Regular cleaning and hoof picking is vital to the overall health of your horse’s feet.  They should be picked out before and after every ride to prevent stone bruises and discomfort, and always carry a hoof pick with you on your rides in case your horse picks up an uncomfortable stone.  For safe and easy hoof picking, try the following routine:

• Make sure your horse is standing quietly, and tie him up if he has a tendency to wander off.
• Stand on the left side first, facing the horse’s tail, and run your hands gently but firmly down his neck, shoulder and legs.
• Be sure that you are in a position to have good balance and free movement.  If your horse kicks or suddenly drops his foot, you will need to be able to get out of the way.
• Give him your command for lifting his foot.  This can be anything as long as you use it constantly.
• If your horse does not pick up his foot on the first command, squeeze the fetlock and give the command again.  Most horses will respond to this but if he is being difficult, you might ask him to shift his weight over and pick up the foot as he moves his weight to the other foot.  If your horse normally lifts his foot without difficulty but is now having a hard time with it, you will want to check for lameness.
• Support the hoof with one hand and use the pick in the other to gently clean the hoof of dirt and debris.  If your horse tries to drop his foot, flex the toe backward towards his elbow.  Stop the pressure as soon as he stops trying to drop his foot.
• Always use the hoof pick in a downward motion to avoid damaging the frog or heel.
• When you are done, gently return his foot to the ground.

A horse who continually turns up with a thrown shoe can be incredibly frustrating for the horse owner and the farrier.  Not only is it expensive to constantly replace pulled shoes, but it also impacts on your ability to ride and exercise your horse.  It may be easy to blame the farrier for lost shoes, but there are many factors that could be causing the problem:

• Poor hoof health.  A strong hoof wall is needed for shoes to be nailed on securely.  It is the hoof wall that holds the nails in place and, if it is compromised, the nails can easily be pulled out, thereby losing the shoe.
• Lack of hoof growth.  A healthy horse has a good rate of hoof growth, meaning there is always new hoof wall to nail the shoes to.  Some horses who grow slowly have difficulty keeping shoes on as the hoof wall does not regenerate quickly enough to mend the damage made by the nails.
• Improper gait.  Horses who “forge” have a tendency to clip their front feet with their back as they are moving out.  As the hind foot reaches forward and hits the front foot, it can actually step on the shoe and pull it off.  If you suspect this is the case with your horse, listen for the clicking noise caused when the hind foot hits the shoe on the front.  Improving the horse’s breakover on the front feet will usually help this issue, so your farrier will likely roll the toe of the front foot and square off the toe of the hind foot.
• Poor footing.  Horses will sometimes pull their shoes off if they slip or scramble on rough ground.  As their normal gait changes, the front foot stays on the ground for too long as the back foot comes forward and catches the shoe.  This often happens in muddy footing, which should be avoided where possible.

If your horse has a tendency to throw shoes, try keeping a pair of hoof boots on hand for emergencies and work with your farrier to identify the cause of your horse’s lost shoes.

Although they are becoming more commonplace, hoof boots are often not immediately thought of as a necessary item for your horse.  And yet, they can easily save a lot of headaches and might even be a viable alternative to shoeing your horse!

Many horse owners who prefer to keep their horses barefoot find that using boots while trail riding gives their horses the protection of shoes without having to damage the horse’s natural foot with nails.  The boots are put on just before the ride and taken off immediately afterwards, and act almost as sneakers for the horse.  They provide cushioning and protection and also prevent the hooves from chipping and breaking on hard ground.

A second important reason to have a set of hoof boots on hand is for emergency situations.  A thrown shoe can be a real problem for many horse owners, especially if your farrier isn’t immediately available.  A boot can be used until your farrier can replace the shoe, and you and your horse can enjoy a ride in the meantime.  Additionally, boots are excellent when a poultice is required and can be much easier to use than applying plastic bags and duct tape to protect the bandaging.

When purchasing a set of boots, it is important to measure your horse’s feet to ensure accurate sizing.  As with any new equipment, slowly get your horse used to them and be patient if he doesn’t accept them immediately.  Once you are able to actually put them on your horse, leave them on only for short periods of time initially, and check his feet for any rub marks that may indicate a poor fit.  Boots should not typically be used over shoes, and of course are not a substitute for regular trimming.

Any time when the hoof structure is compromised, there is potential for a dangerous, even life-threatening, situation for your horse.  Puncture wounds to the hoof are particularly devastating and require immediate attention.  Most hoof punctures occur through the sole and are usually caused by nails, either during the shoeing process or picked up on the property.  Punctures can also be caused by glass, needles, and even sharp pieces of wood or rock.

Punctures to the frog or the back half of the sole are far more serious than those at the front of the hoof.  Wounds to the heel area can cause damage and infection to the navicular bursa and bone, and can also cause damage to the deep digital flexor tendon in your horse’s leg.  These types of wounds should be considered an emergency and your vet called immediately.

The first thing to do is remove the foreign object so that the horse does not continue stepping on it, and clearly mark the wound so that it can be easily found later.  If you cannot remove the object, or if the wound is deep, do not delay in calling your veterinarian.  If, however, you are satisfied that the wound is relatively superficial, you can clean the wound and hoof and apply a poultice.  Ensure that your horse is up to date on his tetanus vaccinations, and if he is not, have your vet administer an immediate tetanus anti-toxin injection.

If your horse shows lameness over the next 24 to 48 hours, it is likely that the wound is either infected or has caused damage to the structure of the hoof.  At this point in time, call your veterinarian for further treatment and bandage the hoof to keep it clean and dry while waiting for his arrival.  In most cases, your vet will drain the wound and possibly use a poultice to continue drawing out the infection.  In some cases the wound will also be packed to keep it clean.  In very serious infections, part of the hoof may actually need to be cut away, a special shoe applied, and clean dressings used.  These types of injuries take a relatively long time to heal and require patient doctoring.