Don’t be fooled by fancy names and gimmicks
- A good well balanced trim is still and always will be the best hoof care you can provide for your horse.
- Calling a trim ‘natural’ or ‘barefoot’, etc, doesn’t make it better.
A six week shoeing/trimming interval is long for most horses
- Performance horses should be done in shorter intervals (4 to 5 weeks)
- Horses with confirmation defects or abnormal feet will benefit from a shorter interval.
It is the owners responsibility to help keep the shoes on the horses feet.
- Use proper fitting bell boots when turning horses outside.
- Fix mats, boards and other objects in stall that horse could get hoof caught on.
- Don’t turn horses out in extreme pasture conditions (mud, ice, etc).
Seek advice from professionals before purchasing a horse.
- Veterinarian – pre-purchase exam.
- Farrier – Hoof related issues.
- Trainer – Questions about horses ability.
Clean and pick out horses feet when leaving and returning to stall.
- Look for lost and sprung shoes.
- Check for cuts, swelling and bruising, etc.
- Look at your horses feet on a regular basis, so you know what is normal for your horse.
Keep your farrier and vet informed about subtle soreness before it becomes a big issue.
- Don’t over use your horse.
- Properly warm up and cool down.
Keeping your horse sound is a team effort. If everyone does their part your horse will be happy and healthier for it.