Hoof Care
Take the Healthy Horse Hoof test
Every day veterinarians across the country see hundreds of cases of laminitis, a painful disease which affects the horse's feet. What's especially alarming is that some cases are preventable. In fact, it may be that we are killing our horses with kindness. See more about Laminitis at Bayer Equine Connection
Every day veterinarians across the country see hundreds of cases of laminitis, a painful disease which affects the horse's feet. What's especially alarming is that some cases are preventable. In fact, it may be that we are killing our horses with kindness. See more about Laminitis at Bayer Equine Connection
Hoof Abscess - A hoof abscess is a localized bacterial infection in the sensitive structures of the hoof. Purulent fluid (pus) is produced as a reaction by the horse’s body to the infection.
Navicular Problems - The most common cause of locomotor lameness in horses is found in the navicular area of the horse's hoof. The "hows" and "whys" of navicular problems are often written-off as "un-known".
How to Wrap a Hoof Injury - Oddly shaped and always dirty, a horse's hoof may be the most difficult part of the body to wrap. Any bandage not securely applied is likely to come loose and accumulate the dirt and debris it is supposed to keep out.
Barefoot for Soundness - A hoof trimmed to the wild-horse shape is different from what we are used to seeing all around us.
Learn how to read the Hoof - Horse hooves are deceptively complicated. Externally, there are not many structures. There are the walls, sole, bars and frog.
NORMAL AND CHRONICALLY FOUNDERED HOOF ANATOMY - Photos
"Thrush is an infective condition of the frog and its sulci which results in degeneration of the horn (the protective frog callous) and the production of foul smelling gray/black discharge. Read more about Thrush
A horse's hoof is composed of the wall, sole and frog. The wall is simply that part of the hoof that is visible when the horse is standing. It covers the front and sides of the third phalanx, or coffin bone. The wall is made up of the toe (front), quarters (sides) and heel. Read more at: Functionally Anatomy of the Horse Foot
A hoof abscess is a localized bacterial infection in the sensitive structures of the hoof. Purulent fluid (pus) is produced as a reaction by the horse’s body to the infection. The pus accumulates between the keratinized and germinal layers of the hoof wall. Since the hoof cannot expand, the increased pressure of pus collecting within the hoof capsule causes significant pain. Read more about Hoof Abscesses
More about Managing Hoof Abscesses
Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae, the "velcro-like" connections between the pedal/coffin bone and the hoof, causing pain and lameness. Read more about Laminitis
Causes of toe cracks in horses:
- Trauma to the coronet (usually unilateral)
- Too much exposure to wet pasture and/or mud
- Too much exposure to fescue pasture
- Irregular shoeing or trimming intervals
- Allowing flaring of the toes and walls to occur -- See more about managing hoof cracks at North Carolina State University - Managing Toe Cracks
How do I take my horse’s digital pulse? And why is this important? Read more about Taking the Digital Pulse
For want of a nail a shoe was lost, for want of a shoe a horse was lost,
for want of a horse a rider was lost, for want of a rider a army was lost,
for want of an army a battle was lost, for want of a battle the war was
lost, for want of the war the kingdom was lost, and all for the want of a
little horseshoe nail.
~Benjamin Franklin
for want of a horse a rider was lost, for want of a rider a army was lost,
for want of an army a battle was lost, for want of a battle the war was
lost, for want of the war the kingdom was lost, and all for the want of a
little horseshoe nail.
~Benjamin Franklin