I need in depth answers in how to pick out a horses hoof. pics would be a bonus with instructions?

Question

I have just recently become the proud owner of a 3 year old quarter horse and a 12 year old belgium they are BEAUTIFUL. but being new at this I have no idea what I am doing I started feeding grain 16% then they said no feed these pellets 12% well my horses lost weight so back to the grain I go then the baby starts to limp so I call the farrier out and he says that he has thrush so I am treating for that. but now he says make sure you are picking the hoofs everyday so I am like alright I can do that guess what I can't I am not sure if there is a skill to this or something you just teach yourself either way I need help.

Answer 1

Cleaning your horse's hooves regularly will give you a chance to monitor the health of the foot, check the shoes and remove any sharp objects that may be lodged in there.

Here's How:

Put a halter on your horse and secure him in cross ties or tether him to a rail using a quick release knot.

Position yourself beside the horse's shoulder, facing toward the tail.

Starting with the left front (near-fore) leg, run your hand down the leg and grasp the tuft of hair at the fetlock (ankle).

Most horses take this as a cue to lift up the foot.

If your horse doesn't pick up his foot, apply gentle pressure with your thumb and forefinger either side of the fetlock to encourage him to lift the foot.

If he still doesn't pick up the foot, lean against him slightly, pushing his weight to the other foreleg, while encouraging him to lift his foot.

Once his foot is lifted, hold the foot in the left hand and use the hoofpick in the right hand to begin cleaning.

Start at the heel and use the hoofpick from heel to toe to remove mud and other debris. Be sure to clean the cleft between the sole and the frog.

After you have removed mud and debris, check the condition of the frog. It should be firm, with no discharge.

Check the shoes to make sure there are no loose or missing nails.

Check to make sure the clenches haven't risen (make sure the nails aren't sticking out of the top side of the hoof)

Repeat this procedure with the remaining three hooves.

Apply a hoof conditioner/sealant as recommended by your farrier


Tips:


A. If you are left-handed, you may be more comfortable holding the hoof with your right and and cleaning with the left.

B. Stand close to the horse and face the tail. This will lessen the chance to you getting kicked.

C. This procedure can be used on foals, along with tapping the hoofpick on the bottom of the hoof to prepare the young horse for future farrier visits.

or:

Cleaning
The care of your horse or pony's feet is a vital part of the daily routine. Remember what Jorrocks would say, "No foot, no horse".

The hooves are cleaned using a hoof pick. Each hoof should be cleaned in turn, using the point of the hoof pick to dislodge dirt. The hoof pick must be used from the heel towards the toe to make sure there is no risk of the pick penetrating the soft parts of the frog. You should also clear the cleft of the frog and check for any signs of thrush. While cleaning the feet, you should also check the condition of the shoes

Once the feet are clean you can apply a layer of hoof oil or similar product. This improves the appearance of the hooves and certain brands are designed to improve the quality of the hoof.

Hooves

Horses feet should be trimmed or shod every six to eight weeks. The farrier should trim their feet every 6 to 8 weeks. Long hooves can cause tripping and leg or foot problems to animal.

In the winter, if not riding, pull shoes. Check hooves periodically for cracked heels. This is due to not enough moisture. If there is infection in the heels, keep area cleaned out and treat with peroxide and iodine or four parts water and one part Clorox bleach at least twice a day until they begin to heal and then use it once a day. Apply Hooflex or another brand of hoof dressing to help soften the foot.

Thrush

If a horse does not get good care regarding its hooves such as standing in a dirty stall all the time or never cleaning the feet, thrush will form. When you clean the feet and there is an awful smell and very black material around the frog area, then is most likely has thrush. This can be easily cured if taken care of. Most feed stores and tack shops have medicine. Or, you can use 4 parts water to 1 part Clorox bleach twice a day to the infected area.

Answer 2

http://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/hoof_care/handlinghooves_080803/

http://searchwarp.com/swa4961.htm

I wonder how much pasture you have for your horses to graze in? From my experience your quarter horse should eat 1/2 coffee can of oats twice a day, morning and evening with one flake of hay (alfalfa is better, but causes some gas/farts) with each feeding. I have used other types of hay, but they didn't do my horses as well. Same feed for your draft horse, just more oats and two flakes of hay twice a day. If they are getting a lot of pasture grass, you can cut back a little on the grain. If your pasture is eaten up, then they aren't getting much grass, just exercise.

You can probly find some really reliable 4-H members or FFA members who have horses to talk to you, or come out and show you how to care for your horses, there is a lot more to it, but nothing you can't learn easily.

You are sooo lucky!!

Answer 3

picking a horses hoof is really easy. make sure your horse tied then start with the near fore, and take out any sharp stones or objects. then scrape out all the mud and dirt. make sure you don't scrape into your horse's hoof. you don't need to get every single trace of mud out of the hoof, aslong as you do it often.