfaces, and sensitive and insensitive laminae which act like double-sided sticky tape to hold the hoof together. The frog of the hoof, a traction device as well as a cushion, is the heart of the foot. It is the triangular, spongy tissue located in the center of the hoof which leads back to the heel in a widening "V." Debris, be it gravel, glass, nails, or any other foreign object, can lodge along the sides of the frog and can work up into an "unseen" portion of the hoof, between the frog and the hoof sole, causing hoof bruising and/or lameness.
Hoof
Cleaning & Care
Pick up the hoof by standing next to the horse facing the tail, run your
hand down the leg gently squeezing the leg just above the fetlock (looks
like an ankle) and lean into the horse to gently shift his or her weight
to the other legs. Most horses will lift their feet as soon as your hand
nears the hoof. Use your hoof pick to firmly dig out wet mud, manure and
any stones present by pushing the pick from the wide part of the frog
toward the toe. Never pick in the opposite direction as you might
inadvertently push a rock or stone further into the hoof causing injury.
Be very careful to place the hoof back on the ground when you are done.
Dropping the hoof on the ground could result in a chip. When lifting the
rear feet use the same method being careful not to pull the leg out to
the side. It is also generally safer if you hold the rear hoof a little
(6-12 inches) farther behind the horse. That makes the horse both more
comfortable and less likely to kick.
If your horse is healthy, there is no need for special creams or treatments on a daily basis. Avoid washing the hooves often with water as that can dry them out. It’s also important that the horse is in a clean dry stall and dry pasture. Wet areas breed bacteria that will result in a disease known as thrush. You will know if your horse has thrush because of the offensive smell coming from the hoof. The frog may also appear dark and overly soft. There are a number of products on the market to treat thrush as well as many home remedies. We can assist in determining what is best for your horse.
A balanced diet is important to the healthy hoof. Too much lush grass in the spring or too much grain with little work can result in laminitis (also known as founder), which is a swelling and fever in the feet. Younger horses are particularly susceptible to laminitis and should receive limited amounts of grain for that reason. Consult your veterinarian to see if your horse is at risk.
When
to use us
If you suspect hoof problems, call us
immediately. How often should you have your horses hooves trimmed? There is no easy answer. The younger your horse, the faster
his hooves grow. The level of nutrition your animal is on affects his
hoof growth. The amount of exercise your horse gets probably has the
biggest affect on hoof growth.
The amount of hoof growth versus hoof wear determines how often trimming is needed. As a rule of thumb about every 8 weeks usually is correct. There are other guidelines one can use.
Conditions that indicate trimming is necessary:
- The horse stumbles due to excessive toe length.
- The hoof wall is cracking.
- The hoof wall is jagged or irregular. This can also be due to hoof angle changes due to excess wear on either side of the hoof wall.
- When ground conditions change and a trim is necessary for top performance.
Emergency
Care
If your horse exhibits lameness. that
is the time for emergency hoof care. Lameness as defined by the AAEP
(American Association of Equine Practitioners) is any alteration of the
horse's gait. To be able to determine just how lame your horse is, you
need to scale it in a manner that us and the veterinarian are both
familiar with. The AAEP has a lameness scale, which is currently the
standard being used. The AAEP guidelines are:
- 0: Lameness not perceptible under any circumstances.
- 1: Lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances (e.g., weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surfaces, etc.).
- 2: Lameness is difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line but consistently apparent under certain circumstances (e.g., weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surfaces, etc.).
- 3: Lameness is consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances.
- 4: Lameness is obvious at a walk.
- 5: Lameness produces minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest or a complete inability to move.
Also, it is important to know which leg your horse is lame in. When a horse is noticeably lame, his head will bob down on the sound leg. This works really well for front end lameness.
Now that you can grade lameness and can tell which leg is lame , you are ready to act. Remember that you, along with us, and your veterinarian are a team when it comes to your horse's hoof health.
If your horse suddenly shows up lame, what should you do? Do NOT wait 2, 3, or more days to see if he gets better. The first thing to do is make a quick physical exam. Check your horse for cuts, bruises, and abrasions. Then check the hooves; clean the bottom or sole of the hooves thoroughly. Look for rocks, nails, glass, or any other foreign object that could cause damage. If nothing is found, feel the coronary band for heat. Heat here would indicate a possible abscess. If you still don't find anything, wash the sole of the hoof and check for small puncture wounds.
If you have any questions on judging your horses lameness, or questions on lameness itself, give us a call and we will gladly help in any way.