How often do you trim your horse’s foot?
Well, in my experience, many horse owners do not trim their horse hoofs as needed. Horse hooves require regular trimming because overgrown hooves lead to hoof crack, break-off, chipping, or splitting, among other hoof issues.
Proper trimming leads to a healthy hoof for domestic horses. You should trim your horse’s hooves every 4 to 6 weeks based on how fast the hooves grow or how they wear down.
Hoof trimming should be done by a professional to avoid over-trimmed horse hoofs. Trimming too short can be uncomfortable and painful for your horse. Moreover, it can affect your horse’s daily activities.
Stay with me till the end and learn problems with too much trimming and the reasons you should avoid over-trimmed horse hoof!
Can you trim a horse’s hooves too much?
Yes, it is possible to trim a horse’s hooves too much, especially if you hire an inexperienced farrier. For proper hoof care, always get help from a professional farrier. And if you choose to trim the hooves by yourself, get the right training from a trained veterinarian or farrier.
There are many factors you need to put into consideration during hoof trimming like the soft tissues, tendons, bones, and ligaments. While many experienced farriers do a perfect trimming job (Learn about foot trimming tools), it is good to look at the bottom of the feet and check if the hoof was correctly trimmed to avoid hoof problems.
Top 10 reasons why should avoid over-trimmed horse hoof
Trimming your horse hooves too short brings many problems. As a horse owner, you should avoid over-trimming, by all means, to keep your horse feet healthy. Let’s have a look at the risks of over-trimming horse hoof and why you should avoid it.
- Over-trimming horse hooves can lead to a shorter hoof wall, which makes the horse rest its weight on the sole.
- It can lead to thin a sole hence exposing the sensitive areas.
- Excessive trimming can cause pain and complications.
- It leads to abnormal hoof conformation, and your horse may experience lameness.
- Poor hoof trimming results in uneven hoof loading which strains the muscles, joints, and tendons.
- Over-trimming can lead to flat or dropped soles and cause more sensitivity on stone and other rough grounds.
- Causes sore feet, discomfort, bruising, and lameness.
- Affects the horse’s routine because he will adjust the distribution of body weight to relieve pressure on the sensitive hoof.
- It can affect the horse’s balance on the ground.
- Excessive trimming can lead to secondary problems like falling, tripping, lameness or swelling on the lower limb.
Related article: This guide will take you through the basics of how horses survived without hoof trimming.
How to tell if a horse foot is sore
Does your horse’s feet seem sore after trimming? What does this mean to you? Over-trimming the hooves is one of the major causes of horse soreness in the hooves. Horses with sore hooves experience pain and discomfort. Eventually, this can lead to bruising or lameness.
So, how do you know your horse’s foot is sore? Let me show you how!
- When the horse avoids gravel or hard ground;
- He looks like he is taking shorter steps;
- Shows stilted movement when turning;
- He is not willing to have his hooves picked;
- Limping;
- Lameness;
- Shifting weight frequently;
- Unusual posture;
Related article: You’ve heard that horse hooves are good for dogs, but is it really true? Here’s what you need to know about using horse hooves for your dog.
How do I prevent sore hooves?
When you notice your horse has a sore foot, providing supportive care is essential to relieve the pain. This ensures soreness doesn’t continue. The first thing you should do is to talk to your vet or farrier. He will diagnose the severity of the soreness and recommend the best treatment plan.
You can also do more shavings to make your horse feel comfortable or use hoof picking to soothe the sore soles. A well-fitting hoof boot also provides better cushion and comfort. Lastly, use a hoof hardener to relieve sore hooves.
Horse owners should also take note of the environmental changes because it affects hoof growth and hardness. For instance, during winter, there is more moisture and the feet become softer. In this case, less trimming is required.
On the other hand, during dry and warmer seasons, the hooves are stronger and their growth is quick compared to winter. Therefore, aggressive trimming is important.
Lastly, follow a regular trimming routine to enable your farrier to monitor the health of the hooves regularly.
Can hoof trimming cause lameness?
Lameness is a common problem that affects most horses.
Research shows that 90% of horse lameness results in the foot. However, there are other causes of lameness. But first, what exactly is lameness?
Let me explain!
In simple terms, lameness can be defined as a change in the movement of your horse that results from pain. A horse suffering from lameness is unable to move normally or unwilling to stand.
Does hoof trimming lead to lameness? Of course! The most common cause of lameness in horses is over-trimmed hooves. Poor hoof trimming and hoof care cause lameness. Trimming the hooves too short, especially during dry seasons can cause lameness issues.
How can you tell your horse is suffering from lameness? Well, several key pointers alert you about horse lameness. For instance, when he is limping, bobbing his head, refusing to move, reduced ability to run or walk, and has imbalanced standing.
Apart from over-trimming, there are other causes of lameness which include foot abscess, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, and traumatic injuries, among others.
Conclusion
Horses spend most of their time on their feet, so their hooves are crucial for their well-being. Poor hoof health compromises the overall health of your horse. Proper horse hoof care is crucial to help you evaluate the health of your horse’s hooves. Over-trimmed hooves not only cause pain and discomfort but also lead to lameness if it is not taken care of.
For a horse with an over-trimmed hoof, get a temporary shoe or hoof boot to offer more support when the hoof is re-growing.
Lastly, consult your farrier or vet for ideas on how you can keep healthy barefoot hooves after over-trimming.
