The essential care your horse’s hooves need to stay strong during the coming season
Planning ahead and good management are key to keeping those nasty winter hoof conditions at bay, says Stuart Thorne MRCVS
YOU CAN’T CONTROL the weather, but you can control the condition of your horse’s hooves going into the winter,” says Stuart Thorne, veterinary surgeon and director at Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic. “People forget about their horse’s hooves through the summer and autumn months, then winter comes and they panic because their horse’s feet are in a dreadful condition.” Owners should start preparing their horse’s hooves around nine months earlier, particularly where cracks are concerned, advocates Stuart. “On average, a hoof grows 10mm a month, so if people are worrying about the flaky, cracked edges on the ground-bearing surface of the horse’s hoof, they should be dealing with this before winter in order to get a really good quality foot to go through the season.” A key component in promoting quality hoof is regular farriery, whether your horse is shod or not. “An awful lot can be addressed through regular farriery because that keeps the foot in the right condition and shape, which helps to minimise cracks and flares. Barefoot hooves need just as much attention from a farrier as shod hooves.”