Fundamentals of Proper Hoof Care

It is not enough to just call a farrier and have him shoe your horse. One of the most basic requirements of responsible ownership is to understand and practice proper horse hoof care. Your horse is not going to ask you to clean and care for his feet and this means that you must be aware of how to keep those hooves in good working condition.
Lets begin at the very first step of good horse hoof care. This is where the owner and rider should take the time to clean the hooves and remove any trapped muck debris pebbles or other objects that may have lodged in the hoof area.
It might surprise you to discover that many horses are being placed back in their stable without anyone checking their hooves at all. Somehow a lot of inexperienced horse owners have come to believe that cleaning the hooves is something that only a farrier should be responsible for doing.
Just spending a few minutes cleaning your horses hooves with a hoof pick is all that you need to do each day. This will keep your horse healthier and more comfortable. You can check for any possible injury to the hooves while you clean them. Removing any dirt mud or other caked substances from the hoof allows the animal to walk about comfortably.
Clean hooves are far less likely to develop unchecked cuts stone bruises or thrush infections. Even a very small pebble can get trapped among the curved grooves of the frog. When this type of incident happens it can result in painful bruising and cause your horse to limp.
Ideally you should be cleaning the hooves of your horse once or twice each day. The hooves need to be checked and cleaned before the horse is taken for a ride and immediately before