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Hind Foot |
Fore Foot |
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It is thoroughly recommended that you check your horses feet at least twice daily, and definitely before and after riding.
Pick up your horses feet, and using a good hoof pick remove any mud and stones. Always work from the heel to the toe. Be careful not to dig the hoof pick into the frog (2 above).
Sharp stones, are uncomfortable for the horse and can cause severe bruising and lameness. And objects such as nails and glass, may cause puncture wounds, which in turn can cause major infections and lameness.
If wet mud, soiled bedding or droppings is left in the hoof for a long time, moist, dirty conditions may cause a fungal infection, called thrush.
Be aware that ;
Horses that spend a lot of time in wet bedding or a muddy paddock, will
develop soft hoof walls.
Horses who are in a pasture or stall in good dry bedding or sand, will
have hard hoof walls.
Too dry and your horse will have brittle, cracked hooves.
Dirty wet or moist bedding can produce thrush and cause other hoof problems.
So, make sure your horse is in a clean, dry environment. Apply regular applications of hoof dressing or hoof oil to counter the effects of dry living conditions.
Tip: Moisturise your horses hooves by soaking each foot in water for up to fifteen minutes. Water is the only thing that will properly moisturise your horses hooves.
Your horses overall health is directly reflected in the condition of his feet and hooves.
Many health problems seen first in the feet.
Many feed supplements including biotin, help produce strong healthy feet.
Don't overuse hoof dressings or hoof oil as it can soften the hoof wall
Use hoof oils sparingly as some hoof oils can build up and prevent the
hoof from breathing.
Always check the coronet band on each hoof for signs that old oil depsoits are building up and for early warnings on how your horses feet are growing. As with your own finger nails, problem signs can be picked up in new hoof growth.
Trimming is carried out to remove excess hoof wall and this is removed to allow the horse a natural way of going.
Sometimes trimming may be done in a specialised fashion to alter the way
of going.
Trimming may be done to change the appearance of the horse's feet and
legs.
Trimming should leave the foot's ground surface on a single flat plane
at right angles to its bone support column and preserve natural angulation
of the hoof/pastern/shoulder axis.
Removal of too much hoof wall can cause soreness or lameness in your horse.
Removal of too little wall may cause angle and balance problems.
Trimming is done at 4 to 6 week intervals but can be extended depending
on your horses hoof growth.
To shoe or not to shoe is becoming a major consideration and a growing body of horse owners are deciding that their horses fair better without shoes and the hammering of nails through hoof walls.
Whatever your particular preference you should only make a decision based on sound advice from a fully qualified farrier. Farriers know more about horses feet and hooves than any other qualified or unqualified individual and in the interests of your horses health and wellbeing you should listen to your farriers advice.
Note:
Shoeing or trimming should only be carried out by a qualified and registered
farrier.
Horses need to be shod when the wear and tear on the hoof exceeds the
hoof's natural growth
Shoeing protects the horse's feet.
Shoeing generally enhances performance.
It's usually easier to run with shoes on than in bare feet.
Return to local riding >> horse health >> horse hoof
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