COMMON HOOF PROBLEMS IN HORSES

By Julie Wright –Bare Equine Australia

Horses’ hooves are an amazing structure. They are designed to dissipate concussion, continually grow to replace wear and travel great distances each day. At speed, the hoof is designed to land heel first and dissipate ground forces through the digital cushion and lateral cartilages in conjunction with the tendons and ligaments of the leg.

However, there are many hoof ailments horses can suffer from which can be detrimental to this form and function. Unfortunately our domestic housing and introduced high sugar grasses and hays can play havoc with their hooves which can lead to several common hoof problems. Here's an introduction to some of the common ones.

Thrush

Thrush in horse hooves is a very common infection. The infection can be brought on by excess moisture, paddock bacteria or fungi, manure trapped in hooves or diets high in sugar and starch.

HOW DOES THRUSH OCCUR?

Even horses that live in drier conditions can be susceptible to thrush if their hooves are allowed to collect dirt and debris. The hoof also secretes moisture which will accumulate under the packed in debris if not cleaned out daily. Heat and humidity also play a factor in Thrush infections. Thrush is fairly easy to recognise based on the dark, black discharge and foul odour.

Minor thrush is easy to treat with some basic care and topical applications, but more advanced cases may require farrier or veterinarian intervention.

Severe thrush infection in the central sulcus has eaten through to soft tissue and would have made this horse incredibly sore. Heel first landings would probably have changed to toe first landings which can lead to navicular pain and associated problems.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU IGNORE OR DO NOT PICK UP ON THRUSH INFECTIONS?

Your farrier or trimmer SHOULD be well versed in what it will mean for your horse if they leave Thrush unchecked. They should be able to quickly identify Thrush and remove as much of the infected tissue as possible and not leave any ‘flaps’ for thrush to continue to thrive under.

It’s such a common problem and one that you should keep a solution on hand at all times to knock it off as soon as the hoof shows signs of it taking hold. Better still – daily prevention and maintenance should be part of your routine.

Thrush infection in the frog prior and mid trim. Part of the frog has been cut away to allow owner access for topical application and prevent further pathogens being trapped.

Thrush left unchecked especially in the central sulcus is highly detrimental to the horse. Thrush can invade the central sulcus through into soft tissue as shown here in a dissected hoof.

HOW TO MANAGE THRUSH?

Keep your horses on schedule with your farrier and trimmer (4-6 weeks max) and ensure your farrier is keeping an eye out for any signs of the start of Thrush – in all nooks and crannies of the hoof.

If the infection takes hold and the farrier needs to cut back some areas of the frog, let them as this is an opportunistic bacteria which thrives in an anaerobic environment. Working with your farrier to ensure there are not hidden pockets of thrush within the frog which will then allow you to be attending daily with easy access and a topical management plan.

• Pick the hooves daily and give them a good brush with a wire brush hoof pick.

• Use a cleansing spray which works on hoof pathogens.

• Use a topical application which draws moisture from the hoof with proven ingredients which are gentle on soft tissue.

Seedy Toe

WHAT IS SEEDY TOE?

Seedy Toe (sometimes referred to as White Line Disease) is an opportunistic bacteria that invades the white line in horses' hooves. These microscopic bacteria thrive in an anaerobic environment – meaning that they thrive in the absence of oxygen.

HOW DOES SEEDY TOE OCCUR?

Present in the horses’ environment, these anaerobic bacteria enter via small deviations in the horses hoof at the white line. Commonly seen in horses with compromised white lines, horses overdue for trims (hoof wall leverage), laminitic horses (stretched white lines), metabolic horses and high heeled horses (creating leverage at the toe).

Climatic conditions play a role in this as well. Obviously horses standing around in wet boggy paddocks will be more prone to hoof conditions such as Seedy Toe, White Line disease and Thrush as the hoof will be softer and more prone to bacteria, fungi and yeast infections taking hold.

If your horse is on a regular maintenance schedule with your farrier or trimmer (trims are optimal at 4 weeks, no more than 6 weeks) then any small issues with Seedy Toe starting should be able to be nicked out quickly with a hoof knife to stop the progression.

It is imperative your farrier attends to the first signs of Seedy Toe. This bacteria can travel and spread rapidly up the hoof wall. What may look like a small defect in the horse's hoof at the toe can eat away the internal tissue and create pockets of ongoing infection.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OR YOUR FARRIER IGNORE OR DO NOT PICK UP ON SEEDY TOE INFECTIONS?

Your farrier or trimmer SHOULD be well versed in what it will mean for your horse if they leave Seedy Toe unchecked. They should be able to quickly identify the infection and remove as much of the invading pathogens as possible by opening up the area. This is commonly called a resection and may be a small cut out which is barely noticeable when the hoof is placed on the ground or if left unchecked it can be a huge resection which will take owner commitment to manage.

Seedy Toe left unchecked can also cause abscessing in your horse. Commonly seen as abscesses that will blow out at the Coronet band. If the infection travels straight up through the laminar towards the coronet band, eventually it will blow out in the form of an abscess which is extremely painful for the horse and not the ideal management technique.

Hoof regularly attended to for trims. Seedy Toe left unchecked which left the owner with a huge resection. (Note this is the same hoof on the same day attended to by author)

HOW TO MANAGE SEEDY TOE?

Keep your horses on schedule with your farrier and trimmer (4-6 weeks max) and ensure your farrier is keeping an eye out for any signs of the start of Seedy Toe.

If the infection takes hold and the farrier needs to open up and resect, let them. As this is an opportunistic bacteria which thrives in an anaerobic environment, it needs to be exposed and resected and a topical management plan put in place. Once the area has been opened up and the infection cleared out, it is then safe to start applying topical management products.

After resection, we recommend keeping the area as clean as possible and applying a topical wax based product which will work on the infection, keep it clear of debris and excess moisture and be easy to apply.

• Clean and pick the hooves daily.

• Remove and check any debris lodged in the white line such as small gravel or sand.

• Keep the diet low in sugars and starches with a quality mineral supplement to build healthier hooves.

• Use a hoof spray to keep the area pathogen free.

• If seedy toe takes hold, pack with a wax based product which will stay in place.

Hoof Abscess

WHAT IS A HOOF ABSCESS?

A tender mass filled with pus caused due to infection. The abscesses can develop in any part of the body but are especially debilitating when formed within the horses hoof.

What steps should I take to help my horse? These can be small barely noticeable events or a huge pain event to the horse such as a coronet band abscess.

3 Legged Lame

When a hoof abscess erupts at the CORONARY band, we all get excited now the horse is now able to stand and move more comfortably.

We've obsessed over the 3 legged horse in our pasture, called the vet the farrier and stocked up on poultice, duct tape and hoof boots.

The relief felt by owners is almost immediate too as prior to this there is not much we can do except poultice and wait it out. Your vet may prescribe some pain relief whilst the abscess is working its way out.

Whilst the problem is generally resolved, there are still implications to the hoof wall which is now going to grow down with a hole in the wall of the hoof capsule. It will take approx. 9 months for the abscess hole to be at ground level and trimmed away if it has erupted at the coronary band.

Well, there is a lack of healthy cells around the area to reproduce the hoof wall. The insult creates a pocket for bacteria to enter (manure, bacteria and fungi present in the soil, urine, dirt etc). As these bacteria collect into the abscess exit point, it gradually degrades the area = continues to weaken the hoof wall.

Abscesses are most common in the wet conditions but can happen at any time of the year. There can be many causes, however if you are keeping up with hoof hygiene and addressing both of the above conditions, the chances are reduced.

• Keep on a schedule with your hoof care professional.

• Keep up with any signs of thrush or seedy toe.

• Provide a diet low in sugars and starches supplemented with a good quality mineral mix.

• Clean hooves and attend to with a hoof spray to soak up into the cracks and crevices of the hoof which you cannot access with your hoof pick.

Hoof abscess erupted at coronet band. Most commonly caused by Seedy toe left unchecked as was the case with this horse.

In the meantime, this abscess exit point ‘the insult’ is dead tissue on the hoof wall leaving it exposed to infection. The lower it grows, the bigger and nastier it looks – quite often 2

Abscess exit points need to be maintained and kept clear from debris and further pathogens as they grow down through the hoof. As you can see from this hoof, there is sometimes a huge pocket which can cause further infections as it accumulates further debris and pathogens.

Julie Wright –Bare Equine Australia

Dip-EPT (Equine Podiotherapy)

Cert EMT (Equine Myofunctional Therapy)

Julie Wright is a qualified Hoof Care Professional and turned to hoof care for horses after working as an Equine Therapist for several years prior. Turning to ‘bending over for a living’ in 2004 after realising that there were so many horses she was working on that suffered body issues from hoof problems.

With a passion for rehabbing hooves and educating owners to train their eyes to recognise pathology before it becomes a big issue for the horse. ‘Doing crack’ is her thing.

Bare Equine Hoof Co products were released in 2020 after years of formulating and testing the products ‘in the real world’. Born from the desire to make owners' lives easier by having products that stay in place for several days.

They are proudly now Australia’s favourite Hoof Care Range and have won several awards for innovation in their space.

Bare Equine Australia is staffed by Hoof Care professionals to help advise their customers from years of experience ‘under the horse’.

Web: bareequine.com.au