Ten top tips for healthy hooves

We all know the old adage ‘no foot, no horse’. Here are H&C’s top ten tips on keeping your horse’s most important asset in healthy condition.

Top tips for healthy hooves

1. Keep your horse’s bed clean and dry. “Urine contains ammonia which will attack the horn structure,” says Andrew Poynton executive member and examiner for the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF). He also recommends using straw as it doesn’t ball up in horses’ feet, which can draw out moisture, and it allows air to circulate.

2. Our unpredictable weather, which can changes from dry to wet and dry again, can weaken the hoof horn. Master farrier Wayne Upton says applying a product containing animal or vegetable grease to a clean hoof will protect it. “Make sure you also apply plenty under the hairline, onto the coronary band,” he says. “If you look after new growth the foot will become healthier.”

3. Pick out feet daily – not only to remove debris, which can cause bruising or punctures, but to check the foot. Look out for signs of swelling, heat, moisture, discolouration and bad odour.

4. Take care on hard ground during summer, as it can cause bruising or sore feet. “Pads can help shod horsescope with the increased impact, while barefoot horses may need to wear hoof boots,” says Master farrier Marc Jerram.

5. According to farrier Richard Chard, the most important aspect of shoeing is the preparation of the foot. “With correct trimming we can keep the foot in balance for as long as possible, which is one of the keys to a healthy horse.”

6. A balanced diet is key for ensuring healthy horn growth. “If you’re feeding a handful of nuts per day and your horse is at grass you might think he’s getting enough,” says independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod. “But unless you are feeding the required amount according to the manufacturer, they’re not getting sufficient minerals and vitamins,”. Clare recommends feeding a multi-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement or balancer.

7. Equine podiatrist Debbie Survila believes road work is a good stimulus for the foot. “It increases blood flow to the foot, encouraging healing and growth.”

8. According to farrier Andrew Poynton basic management is the key to healthy feet. “Good hoof care is as simple as picking out feet every day, and keeping them clean and dry. But so many people substitute this with lotions and potions.”

9. Ask your farrier how many Continual Professional Development (CPD) points he got last year. This is a system put in place for professionals such as doctors, lawyers and vets and farriers to ensure they continue learning while they’re practicing.

10. Wayne says you should check the clenches after your horse has been shod. “These are the shop window for farriers,” he says. “If they’ve taken the trouble to make them look nice then it generally means the horse has been shod well. They should be small and tight, with a neat finish.”