Hoof maintenance is a vital part of looking after your horses overall health. You should inspect your horses hooves daily, and at least two times each week. You will be able to become familiar with what is normal and what is not, and will be able to to see any problems that may be starting.
Using this simple checklist may help you in your daily practices.
1. As you approach your horse make sure the symmetry is releatively close, however they do not have to be exactly equal, but very similar to the same size and shape.
2. Examine for defects in the wall and coronary band. Pick up each hoof, run your hand over the outside of the wall to feel for impairments. Apply the same procedure for the coronary band and then squeeze it gently. Applying these two techniques will also show tender spots and moisture bearing areas.
3. Look carefully at the sole. Examine the colour of every hoof. Ideally they should be identical in colour. A well defined dark spot will indicate bruising or hole.
4. Look at and compare the frogs. The hooves at the front should be the sae size and shapeand it should be a similr case with the hooves at the rear. You should lightly push each frog with your hoof pick, in the majority of areas, apart from the desert areas, they should be a little spongy.
5. If already shod, hold the horseshoe and see if it is loose. Look for lost clinches, if loose you might choose to take off it in case your horse misplaces it by itself and possibly takes a section of hoof as well.
If you regularly check your horses hooves, you will be able to avoid a lot of issues by noticing the problem before it’s too late.
I would recommend you work into your routiene some quick steps. Use your hoof pick working from heel to toe. If packed tightly you will probably need to loosen it up a bit before it can be removed. Once the material has been taken out, look at all the regions of the hoof and make positive that there isn’t a bad odour as this is usually a clear indicator of thrush. Make sure there are no pebbles or gravel lodged anywhere, even beneath the shoe.
All hooves should display a natural gloss on the hoof wall.
If you find a smooth uniform surface with no cracks, rings, depressions, flares and a concave sole that touches the shoe, then you should be positive that the hooves are in good health.
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