Keeping the hooves balanced
Horses with balance hooves move better, and have less stress and strain on bones, tendons and ligaments. The ideal foot has:
- A straight hoof-pastern angle
- A straight line from the pastern down through the front of the hoof wall.
- This correctly lines up the bones between the pastern and coffin bone.
- Easy break over
- The toe is not too long and is squared, rounded or rolled.
- This allows easier movement with each step.
- Too much break over can result in health problems.
- Adequate heel support
- The shoe extends back to the end of the hoof wall and supports the back of the entire leg.
- The back edge of the shoe is under a line drawn down the center of the cannon bone.
- Medial-lateral balance
- The foot lands evenly from side to side as the horse walks.
Learn how to care for horse hooves in the winter.
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 or 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
