Hoof balance and proper shoeing or trimming are part of what you do daily, assisting each horse not only in comfort but also performance through movement.

Some horses are easier to manage than others when it comes to hoof health. In the more frustrating cases, we can encounter a variety of issues such as repetitive hoof cracks, poor growth, improper growth, reduced density or solidity and/or infectious problems including thrush and white line disease. These problems are not only frustrating for all parties involved but can equate to a marked reduction in overall soundness and performance. There is no tried and true remedy for all of these problems, but if we dig deeper, looking at the problem from a bigger perspective, sometimes the answers seem clearer.

Speaking from an equine veterinarian’s point of view and more than 20 years of experience, it can be stated that likely 80% of all equine lameness conditions are connected to the foot, either primarily or secondarily. In many cases, the problem stems directly from the foot, while in others the problem might be elsewhere, such as a joint or tendon, but often linked back to the foot in some fashion.

More commonly we see in cases of ongoing suspensory injuries, more often a result of improper foot balance, movement and landing. We might have a soft tissue injury, but the problem really stems from the foot, and unless this is managed the problem will likely continue.

Hoof Nutrition

The equine hoof is a living…