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Hoof care basics for horse owners
A horse's hooves grow continuously and need regular trimming and daily checking to stay balanced and sound, whether the horse is shod or barefoot.
Why the hoof needs constant attention
The hoof is a living structure that grows down from the coronary band at roughly a centimetre a month. Left unattended it grows long, the balance shifts and the horse is put at risk of cracks, bruising and lameness.
Daily picking-out of the feet removes packed mud and stones and lets an owner spot problems early: heat, a smell that suggests thrush, or a loose shoe.
The trimming cycle
Most horses are trimmed or shod every four to eight weeks by a farrier. The cycle keeps the hoof-pastern axis straight and the weight-bearing surfaces level, which protects the joints and tendons above the hoof.
A predictable cycle also matters for anyone using hoof boots. The hoof is at its measured shape just after a trim and grows out of that shape before the next one, which is why fit is checked against a fresh trim.
Barefoot and booted horses
A barefoot horse relies on a well-shaped, conditioned hoof to travel comfortably. On hard or stony ground many barefoot horses wear hoof boots, which protect the sole and wall while the hoof itself does the work.
Boots are sized from the trimmed hoof's width and length in millimetres, so accurate measurement and a steady trimming cycle are what make them fit.
Spotting trouble early
The commonest hoof problems announce themselves to an attentive owner. Heat in the foot, a bounding digital pulse and reluctance to move can signal laminitis; a black, foul-smelling discharge in the grooves of the frog points to thrush; a sudden lameness may be an abscess building under the sole.
None of these is diagnosed from a page, but knowing what a healthy foot looks and feels like is what lets an owner tell the farrier or vet quickly when something has changed.
Size a hoof boot
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Sources: British Horse Society ยท The Blue Cross horse advice