We've all heard the saying, “No hoof, no horse.” Your horse’s hooves are the literal foundation to his soundness and athletic capabilities, so it’s important to take care of them properly. Want to help keep your horse’s hooves in great shape? These important approaches will help.

Regular Farrier Work

Your farrier is your closest ally in your horse’s hoof care, so it’s important to find a good, experienced farrier who can help to maintain your horse’s hooves. If you need to find a farrier, ask your vet and horse-owning friends for recommendations.

Once you’ve found a farrier, stay involved in your horse’s hoof care. Try to be present for at least some of the farrier appointments so that you can monitor your horse’s progress and potential issues. Even the best farrier can’t keep your horse’s hooves in great condition if he doesn’t see the horse regularly, though, so be sure to keep your horse on a proper trimming and shoeing schedule.

Proper Diet

Nutrition plays a major role in the quality of your horse’s hooves – without proper nutrition, your horse cannot grow strong, tough hooves. Examine your horse’s diet to make sure that his nutritional needs are being met. If you’re unsure of the quality of your hay, consider testing it for its nutritional content. Nutritional supplements are also available to develop and improve hoof growth and condition.

Pasture Maintenance

Your horse spends a lot of time in his pasture, but if the pasture is consistently wet and muddy, it can poorly affect his hooves. Too much moisture can lead to soft hooves prone to abscesses and thrown shoes. If mud is a major issue in your pasture, install drainage to direct water away from the fields. Additionally, installing Stable-ity Grids in low-lying or frequently used areas of the pasture, such as the gate or feeding areas, can help to reduce mud.

Limited Moisture

While reducing the amount of mud that your horse is exposed to will go a long way towards keeping his feet from becoming too soft, frequent hosing and bathing can also take a toll on your horse’s hooves. Try to minimize how often you hose down or bathe your horse, especially if his hooves seem to be getting softer. Sponging your horse off can help to reduce the amount of water that reaches your horse’s hooves. You can also dry his hooves off immediately after a bath to help keep them from getting too soft.

Investing time and effort into caring for your horse’s hooves is well worth the trouble; a horse with good, strong hooves should have limited hoof trouble, and that amounts to more time in the saddle for you.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/jantik/77099278

Original Source: Steps to Great Hooves