subject: 5 General Hoof Care Schedules To Have A Healthy Horse [print this page] 5 General Hoof Care Schedules To Have A Healthy Horse
The basics in taking care of your horse include keeping the hooves trimmed and picked, ensure the shoes have the proper fit and visit your farrier regularly. The importance of looking after the hooves of your horse is aptly conveyed by the adage "No foot, no horse." Improper hoof care can cause an animal to experience pain and discomfort and even become lame. Diseases and infections can also the effects of hooves that are not properly cared. Horse hoof supplements are a good investment as they make your horse's hooves healthy. You should also make sure that you regularly check your horse's hooves and know what you need to do to keep them healthy. Know your horse's hooves If you lack familiarity with the characteristics and anatomy of a horse's foot, you may want to do some research on the topic. General knowledge and background information will aid you understand how your horse's feet should look and will help you find if the feet are healthy and normal or whether they have abnormal characteristics. The frog portion of your horse's foot should normally feel like a brand new rubber eraser. The frog normally looks dry whilst the shedding period lasts. Close attention should be given to the care of the horse's hooves. Pick your horse's feet regularly You can pick your horse's feet if you notice any stones and debris wedged in them. Keeping the hooves free of foreign objects by regular cleaning or picking will enable you to keep an eye on any signs of injuries. This will prevent the horse from suffering from more serious health issues later on. You need to pick your horse's feet before riding or walking your horse to remove any debris which can cause soreness after the activity. By using a hoof pick, you can remove debris from the horse's hooves like stones and dirt that can be stuck inside the frog (a part of the hoof). Carefully check the frog for any infections which can be detected from its smell and secretions. Trim your horse's hooves Whether your horse is wearing horseshoes or is allowed to walk barefoot, you must make sure that you trim and level hooves regularly. Ensure the horseshoes are the right size. For horses that wear horseshoes, it is important that the shoes are not loose, as these can give discomfort and even cause lameness. Ensure that the nails fasten the shoes securely in place and such that no stones or other debris are wedged between the horseshoes and the rim. Be sure to visit the farrier regularly A good farrier is an excellent resource for quality hoof healthy and care advice. Never forget to visit on a regular basis. It is generally advised that you visit the farrier in 4 to 6 week intervals during the summer, going a little bit longer between visits in the winter. If your horse is wearing corrective shoes, more frequent visits may be needed. Your horse's overall health and well-being will depend on the condition of its hooves. Hence, you should learn to give time and invest in the right products that can improve the health of its hooves.
