Horses

AGRICULTURAL

MU Guide
PUBLISHED BY MU EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/

Care of Your Horse’s Feet

Wayne Loch
Department of Animal Sciences

Foot care is one of the most neglected horse management

practices. Most lameness that impairs the usefulness of a horse
can be prevented by proper foot care and reasonable manage- Cannon bone
ment.
Foot care should be as routine as feeding and watering.
It should include the following procedures:
Long pastern
• Routine cleaning.
• Periodic trimming.
• Corrections of minor imperfections. Short pastern
• Treatment of foot diseases and injuries.
Most foot care practices can be done by the average horse Deep flexor
Coronary band tendon
owner. However, it is important to know when to seek the help
of a professional, especially for corrective shoeing and disease
Plantar cushion
treatment and control.
Coffin bone
To understand proper care of a horse’s feet, first study and
understand the structure of the foot and the functions of its
Sensitive Sensitive frog
various parts. The major parts of a horse’s foot are the hoof laminae
wall, coronet, sole, frog and the internal structures such as the
bones, cartilage, tendons and connective tissue. Internal struc- Insensitive frog
tures will be discussed briefly in this guide. White line

Navicular bone
Hoof wall
The hoof wall is a horny substance made up of parallel Figure 1. Anatomy of the horse’s foot.
fibers (Figure 1). It should be dense, straight, and free from
rings (ridges) and cracks. Viewed from the side, the wall at the
toe should be a continuation of the slope of the pastern.
Sole
The sole of the foot is a horny substance that protects the
The main functions of the wall are to —
sensitive inner portions of the foot. It should be firm, slightly
• Provide a weight-bearing surface not easily worn away. concave and of uniform texture. The horse has no feeling at
• Protect the internal structure of the foot. the exterior sole surface.
• Maintain moisture in the foot. A flat-footed horse tends to receive more bruises and
Usually, the hoof wall is thicker at the toe than at the quar- injuries to the sole. Also, horses that have experienced founder
ter and heel. It is protected by the periople, a varnishlike coat- and have developed a dropped sole are more easily bruised
ing that also holds moisture in the hoof. at the sole.

Coronet Frog
The coronet, or coronary band, is the source of growth for The frog, located at the heel of the foot, forms a “V” into
the hoof wall. It is directly above the hoof wall and is protected the center of the sole (Figure 2). The frog is a spongy, flexible
by a thick layer of skin and dense hair. A healthy foot will grow pad and is also a weight-bearing surface. It is the intermediate
about 3⁄8 of an inch per month. A change in the rate of growth organ between the plantar cushion and the source of pressure
of the hoof can be caused by a change in the amount of exer- from the horse’s weight. The frog is differentiated from the sole
cise, the ration, the onslaught of illness, and the general state of the foot by two lines called commissures.
of health and condition of the animal. Injury to the coronary The condition of the frog generally is a good indication
band can result in irregular growth of the hoof wall and can of the health of the foot. Without proper flexibility, expansion
develop into a permanently unsound hoof wall. and ground contact, the frog cannot perform its function in
The hind feet may grow faster than the forefeet, and complementing the circulation of blood and the absorption of
unshod feet may grow faster than shod feet. The feet of mares shock throughout the foot.
and geldings seem to grow faster than those of stallions.

$.50 G 2839 Printed with soy ink on recycled paper

 Toe

Wall

Sole

Quarter
White line

Bar

Figure 3. Clean your horse’s feet daily. Pull the pick away from
Buttress the frog and heel toward the toe.

After riding, clean the sole and check for gravel or other
Heel
foreign objects that could be lodged in the natural depressions
Frog of the foot. A nail, gravel, stick or other object can work into
the foot and cause lameness of long duration. Objects have been
Figure 2. Parts of the ground surface of the horse’s foot. known to exist in a horse’s foot for as long as a year before
emerging at the heel or along the coronet. When a foreign parti-
cle emerges at the coronary area, a sore, called a quittor, usually
Internal foot structure develops. This problem can easily lead to serious infection.
To be able to provide proper foot care, first gain an under-
standing of some of the important internal parts of the foot and Maintain moisture in feet
their functions. Moisture in the horse’s feet helps to maintain flexibility
Coffin bone provides the shape of the foot and the rigid- and prevent cracking. Most of the moisture needed in a
ity needed to bear weight. healthy and well-protected foot can come from within.
Plantar cushion expands and contracts to absorb shock Extremely wet conditions such as a muddy lot or wet stall
and pumps blood from the foot back toward the heart. promote rapid drying of the feet; the natural oils and protec-
Navicular bone serves as a fulcrum and bearing surface tive films of the foot are eroded from constant contact with
for the deep flexor tendon, which is responsible for extension external moisture.
of the foot as it progresses through a stride. One way to maintain proper moisture in the foot is to
Sensitive laminae serve as a means of attachment for the regularly apply a good hoof dressing containing some animal
hoof wall and the coffin bone and also as the main area of fat such as lanolin. If the dressing is not a petroleum derivative,
blood circulation within the foot. it can be massaged into the coronet, the frog and the sole as
well as on the hoof wall. The dressing helps to keep the sole
Routine foot care pliable and eliminate dead tissue around the frog and heel.
Disease organisms concentrate where animals are Also, massaging the coronet stimulates growth of a healthy
confined, so cleanliness is important. Horses kept in a stall or new hoof wall.
small pen should have their feet picked or cleaned daily to
reduce the risk of thrush. Thrush is the condition resulting Trimming maintains foot balance
from bacterial penetration into the frog and surrounding area. Trimming of feet is important, although not needed as
The bacteria produce a foul odor and cause the frog to become frequently as cleaning. Trimming should be done at about
soft and mushy. If allowed to go untreated, serious lameness four-week intervals on horses kept in stalls or paddocks, or
can result and extensive treatment will be necessary. about six-week intervals for horses used heavily or running
Routine daily foot care means regular use of the hoof pick in pastures.
to clean the horse’s feet. A fine-bristled wire brush also is The main goal in trimming is to retain the proper shape
useful for cleaning the sole, frog and hoof wall. Take care not and length of the foot. Most people should feel comfortable in
to damage the periople with too much pressure from the wire pulling shoes and trimming feet while they wait for the farrier.
brush; the result would disturb the moisture balance of the The bottom of the foot should be kept level and the inside
foot. and outside walls should be maintained at equal lengths.
The hoof wall should be trimmed with nippers to remove
Foot cleaning excess length (Figure 4), then a rasp should be used to smooth
When picking the foot, use a hoof pick and clean from the and level the bottom of the foot. Be sure to rasp from the heel
heel toward the toe, being especially careful to clean the through the toe with each stroke to prevent uneven areas in
commissures on each side of the frog and the cleft of the frog the hoof wall (Figure 5).
itself (Figure 3). Don’t attempt to open the heel excessively, as The white line is external evidence of the lamination
this weakens the area and interferes with proper contraction (sensitive laminae) between the hoof wall and the coffin bone.
and expansion of the heel. The sole of the foot is usually of uniform thickness in a normal

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Figure 4. Trim hoof wall with nippers to remove excess length. Figure 5. After using the nippers, level the foot by rasping. Be
careful to leave both walls the same length.

horse. Because of that, the sole should not be trimmed to an

unnatural shape. To do so would cause parts of the sole to be
dangerously thin and tender.
Trimming the sole, referred to as lowering the sole, is done
to keep the pressure on the hoof wall rather than on the sensi-
tive inner parts of the foot. The dead, flaky tissue should be
trimmed from the sole. Live tissue, elastic when stretched
between the fingers, should not be trimmed away (Figure 6).
Don’t trim the frog excessively; it should contact the
ground with each step. Trim the frog only enough to remove
dead tissue and to provide a uniform and adequate fissure
along the junction of the sole and the frog.
After the bearing surface has been rasped to a level
surface of proper length, the edges of the wall should be
rounded if the horse will not be shod. This prevents chipping Figure 6. After leveling the hoof, lower the sole so that the hoof
and peeling as the foot contacts rocks, logs or other obstructions. wall bears the weight of the horse.

Maintain hoof wall angle prevent contraction of the heels. The main concern is to trim
Maintain the proper angle of the hoof wall in relation to often enough to prevent cracking and uneven wear, which
the ground and the angle of the pastern. Shoes that are left on could eventually contribute to the improper set of the feet and
for too long change the angle of the foot relative to the pastern legs. With a little practice, most horse owners should be able
and can cause lameness. When possible, the angle of the hoof to routinely trim feet of horses that do not need corrective
wall should approximate the angle formed by the shoulder work. It is wise, however, not to take a chance on compound-
and the pastern — usually 50 to 54 degrees. ing a problem on horses that need corrective trimming. To
Since the hoof wall is narrower at the heel than at the toe, prevent harmful mistakes, seek the help of a professional
heels wear first, whether the horse is barefoot or on shoes. Low farrier when trying to correct an improper turn or set of the
heels put more stress on the tendons of the leg. If a horse is feet and legs.
shod at a 50-degree angle, this angle may change. A 50-degree
angle might be down to 46 or 47 degrees in four to six weeks. Founder brings feet problems
This greatly affects the action of the horse and puts more strain Fat horses tend to have problems with laminitis (founder).
on tendons and ligaments. This is especially common among horses with some Shetland
As the hoof grows larger, the walls at the heels will over- pony breeding. Grass founder in the spring produces more
lap the shoe. When a shoe presses on the bars, there is serious laminitis than any other single cause. If your horse is fat,
danger of producing corns in the foot. Running a horse with grazes abundant grass, and is not exercised, there is great risk
shoes that have been left on too long also can cause bowed of laminitis.
tendons. Regular trimming and shoe re-setting are essential in Laminitis commonly causes lameness. Horses with
avoiding these problems. laminitis have extreme pain and soreness, especially in their
Foot angle varies from breed to breed and much variation front feet. They try to bear weight on their back legs and
is found among horses of the same breed. Generally, the west- lighten the front end as much as possible by carrying their
ern breeds have steeper pasterns and a greater angle at the front feet forward and their back feet up under their bodies.
ground than the other breeds. Unless some correction is Horses showing signs of laminitis should have immediate
needed, as in forging and scalping, the foot should be trimmed attention from a veterinarian.
to its natural angle, because any change would result in stress Therapeutic trimming and shoeing may make a horse
in other areas of the column of bones of the leg. with laminitis sound enough for light work and normal repro-
Trim the heels low enough to promote expansion and duction.

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Figure 7. Pick up the hind feet with care. Brace with one hand Figure 8. Get in proper position for holding the hind foot. With
against the horse’s hip while working down the leg with the other the hock under your armpit, ankle on knees, and foot backward
hand. With the horse relaxed, lift the foot forward and step under (upward), the horse will submit to foot care.
it with your inside leg.
should be taught early in life to yield their feet.
Give nail pricks prompt attention Most horses are worked more from the left side than the
Much lameness results from nail pricks. Horses should right, so begin working with the left front foot. Rub down the
not be ridden in areas of trash and boards containing nails. leg toward the foot with your right hand while your left hand
Injury caused by nails can ruin a horse. As soon as a nail prick is on the shoulder. Push off with your left hand if you need to
is identified, give prompt medical attention and pack it to move away.
prevent reinfection by ground-borne disease organisms. Squeeze the tendon to get the horse to yield the foot if
it won’t do so otherwise. Move the hand in front of the canon
Corrective trimming or fetlock as the foot raises. Position the foot firmly between
The most common deviations from a normal set of feet your knees. If the horse struggles and wishes to regain its
and legs are toe in (pigeon toed) and toe out of either front or foot, let it do so. You can’t hold a front foot if the horse rears.
rear feet. Other problems commonly corrected by trimming Repeat the procedure until the horse learns to yield its feet
are cocked ankles, buck knees, calf knees, sickle hocks and willingly.
slight rotations of the cannon bone. Also, some common faults To lift a hind foot, keep one hand near the hip and go
in movement of feet in stride — forging, scalping, interfering down the leg slowly with the other (Figure 6). Work in close
and brushing — are corrected by careful trimming. to the horse. Pull forward on the canon until the horse yields
The most important aspects of good foot care are regular- its foot. If you feel tense muscles, go more slowly. Step
ity, frequency, cleanliness and the use of proper corrective promptly under the raised foot with the inside leg and set the
measures. foot above your knees (Figure 7). Lock it in place with your
For tips on shoeing, see MU publication G2826, Basic elbow over the hock and your toes pointed toward each
Principles of Hoof Care and Cold Shoeing of Horses. other. Hold the foot in this position so both hands are free to
work.
Handling the feet For more details in safely handling your horse’s legs and
Learning and practicing safe handling of the horse’s feet feet, refer to MU publication G2878, Safe Ground Handling of
are important steps in performing routine foot care. Horses Horses.

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