Summer hoofcare

From a reluctance to go forward or napping out of the yard, to landing steeply after a fence or refusing to jump at all, much of your horse’s health, performance and behaviour can be attributed to his hooves. It could come as a result of poor foot balance, management or infection, and, if left unnoticed, can lead to acute or chronic lameness. However, keeping his toes in optimum health is all about striking the right balance. Check out our easy hacks that are sure to help.

A sense-ible approach

It’s good practice to pick out your horse’s hooves at least once daily, but rather than just flicking out a few errant stones, why not take a few moments longer and adopt a ‘sense-ible’ approach to your horse’s hoof health. What we mean by that is to look, listen, feel and smell for signs of good health. Let’s take a look at each step in more detail…

LOOK

• Can you see any cracks or splits in your horse’s hoof wall?
• Is there any flaring or contraction in the shape of the hoof?
• Are there any signs of injury to the coronet band, sole or frog? If unshod, then look from the hoof wall to the sole.
• Are there any gaps for dirt to creep into?
• Is the shoe in place correctly and showing uniform wear?

LISTEN

As you bring your horse in to his stable or to tie him up to check his feet, listen to his footfalls. An irregularity that’s barely perceptible to the eye could be heard with a different ‘clink’ as his hoof hits the ground.

FEEL

• Does the hoof wall feel of uniform temperature, and does it match the neighbouring hoof? Heat could indicate an infection.
• Does the hoof pick make scratches into the sole, which indicates softness, or does it feel hard, dry and flaky?
• When you press the bulbs of his heels, does he flinch? Is the frog tender?

SMELL

Should there be any infection, there’s often a noticeable smell.

Keep your horse’s feet in great condition this summer. Pick up a copy of August Horse&Rider, on sale 24 June 2021, to find out how.