Hoof care vital to animal health

By Dr. Paul Siciliano
Colorado State University

There's no question that taking care of your horse's hooves is vital to the animal's health and well-being. A horse that receives proper and regular hoof care is less likely to become lame, to trip and stumble, to be injured or to injure its rider.

A horse's hoof is mainly comprised of two layers of a skin-like material that are hardened by the presence of keratin, a protein that also makes up human fingernails and toenails. The top layer does not contain blood vessels but gets nutrients and oxygen from the underlying layer of material called a corium. The hoof's internal structure is bound to its exterior layers by laminae, a connective material that contains blood vessels. This bond changes as the hoof grows.

The hoof wall, which is the outer structure of the hoof, is a dynamic structure. It grows continually from the coronet band, which is the area of the foot just above the hairline. As the hoof grows downward, the surface that has contact with the ground wears off. In general, the hoof of an adult horse grows about a quarter to half an inch each month; young horses' hooves grow faster.

Unfortunately, the hoof generally does not wear evenly across the entire surface, which ultimately leads to the hoof becoming out of balance, much like a tire on an automobile. Because of this uneven wearing, the hoof must be periodically trimmed and rebalanced.

Most domestic horses need their hooves trimmed and rebalanced every six to 10 weeks, depending on the horse's use and rate of hoof growth.

Horses less than 1 year old require more frequent attention due to faster rates of hoof growth and changing conformation of their limbs as they grow and develop. They should be trimmed and rebalanced in four- to six-week intervals. Failure to keep a growing horse's hooves balanced can negatively impact the future soundness of the horse when it matures.

Horses that are ridden often also require more frequent hoof trimming than sedentary horses. Riding horses should be trimmed at six- to eight-week intervals. A good farrier will assist owners in setting trimming schedules to an individual horse's needs.

In some cases, generally with horses that are ridden, the hoof wall wears off at a faster rate than it grows. If the hoof wears too much, a horse can develop soreness in its feet or lameness. In these cases, shoeing the horse is required for its health. In addition to preventing sore feet due to excess wear, shoeing can provide a horse with additional traction and be used for various therapeutic applications that require biomechanical modification of the horse's foot.

It is important that the person trimming and balancing a horse's hooves understands how to perform the tasks properly.

When searching for a farrier, ask about qualifications such as training and certifications. Most farriers go to school for nine to 12 months. Although not required, most then apprentice with an established farrier for a period of six months to a year before starting their own business. Additionally, farriers can be certified by the American Farriers Association. The highest level is a certified journeyman farrier.

Expect to pay $25 to $35 for a hoof trimming and $60 to $100 for the combination of trimming and shoeing. Some types of therapeutic shoeing can cost several hundred dollars, depending on the complexity and time required.

There are a variety of different methods of trimming hooves. Consult with your farrier about which method is appropriate for your horse.

Paul Siciliano, Ph.D., is an equine nutritionist who teaches courses in equine nutrition as well as general animal nutrition and farrier science. His research focuses on the nutrient requirements of the growing horse. He completed his graduate training in equine nutrition at the University of Kentucky.