Maintaining your horse's hooves

Find the ultimate horse supplies tips to keep your horse's feet looking healthy and feeling comfortable. Horses are on their feet for long periods at a time. However, contrary to popular belief they are able to doze standing up but can quite comfortably sleep lying down. Even with some rest, their hooves are in constant contact with the ground.

Begin handling your horse's hooves at an early age so that your foal is comfortable with you. It is no secret that a spooked animal will kick out, which is frightening and can cause injury. If the first time you touch their legs and hooves in when they are a yearling, then you could increase the risk of harm, not to mention stressing your horse.

Next, a very simple tip is to check your animal's hooves before each ride. If a stone has happened to become wedged in, the weight of carrying a rider could cause pain and distress, particularly if you plan on jumping or galloping. It is also advisable to check the hooves following a ride, and before you put them into the stable. Take extra care to be gentle while still removing all debris, as any injuries to the hooves will be serious to fix. Always keep in mind what is normal for your horse. Any irregularities in temperature or pulse should be investigated immediately.

There are four big signs to watch out for every time you go to pick out your horse's feet. A dark ooze that later becomes cheesy in texture is a symptom of thrush, a bacterial infection. The infection is attributed to standing for long periods of time in manure or other unsanitary conditions. It sounds very serious, and if left untreated it can cause lameness. But the good news is that in the short terms this is easily treatable if diagnosed early. Lining stalls with shavings rather than straw is a good tip to minimize the risk of thrush, especially for those naturally prone to it. The next common problem is a puncture, where your horse's hoof has trodden on a foreign object which has become embedded. If the object is still there, then leave it untouched and call for a veterinarian immediately so that xrays can be carried out. If it has penetrated a major artery, removal could cause severe bleeding, as well as an abscess. Throbbing as well as heat is the main symptom of this condition, and is incredibly serious. An untreated abscess can cause scarring of the hooves and even be fatal in some cases.

Shod horses will need to be checked very regularly, as any number of issues can arise with shoes. The nails may have been incorrectly place in the first place, or the show itself could have sprung or shifted. In fact, even an untrained owner can learn to remove a show themselves with the help of a farrier's instruction. Finally, trim your hooves regularly to make sure you animal is as comfortable as possible. They grow about a quarter of an inch every month, meaning that after not long the shoe will no longer fit if they are not clipped. Diet and exercise can keep your horse in great shape with a silky mane and with strong and healthy hooves. Just like humans need calcium for strong nails and teeth, horses also need an individualized nutritional plan to ensure they are on the top of their game. Without regular exercise, hooves also run at increased risk of becoming weak and brittle. A biotin supplement added to your horse's ration over the course of a year would not go astray. Some people report no difference while others cite this as the answer to all of their hoof dilemmas. Visit Southern Cross Feeds at http://southerncrossfeeds.com.au for expert horse supplies and Horse Feed knowledge.