Hoof Problems - Make Sure Your Horse Doesn't Have Them

For the love of horses and for owning one, you have the greatest responsibility to watch over its safety and health and make preventive measures to provide him benefits.  For horses are gentle creatures that barely even fuss about pain or discomfort they feel, so make sure you know how to determine such cases to avoid getting into serious problems causing your horse. 

One of the common health problems regarding horses are focused on their hooves since they spend most of the time using it, stationary or moving.  They step on it on plain grounds, wet or dry.  They tend to get bacterial infection which may cause some serious health problems. There are many ways to avoid such cases. So, don’t let them live in suffering and pain. 

Are your horse's hooves healthy enough?
Photo grabbed from Brittany Hull

Every time you mount and dismount your horse you should not forget to check its hooves.  What to check for? Remember about sprung or shifted shoes. Imagine your own shoes not fitting well on your own feet; it makes you feel uncomfortable and in pain, so as your horses.  Make sure that their shoes are intact and are still ready to protect their hooves from intense or even slight usage.

Check for hoof cracks, strange smells or any other abnormalities that are observable that raises your concern about your horse and don’t hesitate to call your vet right away to have it examined.  Just a slight crack from his hoof might be an open opportunity for sharp objects to penetrate its internals and could really be painful for him.  An aching foot tends to make even humans paralyzed for weeks – how much more for your horse.  Serious cases might even lead to infection caused by the unattended open wound and eventually death.  

One observable behavior from your horse is when it lifts its foot and hesitates to put it down or put pressure on it, obviously because of intense pain.  Right away, do not cause him stress, isolate him for a more comforting and calm surrounding while you call for your vet to have him examined. 

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Laminitis can result from an unhealthy and poorly-maintained hooves. It can be the cause of suffering for many horses, and for euthanasia as well. Laminitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Long-term use of anti-inflammatories can cause ulcers in horses. You can also help avoid the formation of these ulcers with equine omeprazole.

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Grabbed from Hannah Smith

Strange smells are signs of bacteria present or infection.  Daily rinsing and cleaning you do to your horse helps prevent future discomfort and health problems that might cause your horse.  Thrush is a common smelly hoof problem that creates foul smell and greyish or black discharge that horses experience because of severe neglect from owners.  There are some owners and breeders that believe thrush is common on hooves that are filthy and damp although research says that the breed can get thrush even when in the driest of summer.  So, there should be constant check-up and disinfecting towards the breed’s hooves in particular to ensure his healthy living, because his feet is his most significant part of his body one tiny problem from it can affect his whole being.