Do horses like their hooves cleaned? Yes! Most horses like their hooves cleaned – as long as cleaning is done by an expert!
Cleaning your horse’s hooves daily is important because you can easily see any problems in the hooves. Besides, daily cleaning prevents several hoof problems like bruises, abscesses, and corns.
And it doesn’t end there!
Daily cleaning prevents discomfort and other serious injuries on your horse’s hoof and ensures the hoof is in good condition. It is also a good chance for a horse owner to remove twigs, nails, rocks, glasses, and other debris that can bruise your horse.
If you don’t clean your horse’s hooves daily, I will show you the top reasons why you should clean horse hooves. Stick with me till the end!
Does it hurt horses to trim their hooves?
Trimming horse hooves is a pain-free process and it doesn’t hurt your horse. The hooves of domesticated horses do not have nerve endings hence trimming doesn’t hurt.
Regular hoof trimming is recommended to prevent overgrown hooves and other horse problems. A trained farrier will recommend trimming the hooves every 6-12 weeks to prevent excess hoof growth. However, this trimming interval can vary depending on the weather and your horse’s hoof growth.
Poor hoof health can subject your horse to fungal infections, abscesses, and sole bruises. Untrimmed hooves cause several defects like hoof cracks, flaring, and chipping. It is good to ensure a professional farrier trims the hooves regularly to prevent over-trimming. Trimming the hooves too short can result in lameness and other problems on the horse’s feet.
Do horses like their hooves cleaned?
Well, all horses are different and some might like their hooves cleaned while others might not. In my experience, most horses are happy when you clean their hooves or when a farrier trims their hooves.
Cleaning your horse’s feet sounds like a tough task but it is important for proper horse care. Horse hooves have a concave shape and two clefts near the frog. This makes the hoof prone to picking debris that can eventually injure the hoof if they are not removed with a hoof pick.
Maintaining the hooves clean daily not only removes the debris, stones, manure, and dirt but also helps a horse owner to examine the hoof quality of a domesticated horse. Does cleaning horse hooves sound intimidating?
Let me show you how you can do it easily!
- Ties your horse to prevent him from walking during the cleaning process;
- Don’t stand behind or in front of your horse when cleaning the hooves- stand next to the front shoulder of your horse facing the rear;
- Lift the horse’s foot gently;
- Get a hoof pick and start cleaning from the heel to the toe;
- If you can see the sole clearly, apply hoof treatment to protect the hooves from exposure to wet environments;
- Put the hoof down gently and ensure he doesn’t step on your fingers or foot accidentally;
5 Reasons you should clean horse hooves
The only way you can remove mud, dirt, debris, and other substances from the hooves is through daily cleaning. If you are not yet convinced you should clean horse hooves daily, go through these 5 reasons to understand the importance of hoof cleaning.
To remove foreign objects
The concave design of the horse hoof makes it prone to so many random objects. There are tons of foreign things you can remove from the horse’s hooves like thorns, glasses, rocks, cactus spines, metals, and horseshoe nails – the list is endless.
All these objects can be dangerous on the hooves, and that is why they should be removed through daily cleaning.
See also: Keratex and Durasole are two popular hoof care products on the market. But which one is better for your horse?
Notice hoof problems
There are many problems you can identify on the horse hoof when cleaning. For instance, you can notice a loose nail on the horseshoe. Lose nails make horseshoes shift and this can bruise or injure your horse.
Discover hoof infections
Cleaning horse hooves daily helps horse owners identify hoof infections like thrush at early stages. They can take the right measures to curb the infection before it is too late.
Bonding time with your horse
Routine hoof cleaning creates a good bonding moment with your horse. Since you check the hoof daily, you are familiar with the horse’s leg and it is easier to note any changes.
Conclusion
How often do you clean your horse’s hooves? For horse owners who don’t do it daily, you should include hoof cleaning in your daily routine. Marinating a healthy and happy horse begins at the hooves.
Daily hoof cleaning is recommended to keep the hooves in good condition and prevent hoof infections and other deterioration.
Pay more attention to your horse’s hoof health, and provide a healthy diet, hoof supplement, and regular exercise for a healthy horse. I hope the above tips will help you take care of your horse’s hooves the right way.
