It’s so important to make sure horse’s hooves are trimmed regularly, even if the horse is never ridden.

Trimming helps keep hooves in good order, and allows your farrier to check for problems that might develop. If you horse suddenly goes lame, there’s a 99% chance that the problem is in the hoof, stones can easily be lodged in the sole, or under a horse shoe. It’s important to pick out your horse’s hooves every time you’re going to ride, and after every ride.

If your horse has serious hoof problems, or a mystery lameness, it’s possible that your farrier may be able to offer you a solution through corrective shoeing, depending on the problem. One of the hardest problems to pinpoint is hoof abscesses and they’re fairly common.

Abscess

An abscess is an infection under the skin, and in the hoof they’re hard to find. A vet or farrier can help you locate the abscess with hoof testers. The horse will be clearly in pain when the spot is pressed firmly. After the abscess is drained, the hoof must be wrapped to ensure no infection can enter the area.

Abscesses can take weeks to heal, and remember that prevention is better than cure, you may not always be able to prevent a problem, but the more you take care, the less problems you’ll have.