Imagine sitting back in your favorite chair, putting your feet up, and relaxing after a long day.
Now, imagine how your feet would feel after pulling sleighs full of people over snow filled hills, or giving carriage rides to couples who snuggle under blankets with hot cocoa while you hoof it out on the icy streets Puts a new perspective on what a horse goes through during the holidays, doesn’t it?
What’s interesting is that a horse foot and horse hoof are not the same thing. While the horse foot has all the internal structures of a regular foot, including bones and the sensitive structures, the hoof refers to the hard, outside, covering of the foot including the wall, the sole, the frog, and the periople. The hard hoof exterior does not have blood supply or nerves. However, the inside of the hoof has sensitive structures which produce and nourish the hoof and attach it to the foot.
While it’s true that some horses naturally have better hooves than other, you can help your horse grow the best possible hooves. If your horse is already producing the best hoof its capable of, you can keep those hooves beautifully maintained by fine tuning his diet. Some hooves may benefit from supplements, such as biotin supplements, but others may show little change. It truly depends on the horse.
So as we begin to trot through this holiday season together, let’s remember our equine friends, and their feet as the pace starts to pick up. Here are a few quick tips for keeping those horses hooves healthy, especially for the holidays:
- Keep a consistent exercise routine. Try to work on good surfaces, especially at walk and trot, This will help increase circulation to your horse’s hooves and promotes growth
- Proper cleaning is essential to hoove health. Always clean your horse’s hooves before and after riding. Horse kept in stalls or confined areas should have their hooves picked out daily to prevent thrush. A good, heavy duty hoof pick is an essential tool in any grooming kit.
- Trimming a horses nails is very important. Just as human fingernails grow, a horse’s hooves are constantly growing. A trimming every six to eight weeks is an ideal amount of time to keep them in proper shape. (Please Note: Trimming is a job for a trained farrier. Please do not trim horses hooves if inexperienced. This can lead to extreme damage to the horses foot. Ask around for recommendations or visit http://www.americanfarriers.org/ to find an experienced farrier in your area.)
- Horses who do a lot or work on hard ground need to be shod. If a horse has a weak hoof wall, flat sole, or other foot problem may need shoes even if they are not working. This is another area to consult a veterinarian or farrier. Shoes should be reset every six to eight weeks because leaving them on too long can damage the hoof.
All these tips, along with proper nutrition and exercise, can help prevent foot problems for a horse. Considering the amount some “workhorses” are expected to do, it’s not wonder that proper foot care is an essential part of maintaining a horse. It’s said that lameness in horses occurs far more often in the foot than in any other part of the limbs. So, if and when you get to put your feet up for the day, try to think about those who are out hoofing it this holiday season… especially our big, happy four footed horses who help keep the spirit of the season in our hearts and our souls.
