Here are some tips for keeping your horse's hooves healthy.

Cracked hooves are common among horses. The majority of cracks heal themselves and pose no risk to the horse. In some cases, however, a split can worsen, resulting in chronically unbalanced hooves and even lameness. Several factors can cause a horse's hooves to crack. Factors, including genetics, environment, routine, and diet, play a significant role. Cracks can often be prevented and treated before they become more serious. In addition to your horse care routine, here are some tips for maintaining healthy hoof health.

Establish a regular farrier visit schedule.

Regular farrier trimming and balance are essential to keeping your horse's feet healthy. Whenever a hoof wall gets too long, it bends and cracks. To ensure your horse's health, even if they're barefoot, you should have a farrier visit regularly. Farriers are experts at detecting small abscesses and punctures that you might miss. In general, farrier visits should be every 6-8 weeks.

Don't forget to give your horses a hoof supplement every day.

Our Hoof Care Plus formulation contains vital ingredients such as biotin, copper, zinc, and 18 amino acids to promote healthy hoof growth. In addition to benefiting a horse's hooves, a quality horse hoof supplement can also improve its hair.

Diet 

Horse hooves are heavily influenced by diet. Horses with good overall health are less likely to develop cracked hooves. To maintain healthy hooves, your horses must maintain a healthy weight, are turned out regularly, and consume a healthy diet.

Influences of the environment.

In wet or muddy conditions, horses are more likely to develop cracked hooves or thrush. Mud causes suction on the feet, which can loosen shoes or cause them to fall off. The thick mud covering the feet can make it quite challenging to spot cracks and other problems. Wet hooves become soft and swell. The hoof stiffens and contracts when it becomes dry. A similar phenomenon occurs when wood swells or contracts in moist or dry conditions. As a result of this frequent swelling and contracting, horses' shoes can loosen and cause cracks. To maintain healthy, strong hooves, you must keep them clean. Keep your horse's feet clean by picking them out regularly. Riders are responsible for checking a horse's hooves, not just the farrier. Make sure no stones or small objects are stuck inside your horse's hooves after riding. Take the time to clean your horse's feet and remove packed dirt and grit. Ensure you have the right tools. Use a sturdy hoof pick and a stiff brush. In addition to spotting cracks, abscesses, and other conditions on your horses' feet, picking them will allow you to spot if they need treatment. You can also check for loose shoes by wiggling them regularly. Preventing more avoidable foot conditions in horses requires early intervention.

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DISCLAIMER

All information on the Aussie Joint Health website is for educational purposes only. There is no diagnosis or treatment intended for individual animals in the Aussie Joint Health content. It is imperative that you address any questions or concerns you may have about your animal with your veterinarian. The information provided on Aussie Joint Health should not replace your relationship with your veterinarian. This blog post is intended to help you have a better conversation with your veterinarian about the appropriate treatments to use for your pet.