How often should I shoe my horse?
The rule of thumb is every six weeks. However, all horses are different, some require shoeing or trimming on a more or less frequent timetable depending on their individual rate of hoof growth.

What kind of shoes should I use on my horse?
There are many kinds of shoes on the market today available from all over the world. They range from steel to aluminum and even rubber for parade horses. Your horse should wear a shoe that best suits his activities.

What causes thrush?
Thrush is usually caused by some form of neglect. Horses left turned out in wet or damp conditions and unattended are more apt to pick up the fungal infection than those kept in clean quarters with proper foot cleaning and care.

Why do my horses hoof walls crack?
Many things will cause a horse's hoof walls to crack, if left unattended they will turn from brittle to moist with simple weather changes much like your fingernails and cracks will develop. Also, too long between shoeing or trimming will cause the same situation, for as your horse's toe lengthens the hoof will split up the center.

Can I improve my horse's hoof condition with his diet?
Yes. There are many food supplements on the market today that can increase and improve hoof growth. A very simple old time remedy is to add gelatin powder to his feed. If your horse does not care for the taste of the gelatin powder, Jello is identical in properties but with more desirable flavors.

What is a good remedy for the foot infection, thrush?
There are many over-the-counter remedies that are excellent for this, but the directions must be followed. I always recommend that for the first several days the infected foot should be wrapped to get the maximum effectiveness from the medicine, otherwise, half the medicine is on the dirt or straw and no longer on the foot. A simple and inexpensive mixture of 50% clorox and 50% water (or 50% peroxide/50% water)works well for a starter. 7% iodine and other stronger remedies should only be applied under the supervision of your veterinarian or farrier. In all cases, you should be certain not to get any medicine in your horse's heels, as it will burn or blister. You can apply some vaseline to the heel area for protection.

Why is my horse forging?
A horse usually forges when his hind feet are at a longer angle than his front feet or vice versa. There can be other reasons for this occurrence, a horse that is overweight, in foal or aging, will sometimes get lazy in their gait. You will first notice a clicking noise as the front feet knock against the hind. As the condition progresses, they can even grab a quarter or hit the hind coronet band or pastern. The condition can usually be corrected by altering the angle of the hoof or with weighted shoes.

What is a good hoof dressing?
They sell a lot of hoof dressing in tack and feed stores. They are generally all good but expensive. We mix our own in a five gallon pail, any lubricant will do as a base, i.e. vegetable oil, Neatsfoot oil, and for some reason,used motor oil works wonders. You can then add pine tar, iodine, or any variety of things. Get creative with your mix. Fish oil, if available, is a wonderful hoof paint, used alone or in your mix. Keep in mind that the hoof takes in most of its nourishment through the coronet band. Painting the entire hoof and sole looks wonderful but the coronet band is where the concentration needs to be.

Where can I get answers to my questions about my horse's hoofs?
Although we are not veterinarians, you can email your questions to us and we will try to help you out as best we can. Please allow 24-48 hours for responses.