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Horse Hoof Care
The proper care and cleaning of your horses hooves are important for his health. Regular cleanings of your horse’s hooves will eliminate the chance of infections rising. You will need a hoof pick to properly clean the hoof. Allowing anything to remain in the horse’s hoof could cause an infection and heartache, for you the owner.
How to clean a horse hoof:
Stand next to the horse facing his tail, slowly run your hand down his leg gently squeezing right above his (fetlock, looks like a human ankle) and lean into the horse. Gently pick up his hoof, slowly and carefully, or you could cause him to lose his balance. Most horses will instinctively lift his foot as you reach for his hoof.
Take the hoof pick and use it to dig out any wet mud, manure, grass, stones or any other dirt or object you see present. Use the pick from the top of the hoof toward the back, do not pick in the opposite direction as you can accidentally push something in further and therefore cause an injury. When you are done slowly put the horse’s hoof back on the ground.
Below are some general tips for keeping your horse’s hooves healthy and clean.
Tip #1
When cleaning the rear hoofs, do not pull his leg to the side but pull it backwards gently, this is generally more comfortable for the horse therefore making your job easier!
Tip #2
A healthy horse will not require any special treatments or supplies daily. In fact, washing the hoof with water too often can dry them out.
Tip #3
It is essential to keep your horse’s stall dry and clean to eliminate any infections. Keeping your horse in a wet area could result in a disease known as Thrush. When a horse does have thrush present, a strong odor will be present. There are many products available to treat thrush but simply keeping his area dry will help eliminate the risk.
Tip #4
To maintain the cleanliness and healthiness of your horse’s hooves it is imperative to clean his hooves before and after every ride or walk. If you do not ride regularly, it is still a good idea to check his hooves weekly to make sure they are clean of any dirt and objects.
 Read our article on Grooming your Horse.
Please Note:
The information provided above is solely for the purpose of informing and educating our visitors and should not be used to replace the advice or care of a professional, qualified veterinarian.
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