Information
Hoof Care Tips
Healthy hooves are literally the foundation for everything you want to
enjoy with your horse. Hoof care isn't time-consuming; it's just a
matter of building healthy-hoof practices into your daily management.
1. Pick out your horse's feet. This may sound pretty basic, but it's
the single most important thing you can do for his hooves and I
encounter a surprising number of owners who think picking out the
feet is the farrier's job. Your horse gets a head start on healthy
hooves, and ( As I'll Explain) you get a chance to take early action on
many common hoof problems, if you pick out his feet...
*Before each ride, to remove any stones in his feet before you add
your weight, check again after you untack.
2. Establish what's normal. While handling your horse's feet to
pick them out, notice their temperature. When everything's ok, Check
the frog, which has about the texture and firmness of a new rubber
eraser when it's healthy. Don't be alarmed, though, if everything else
looks ok but the frog appears to be peeling off --most horses shed
the frog at least twice a year, sometimes more often.
Your farrier's regular trimming of the frog may have prevented you
from noticing this natural process before.
3. When picking Out The feet, look for signs of...
Thrush. The first clue to this bacterial condition is a foul smell and
dark ooze from the cleft of the frog.
Punctures. If any nail's or other objects pierces your horse's sole
and then falls out, the entry wound will probably be invisible by the
time you pick his feet and you'll be unaware of it until it causes an
abscess. If you pick your horse's feet out regularly , you'll find the
problem within a few hours of its occurrence. "Don't Pull IT Out. Call
your Veterinarian to have it removed and advise a course of
treatment.
Cracks. Some cracks are superficial; others can worsen. Call your
farrier and describe its location and size so he can decide whether it
needs attention now or can wait until the next regular shoeing.
Abscess. If the foot is warmer than normal to the touch, the cause
could be an abscess. If he's shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot,
or is limping, call your veterinarian immediately. These are signs of
Laminitis, an inflammatory condition that can cause severe hoof
damage-- and, if not treated promptly, can even be fatal.
enjoy with your horse. Hoof care isn't time-consuming; it's just a
matter of building healthy-hoof practices into your daily management.
1. Pick out your horse's feet. This may sound pretty basic, but it's
the single most important thing you can do for his hooves and I
encounter a surprising number of owners who think picking out the
feet is the farrier's job. Your horse gets a head start on healthy
hooves, and ( As I'll Explain) you get a chance to take early action on
many common hoof problems, if you pick out his feet...
*Before each ride, to remove any stones in his feet before you add
your weight, check again after you untack.
2. Establish what's normal. While handling your horse's feet to
pick them out, notice their temperature. When everything's ok, Check
the frog, which has about the texture and firmness of a new rubber
eraser when it's healthy. Don't be alarmed, though, if everything else
looks ok but the frog appears to be peeling off --most horses shed
the frog at least twice a year, sometimes more often.
Your farrier's regular trimming of the frog may have prevented you
from noticing this natural process before.
3. When picking Out The feet, look for signs of...
Thrush. The first clue to this bacterial condition is a foul smell and
dark ooze from the cleft of the frog.
Punctures. If any nail's or other objects pierces your horse's sole
and then falls out, the entry wound will probably be invisible by the
time you pick his feet and you'll be unaware of it until it causes an
abscess. If you pick your horse's feet out regularly , you'll find the
problem within a few hours of its occurrence. "Don't Pull IT Out. Call
your Veterinarian to have it removed and advise a course of
treatment.
Cracks. Some cracks are superficial; others can worsen. Call your
farrier and describe its location and size so he can decide whether it
needs attention now or can wait until the next regular shoeing.
Abscess. If the foot is warmer than normal to the touch, the cause
could be an abscess. If he's shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot,
or is limping, call your veterinarian immediately. These are signs of
Laminitis, an inflammatory condition that can cause severe hoof
damage-- and, if not treated promptly, can even be fatal.
CASCADE FARRIER SERVICE
BEFORE
AFTER
