Horse Health: Best Advice for Healthy Feet from a Farrier

Want your horses to have good feet, stand for the farrier and keep healthy year round? Follow the simple steps below, provided by local Montana farriers.

Regularity for your Horse's Feet

Keep your horses on a 6-8 week schedule, and, if possible, let your horse go unshod with regular trims so you can get a balanced, natural shape before the spring preseason kicks off.

Handle their feet regularly, pick up their feet, put them down and clean them out: once more, handle feet regularly.

Want to read the full review about these safety glasses you see in the video above?

Cleanliness in your Horse Pens

Not only should you have a clean area for your farrier to work when he comes, your horses should also have clean water, clean feed and clean pens before he gets there. Cleanliness translates to hoof heath. When it's wet and boggy, your horses are going to be at risk for two things: thrush and sore feet.

Clean your pens! If you don't clean your horse pens two things happen. Your horse is in the perfect environment for thrush to get into his feet. Thrush eats away at the frog, it stinks and, if left untreated, can develop into White Line Disease or a nasty abscess that can knock you out for the whole summer.

Have more horse care questions? Check out our Equine Emag!

Another problem with muddy pens is that mud and rocks will build up inside the foot and your horse will be walking around on rocks all day and night. Don't let that happen, clean your pens and pick your feet

Be Aware of where your Horses Live

Weather and environment impact hoof health. Around Great Falls, gumbo will leach moisture from feet while boarded horses usually have to contend with over saturated ground prime ground for thrush and other bacteria. Ask your local farrier what's best for your horses.

Check out the supplements we have online to give your horse's feet a boost.

Diet for keeping your Horse Feet Happy

When your horse is overweight, it's bad for joints and hoof health. Choose the right feed based on your horse's needs and job if you use horse regularly, or compete, feed them appropriately. Most important: don't overfeed. For ideal diet, talk to your vet.

Exercise your Animals

"Horses aren't lawn ornaments. They need a job." Whether that is for the ranch or for the trail, your horses need exercise to keep their feet healthy. Regular work will allow the entire foot to expand and contract, keeping the foot fit and healthy. Exercise will also keep a horse in the ideal weight range, allowing for healthier joints.

Read our review about the Equine Hoofjack (pictured below) by clicking here.

Last Tip? Be Courteous to your Farrier!

It is best practice to be present during shoeings to help hold your horses. This makes your farrier's job easier and gets your horse done quicker. Another way to help your farrier and your horses is to have them caught before the schedule shoeing time. Keep your farrier happy and catch your horses before he gets there.

-Tips courtesy of Derrick Miller and Rich Boyle

If you have any questions, use the form below and reach out to us--we'll work to get back to you within 24-hours.