Naturally, if your horse stands out in mud for months on end, it’s going to wreak havoc on his feet. And if his soles get soft, consider using a sole toughener on a regular basis to help fortify them.įinally, if your horse’s hooves have poor-quality walls that tend to break or chip easily, add a biotin supplement to his daily ration to help improve his overall hoof health.
If you do notice black, tarry goo accumulating in the crevices alongside your horse’s frogs, consider applying a thrush-fighting medication several times a week. Our favorite is the Itrepid International vinyl coated pick. Purchase a hoof pick to have an extra on hand. Always pick feet out before you longe or ride. If daily picking isn’t practical (he lives in a pasture, say), at a minimum try to do a good visual inspection daily, and use a hoof pick two or three times a week.
#FORGOTTEN FIELDS TORS HEEL FULL#
This is especially important if your horse lives in a stall full time or has only daily turn-out. Take aim by: Picking feet out daily, if possible. And if mud or clay packs into your shod horse’s feet, it can create sole pressure that bruises and creates sensitivity (shoes will act like a mold that holds mud in place to dry).įinally, rocks, sticks, or other foreign bodies that become wedged in cracks or crevasses can lead to bruises or abscesses. Wet, soggy footing can cause the feet to become soft and unhealthy-leading to conditions such as thrush. It may seem obvious, but regular hoof care-including making good use of a hoof pick-can make a big difference when it comes to the long-term health of your horse’s feet. Consult with your vet and farrier about an ideal trimming/shoeing interval for your horse-then be willing to adjust it as needed. You should also be aware that feet grow faster during certain times of year, including spring and summer when temperatures are warm and your horse is getting more consistent exercise. If your horse has inherent balance problems, an interval as short as four weeks might be recommended. For most horses, an ideal interval between farrier visits is approximately six weeks. Take aim by: Setting and keeping a schedule. If his visits are too infrequent, however, he’ll be fighting a losing battle against your horse’s tendency to grow long toes. So an important part of your farrier’s job is keeping those toes at a proper length to minimize these stresses. For example, if your horse has a tendency to grow a long toe, this puts excessive pressure on structures such as the navicular bone and navicular bursae. Then, too, cracks that start small can creep up vertically if they reach the coronary band, they can cause instability and long-term lameness.Įven more important than simply keeping your horse’s feet in good shape, timely farrier visits are essential to maintain the balance that minimizes stress to structures within the foot-or even further up the leg. This can be the perfect set-up for developing bruising or sole abscesses that can even become chronic over time. Most commonly, hoof walls will begin to chip or break, and as your horse’s toes elongate, the white line (the junction between the hoof wall and underlying structures) loses its integrity. If you allow your horse’s feet to go too long between farrier visits, you’re asking for trouble in a number of different ways. Second, he ensures that the feet remain in the proper balance. First, he helps to maintain the integrity and health of the structural components of your horse’s feet, including the hoof wall, sole, and frog. Your farrier performs two key functions when he provides care.
#FORGOTTEN FIELDS TORS HEEL HOW TO#
In this article, I’ll tell you about the seven most common blunders out there-what they are, the problems they might cause, and how to take aim against them. And a simple mistake can be all it takes to turn a sound horse into a lame one.Īs an equine veterinarian with almost 30 years in the trenches, I’ve seen certain hoof-care mistakes over and over. In fact, proper maintenance of your horse’s feet may be the single most crucial factor for keeping him sound. The adage “no hoof, no horse” is well worn for a reason: It tells us exactly how important hoof care is.
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