Page 15 - July 2021 Parker Co. 4-H Connection

4 - H H O R S E P R O J E C T

Nutrition Can Help Some Hoof Problems

Feed good quality hay.
Correctly supplement vitamins and trace minerals.
Provide constant access to fresh, clean water.
Correct poor nutrition can lead to gradually improve hoof health.
Cooperate with veterinarians and horse nutritionists to set up a good nutrition plan.

Research shows poor quality hooves can benefit from commercially available hoof care products that contain:
Biotin (20 milligrams per day)
Iodine (1 milligram per day)
Methionine (2500 milligrams per day)
Zinc (175 to 250 milligrams per day)

Common Hoof Problems

Poor Shoeing and Trimming

Long toes and collapsed heels
Strains flexor tendons and the navicular bone
Short toes and long heels
Cause trauma to the coffin bone and joint
Imbalanced hooves
Causes stress on supporting ligaments and joints
Hoof Cracks

Causes
Dry weather, or frequent changes from wet to dry
Drawn-out trimming intervals and long toes
Poor hoof quality, some horses may be born with it
Treatment tips
Apply hoof moisturizers to the hoof wall and sole during:
Dry weather
Periods of brittle or cracking hooves
Provide good nutrition and commercially available hoof supplements to improve hoof quality
Regularly trim your horse’s hooves
Types of Hoof Cracks
Horizontal cracks and blowouts - Horizontal cracks and blowouts occur following injury to the coronary band or blow to the hoof wall.
This hoof problem generally doesn’t cause lameness.
Grass cracks - Grass cracks commonly occur in horses with long, unshod hooves Trimming and shoeing can correct these cracks.
Sand cracks - Sand cracks result from injury to the coronary band or white line disease that breaks out at the coronary band. Sand crack
may result in lameness.

Treatments can include:
Determining the cause of the cracks and removing it
Floating the hoof wall (not letting it bear weight)
Patching the crack

It usually takes nine to 12 months for a horse’s hoof to grow out.

Thrush Equine Care and Career
Exploration
Thrush is a foul-smelling black oozy liquid around the frog. Thrush occurs in wet, soiled conditions. Thrush invades the sensitive tissues of
the hoof and causes lameness. You can treat by keeping your stalls or barn clean and dry.
Outlaw Equine Rehabilitation
Solar Abscess Tour

A solar abscess is an infection in the sole of the hoof. Solar abscesses lead to sudden or severe lameness. Causes of solar abscess include
trauma, bruising, or a foreign body. RSVP is Required
Click to RSVP
Treatments include:
Removing the foreign body (if possible)
Soaking the hoof in warm water and Epsom salt
Keeping the hoof bandaged, clean, and dry

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