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Hoof Care
In the wild, horses travel great distances throughout the day and
their hooves have evolved to continually wear down to a natural shape.
Domestication and confinement of horses to smaller fields has diminished
the capability of the hoof to do this naturally. As their caregivers,
we must provide our horses with the routine hoof care that they
require. (See Maggie, below.)
A farrier, also referred to as a blacksmith, is a person trained to
trim horses’ feet and apply shoes when necessary. Some horses that are
used for riding, especially at faster gaits or on hard or rocky terrain,
will benefit from having shoes on at least the front feet and possibly
all four feet. In some cases, horses that are not used for riding may
still require shoes to keep them comfortable.
As alternatives to traditional farriers, many people are now turning
to the services of barefoot hoof care specialists. (For more
information on barefoot techniques, visit some of the links in right
column.)
Your veterinarian and farrier or trimmer can help you decide what
will fit your horse’s needs.
The interval that your farrier will need to trim and/or re-shoe your
horse may vary slightly with the environment, the season, and the
horse’s hoof quality, but generally every 6 to 8 weeks is recommended.
If this interval becomes much longer, the hooves can wear down or chip
and crack unevenly causing pain, lameness, abscesses (very painful
infections within the hoof), and strain on the tendons and ligaments
further up the leg. Some of these problems may take a prolonged period
of time to correct or may even have permanent effects.
During the interval between farrier visits, the owner also has
responsibilities in maintaining good hoof health. The hooves should be
picked out the daily to remove mud and feces and to examine the
underside of the foot. Dirty, wet conditions can lead to infections
such as thrush, a common bacterial infection that destroys the frog (the
soft, central portion of the hoof) and can lead to lameness. Rocks
should be removed as they can lead to bruising of the foot. If a nail
is present, however, a veterinarian should be called before removing
it. If your horse loses a shoe, an appointment with your farrier should
be made soon to have it replaced. Until this appointment, a protective
boot or bandage may be necessary or your horse may need to be kept in a
stall to prevent bruising and further damage to the hoof.
Maggie - 24 year old Shetland Pony cross
April 2004
It is thought that Maggie's hooves had not been trimmed in 15 - 20
years. Most of her life. Factor in a history of chronic
laminitis and you have one uncomfortable mare.
Maggie arrived at Traveller's
Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary, in this condition, in March 2004.
Her legs will never be straight, never be normal, but she is becoming
much more comfortable. Maggie's hooves are
trimmed every five weeks, each time taking only small amounts of extra
growth away, to allow her ligaments and muscles to gradually adapt to
new configurations. We know we are in for a long
haul with Maggie, but seeing her amble around her small paddock at will,
rather than seeing her frequently laying down, assures us that she is up
to the task of rehabilitation. Maggie may never be
completely sound. Maggie may never be "normal." But for the
first time in possibly 15 years or more, Maggie is comfortable.
Maggie is home.
Maggie - June 18, 2004
NOTE:
Material presented by
Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary on equineelders.org or in any
other manner is for information purposes only. It is in no way
intended to replace the services or advice of your veterinarian.
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"Barefoot" Resources
The
American Association of Natural Hoof Care Practitioners
The
International Institute
of
Equine Podiatry
Barefoot for Soundness
Ironfree Hoof
Hope For Soundness
Tribe
Equus
Barefoot
Horse Care
(Yahoo discussion group)
The
Horse's Hoof Magazine
Barefoot Case Studies
Equethy
Barefoot
Trim
Workshops
Barefoothorseman.com
HealthyHoof.com
Whole Horse Trim
No Hoof
- No Horse
Institute
of Barefoot Equine Management (UK)
Australian
Equine Barefoot Movement Inc.
(nonprofit organization "....to
educate horse owners, equine professionals, animal welfare bodies and
anybody else with an interest in equine issues, about the health and
welfare benefits of a natural, barefoot lifestyle.")
General Hoof Care
Resources
Dictionary of
Farrier Terms
Hoof & Leg
Anatomy, Conformation & Function
Farrier and Hoof
Care
Resource Center
World-wide Farriers Directory
FarrierSearch.com
Hoof Care
& Lameness
Magazine
HoofTalk.com
Anvil
Magazine
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