– Neighborly Advice –
Maintain a solid footing
Follow these five essential tips for proper summer hoof care.
By Grey Parks, ProTrition Equine Nutritionist
Chips. Cracks. Lost shoes. Horse owners are likely all familiar with these common complaints. Summer can bring with it many hoof care challenges, but there are strategies that can be used to help keep your horse’s hooves in tip-top shape all year round. Here are my five top tips for summer hoof care: 1. It all starts with a good trim Excessively long and/or imbalanced hooves stress both the hoof wall and the structures inside the hoof, including the horse’s skeleton. Trimming frequency is especially important with “problem” hooves. The goal is to trim the hoof often enough to keep its form as consistent and ideal as possible, rather than making big changes less frequently. Talk to your farrier about the best schedule for your horse, based on its conformation, hoof quality, and rate of growth. 2. Hoof supplements: More than just biotin Most horse owners are familiar with biotin and its importance to hoof health. But did you know that there are other nutrients equally important to hoof growth? These nutrients include lysine, methionine, copper, zinc, and manganese, all of which are commonly deficient in forage-only and unfortified diets. For horses that maintain their body weight on forage alone, a ration balancer should be fed to provide these important nutrients. A 2-lb. serving of Pinnacle Balancer (#336PE) also provides 15 mg of biotin, making it both a ration balancer and a hoof supplement. 3. Fly control Kicking and stomping to dislodge flies can wreak havoc on hooves, especially on horses wearing shoes. Protective gear, including masks, boots, and sheets, offers horses physical protection from most of these pests. Fly sprays offer short-term relief to horses and are best applied just prior to riding or working your horse. Consider feeding Co-op Pasture Block with Clarifly (#96057BK) to interrupt the life cycle of house and stable flies, which lay their eggs in horse manure. Flying insects tend to avoid moving air; fans in stalls and shelters can help provide horses with comfortable locations to escape these pests.
Summer can bring with it many hoof care challenges, but there are strategies that can be used to help keep your horse’s hooves in tip-top shape all year round.
4. A dry hoof is a healthy hoof It is a common misconception among horse owners that chipped, cracked hooves are “too dry.” In fact, the problem is usually just the opposite. Excessive moisture weakens the hoof wall structure, causing crumbling hooves. Keep horses with hoof issues inside or on dry footing when pastures are damp, such as after a storm or during early morning dew hours. Minimize the use of hoof oils, dressings, and polishes. 5. Consider possible metabolic disorders Shelly, crumbling hooves and chronic abscesses are common in horses suffering from metabolic disorders. These include Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushing’s Disease. If left untreated, these conditions can result in laminitis. Early detection and intervention are critical. If you suspect your horse might be suffering from a metabolic disorder, talk to your veterinarian to determine appropriate treatment.
Finally, keep in mind that all horses are individuals. It may take trial and error to discover the best management routine for a specific horse. If you’re struggling with hoof quality, talk with your farrier, veterinarian, and/or an equine nutritionist. In most cases, it takes a multi-pronged approach to improve poor hoof quality. Hopefully, the tips in this article will help you keep your horses’ hooves in excellent shape this summer and throughout the year. Be sure to visit your local Co-op for all your hoof care product needs.