Horse-Hoof-with big stone
At the December horsemaster's clinic, Susan Poulton and Elvis showed us how important it is to keep an eye on your horses feet! Elvis apparently stepped on this rock, which was the perfect size to get wedged in between the arms of his shoe.
It took about 10 minutes a lots of prying and tugging to get this rock removed from the foot! If this had gone undiscovered for long, Elvis could have developed an abcess or other hoof injury!
Use your hoof pick from heel to toe to remove mud and other debris. Be sure to clean the cleft between the sole and the frog. This cleft is called the sulcus.
After cleaning the debris from the foot, check the condition of the frog. Make sure that the frog is firm and has no discharge or foul odors. If the frog appears damaged, check with your vet or farrier about treatment with an anti-thrush product (like Thrush Buster).
If you horse is shod, check that there are no loose or missing nails and that the shoe is still on tightly. Check the clenches and make sure that the nails are not sticking up above the top of the hoof.