Take Care of Your Horses Hooves for Optimal Health and Performance

The health of your horses hooves is essential for their overall wellbeing and performance. If your horses hooves are not in good condition, it can have a negative impact on their ability to move, jump, and perform in a variety of activities. For this reason, its important to pay attention to the health of your horses hooves and take steps to ensure they remain healthy and strong.

The first step to maintaining your horses hoof health is to ensure they receive regular hoof care. This should include regular trimming and filing, as well as cleaning the hooves of mud and debris. Its important to use the right tools and techniques when trimming your horses hooves, as incorrect methods can cause damage. Additionally, its important to check for signs of infection or injury, such as abscesses, cracks, and thrush. If you notice any of these signs, its important to seek veterinary care to address the issue.

Another way to improve your horses hoof health is to provide them with the proper nutrition. A balanced diet that includes plenty of vitamins, minerals, and proteins will help to keep your horses hooves strong and healthy. Additionally, its important to provide your horse with plenty of exercise, as this will help to improve circulation and keep their hooves in good condition.

Finally, its important to pay attention to your horses environment. If your horse is standing in wet, muddy conditions for extended periods of time, their hooves can become weak and prone to infection. Its important to provide your horse with a dry, clean environment to help keep their hooves in the best condition possible.

By taking the proper steps to maintain your horses hoof health, you can ensure that they stay in top condition and are able to perform at their best. Regular hoof care, proper nutrition, and a healthy environment are all essential for maintaining your horses hoof health.

Natural hoof care

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Is the practice of keeping so that their are worn down naturally, or trimmed to emulate natural wear, so they do not suffer overgrowth, splitting and other disorders. are not used, but domesticated horses may still require trimming, exercise and other measures to maintain a natural shape and degree of wear.

Within the natural hoof care philosophy, the term refers to horses which are kept barefoot, as opposed to horses who are fitted with or hoof boots. The hooves of barefoot horses are trimmed with special consideration to a barefoot lifestyle. The advocates a generalized use of barefoot horses, both in non-competitive and competitive riding, often coupled with a more natural approach to . Horses are kept barefoot in many parts of the world, including , and other industrialized and non-industrialized cultures.

Horses were ridden and used for work by humans for thousands of years before horseshoes were invented. The did not shoe their horses, and in his classic work on horsemanship wrote, “naturally sound hooves get spoiled in most stalls,” and advised measures to strengthen horses’ feet:

To secure the best type of stable-yard, and with a view to strengthening the horse’s feet, I would suggest to take and throw down loosely four or five waggon loads of pebbles, each as large as can be grasped in the hand, and about a pound in weight; the whole to be fenced round with a skirting of iron to prevent scattering. The mere standing on these will come to precisely the same thing as if for a certain portion of the day the horse were, off and on, stepping along a stony road; whilst being curried or when fidgeted by flies he will be forced to use his hoofs just as much as if he were walking. Nor is it the hoofs merely, but a surface so strewn with stones will tend to harden the of the foot also.

More recently, , who studied wild and domestic horse hooves, promoted the modern variant of natural hoof care in (1992).

Horses have been used without shoes throughout history. Not only does the horse benefit with a healthier hoof in some cases, it can be less expensive to keep a horse barefoot, and many owners have learned to trim their horses’ hooves themselves. As the health and movement benefits of barefooting have become more apparent in horses that have completed transition, horses are being competed barefoot in various sports (including , , , racing, and ).

There are several styles of barefoot trim in use today, including the Wild Horse or “Natural Trim” (developed by Jaime Jackson) the 4-Point Trim (Dr. Rick Reddin of NANRIC), the Strasser Trim (one of the most controversial as the horse’s sole and bars are scooped out to widen the frog), the “Pete Ramey” trim where elements of the wild horse trim are the goal but the process includes removing hoof wall and forcing the horse to walk primarily on the sole. Some types, such as the 4-Point Trim can be used alone, or with shoes.

Barefoot trims are marketed to the public as something different from the “pasture” or “field” trim which are trained to provide, taking into consideration hoof health and bony column angles, though each branded type of barefoot trim has its individual differences and there is no standardization or agreement between various barefoot advocacy groups. In contrast to farrier trims, barefoot trims are marketed as an approach to high performance hooves without the need for shoes, or simply as a natural approach to hoof care (depending upon the individual trimming method). However, they are something different, designed by nature itself to maintain a healthy, sound hoof without the use of shoes.

The barefoot trim aims to emulate the way in which hooves are maintained naturally in *healthy* wild horse herds, like herds such as the American or the Australian , as well as wild and other populations. Wild horses have been observed by Gene Ovnicek as having a hoof that tends to make contact with the ground on four points, and the hoof wall does not contact the ground at all. But the wild horse studies and measurements gathered by Jaime Jackson, a farrier at the time and working in unison with farrier Leslie Emery (author, ) from 1982 to 1986 dispute Ovnicek’s findings (The Natural Horse: Lessons from the Wild, 1992/1988 American Farriers Association annual conference). The trim guidelines he created for the AANHCP require the hoof wall to be on the ground as the most distal structure – with the sole, frogs and bars also acting as support structures when the horse is on uneven terrain. This is said to be another difference between the barefoot trim and the pasture trim, where the hoof wall was left long and in contact with the ground. Like wild horse populations, barefoot domestic horses can develop callouses on the soles of the hooves, allowing them to travel over all types of terrain without discomfort.

Important to the success of the barefoot trim is consideration for the domestic horse’s environment and use, and the effects these have on hoof balance, shape, and the comfort of the horse. Objectives depend upon which method is followed: 1) many other than the AANHCP suggest shortening the and heel to the outer edge of the concave sole for best hoof conformation, and 2) applying a rounded bevel (” “) to the bottom edge of the wall to allow for a correct (the moment when the foot unloads and tips forward as it begins to lift off the ground) and to prevent chipping and of the wall.

There is some research, but no scientific double blind studies, which indicates that removing horseshoes and using barefoot trimming techniques can reduce or in some cases eliminate in horses and .

It is generally agreed upon by most natural hoof care practitioners that the management of the animal (diet and boarding conditions) are the most important components for the success of the horse to be barefoot. If the diet is unnatural, there will be inflammation and the horse cannot be comfortable.

Removable iron known as ” ” may have been invented by the Roman legions. Nailed-on shoes were certainly used in Europe by the .

Horses were shod with nailed-on horseshoes from the Middle Ages to the present, though well-trained farriers also performed barefoot trimming for horses that did not require the additional protection of shoes. It has become standard practice to shoe most horses in active competition or work. However, there is a growing movement to eliminate shoes on working horses. Advocates of barefooting point out many benefits to keeping horses barefoot and present studies showing that improper shoeing can cause or exacerbate certain hoof ailments in the horse.

Damage from improperly fitted and applied horseshoes can be seen in a gradual distortion of hoof shape, along with other ailments. Hoof soles are often sensitive when going barefoot after a long period of having been shod (because they are not thick enough through callusing). It can take weeks, months, a year, or more, depending on the horse’s prior condition, before a horse is sound and usable on bare feet. During this transition period, the horse can be fitted with which protect the soles of the feet until the horse has time to heal and build up callouses, though these boots, especially when not properly fitted and used, can cause hoof damage as well.

The two things which can directly affect the health of the hoof are diet and exercise. Observers of wild horse populations note that the equine hoof stays in notably better condition when horses are in a herd situation and are free to move around 24 hours a day, as wild horses do, permitting good circulation inside the hoof. It is recommended that horses be allowed to walk at least five miles per day for optimum hoof health. The terrain should be varied, including gravel or hard surfaces and a water feature where the hooves can be wet occasionally.

Diet & nutrition is very important too, as changes in feed can directly affect hoof health, most notably seen in cases of . Even hay/grass may be high enough in sugar to cause laminitis. A healthy diet for horses currently with or prone to laminitis is based on free access to hay that has been tested for carbohydrate content and found to be less than 10% WSC + starch, appropriate mineral supplementation, and no grain. Feeds and forage with high levels of sugar (carbohydrates) correlate with higher risk of clinical or subclinical laminitis and with other hoof ailments.

Natural hoof supplements can be used as a boost to the immune systems of horses when concerned with laminitis or other hoof ailments. D-Biotin supplements, often including the sulfur-containing amino acid dl-Methionine, are commonly known supplements that may be helpful for managing hoof health if they’re deficient/imbalanced in the diet.

Modern research by individuals such as Jaime Jackson and Tia Nelson have studied to observe the way in which their natural foraging and roaming affects their hooves. They noticed that the hooves of these horses have a different configuration from domestic horses kept in soft , having shorter toes and thicker, stronger hoof walls.

Whether wearing shoes or going barefoot is better for the horse is the subject of some controversy. Opponents of the barefoot movement argue that domesticated horses are routinely put through abnormal levels of activity, stress, and strain, and their hooves undergo excessive wear and shock. Stable-kept horses are not exposed to the same environment as wild horses, which can affect their hoof quality. Additionally, humans sometimes favor certain traits over hoof quality (such as speed), and will breed horses with poor hoof quality if they are exceptional athletes. This can lead to overall decreased hoof quality within a breed and in riding horses in general. Advocates of traditional hoof care suggest that shoeing is needed to protect the hoof from unnatural destruction, and that the horseshoe and its various incarnations has been necessary to maintain the horse’s usability under extreme and unnatural conditions.

How to Make Hoof Oil

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Under normal conditions, a horse’s hooves should maintain a natural moisture balance. However, sometimes they can get extra dry, cracked, and brittle in cold or dry weather. In this case, it’s a good idea to help your horse’s hooves maintain an ideal moisture level by applying hoof oil. You can easily make it at home using a few simple ingredients. Apply homemade hoof oil to protect your horse’s hooves from excessive moisture or prevent them from drying out.

To make hoof oil, start by heating some oil, like coconut or vegetable oil, in a double boiler for 3 minutes. You can also add some lanolin or glycerin to help the hoof oil lock in moisture. Next, let everything cool to room temperature, and add any essential oils you’d like to use. Finally, once you’ve mixed everything together, pour your hoof oil into an airtight container for storage.

The Importance of Maintaining a Regular Farrier Schedule

Regardless if your horse wears shoes or goes barefoot, hoof care is an important part of keeping your horse sound and comfortable. A major part of this maintenance includes trimming, resetting the shoes, and regular hoof care provided by the service of a farrier. But how often should your farrier visit and why is it important to maintain a regular schedule?

No Hoof “Extremes”

Ernest Woodward, a professional farrier, stated that “Routine and frequent trimmings and shoeings on a regular schedule creates a uniform shoeing cycle with no extremes.” In other words, keeping a regular schedule with your farrier leads to a more consistent and healthier hoof. Which makes sense; a regular schedule allows the farrier to ensure the hoof remains healthy, consistent, and helps prevent other issues from developing. There are many reasons why a regular farrier schedule is important to keep. Below we discuss a few of these benefits.

The average horse needs to see a farrier every 4 to 6 weeks, but not every horse is the same. Some horses may need to see a farrier more, or less, often than the average horse. Determining how frequent your farrier visits will depend on the growth rate and current health of your horse’s hooves. A hoof that is badly damaged or suffering from a hoof related disease may require more attention, but assuming the hoof is healthy, the hoof growth can help us determine how often the horse needs to see a farrier. To do this, we must also look at the factors surrounding the horse that can affect hoof growth.

Your farrier should be able to review these factors and get a good sense of your horse’s , the conditions surrounding your horse, and how often the visits should occur. Then determining how often your farrier visits becomes a discussion between you and your farrier. The key point to remember is to establish a schedule based on your farrier’s recommendations, and consistently keep the schedule. Going months without seeing your farrier puts your horse’s hooves at risk of developing serious issues. Hoof maintenance should not be ignored or put off. It is a day-to-day requirement and crucial to hoof health, comfort, and the performance of your beloved horse.

If you have any questions regarding hoof health or maintenance, feel free to contact us at 1-800-624-1873.

Nutrition Affects Hoof Growth in Horses

When a horse has a problem with hoof quality, consider whether the animal is receiving enough energy in its diet. If a horse is expending more energy than it is receiving in feed each day, the energy in the diet will be put toward essential functions such as growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues rather than hoof growth.

A few specific amino acids, in particular methionine and lysine, are essential in forming strong, healthy hooves. The mineral zinc also aids the integrity of skin, hair, and hoof, and it is essential in a diet designed for hoof health. Chelated zinc, which is better absorbed and utilized within the body than alternative inorganic zinc sources, is a useful ingredient in a hoof supplement.

The vitamin biotin is well-known as a key player in hoof health. Studies have shown that biotin levels of 15-20 mg per day have positive effects on the hoof wall. These effects take approximately 6-9 months to fully manifest. However, without the correct balance of the other trace minerals, you are unlikely to see the desired results when using a hoof supplement as a quick fix.

For horses that need a higher level of hoof-related nutrients, Kentucky Equine Research offers ( in Australia) with biotin, methionine, iodine, and chelated zinc to provide additional support for hoof quality and growth. In a 120-day study, supplementation with Bio-Bloom HF led to a 15% increase in hoof growth among supplemented horses compared to control horses.

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