Everything You Need To Know About Horses

Taking Care of Your Horses Hooves

Hooves can tolerate brief exposure to the full range of moisture levels in footing, but prolonged periods spent in extremely dry conditions take a toil on hoof health, particularly if hydration is already an issue.

Tips on how to access your horse’s hooves on the wet to dry scale

TOO WET:

Hooves can become too plastic to support the horse’s weight without deforming. When the wet hoof spreads, the heels appear farther apart than normal, and the capsule becomes prone to flakes, cracks and bruises. The frog and sole of an overly wet hoof give easily to thumb pressure, feeling almost mushy. The periople, the waxy covering over the hoof, grows dull looking and waterlogged.

Firming up the footing in the horse’s environment is the necessary cure. This might involve more frequent or more thorough stable cleaning or upgrading the paddock or run in shed footing with better drainage and a layer of gravel. After a week away from chronically wet conditions, many soggy hooves begin to show improvement.

TOO DRY:

Hooves become brittle and stiff and tend to contract, which can lead to unsoundness. Look at the heels, which are closer together in contracted feet. The frog is nearly or equally as hard as the surrounding sole. The wall and sole of a dry hoof are very hard, making trimming difficult.

Rehydrating hooves needs to be done carefully. Sporadic wetting leads to dry/wet contraction and expansion cycle that can aggravate the problems. A better solution is special soaking boots that can be saturated or filled with water or hoof moisturiser and left on for prolonged periods. Talk to your farrier about the most appropriate treatment for your horse. Once the foot is replenished, lock in the moisture with a hoof sealer.

JUST RIGHT:

Hooves have a slightly shiny appearance, and the heels have a slight amount of give. Grasp the heels between your hands and press them together to check for slight springness. The frog of a moisture balanced hoof is no harder than the sole and yields to firm pressure with a hoof pick. Most well managed horses maintain the proper moisture levels in their hooves without any additional measures, but if you’re unsure of your horse’s hoof condition, ask your farrier or veterinarian for advice.