Cleaning out the horse’s hooves is an essential part of horse care and it needs to be done frequently.
What’s hidden beneath the surface
The concave shape of a horse’s hooves and the two clefts beside the frog can easily pick up debris that could injure the horse’s hoof. It’s not unusual to pick rocks, pinecones, and twigs out of a horse’s hooves, and although a pinecone probably won’t cause damage, rocks and twigs certainly can. Nails, bits of wire, glass, and other sharp objects can pierce the sole or cause bruising. If the horse is suddenly lame for no obvious reason, the first thing you should do is clean out its hooves and look for a foreign object, bruise, or puncture that might explain the lameness.
Fear the thrush
Manure and soil left in the hoof can create a damp, dirty environment that makes an ideal place for thrush to start. Keeping the hoof cleaned out may help prevent thrush from starting. Once thrush does set in, frequent cleaning can help it from getting worse, and any thrush remedy you are using can be applied without drawing more dirt into the area.
Health check
Getting a good look at the bottom of the hoof helps you assess when the horse’s hooves need trimming or shoes need resetting. You’re also more likely to notice if a shoe is loose as you clean out the horse’s hooves. You may also notice things such as separated laminae, heels that are getting shallow or contracted, soles that are changing, and other problems that evolve slowly but can be solved easily if caught in time. Hoof cleaning time is a good time to assess the overall health of your horse’s foot.
Here is an excellent video demonstrating How to Clean Horse’s Hoof:
Hoof cleaning should be a part of your daily routine, and along with a clean environment, a healthy diet, and the regular attention of a farrier contributes greatly to horses’ health.
