Hoof overgrowth has serious physical, psychological and emotional consequences for horses. Rehabilitation of such horses typically requires multidisciplinary intervention such as farrier work, acupuncture, nutrition therapy and CBD oil.

Hoof trimming requires expert farriers in Mercer County, Kentucky to practice. In particular when dealing with neglected horses.

Before

Overgrown hooves are usually an indicator of neglect in horses. Hoof trimming needs may have been neglected for an extended period of time and as a result the toe grows faster than the heel, giving an unsightly long and narrow shape to their front hoofs.

Wild horses traverse long distances on various types of terrain that helps their hooves wear down naturally; domesticated horses confined to stalls or wearing shoes covering their feet don’t see enough wear for their hooves to be naturally trimmed down.

Thad Gouge cared for two neglected mini hinnies that were rescued from an abusive situation and provided care through various trims throughout a year to restore them back to health. He advised multiple trims over this timeframe in order to restore these horses back into good health.

Gouge uses daily foot soaks of warm water on each foot frog in order to combat thrush, an unpleasant black liquid which invades hoof tissues and can lead to lameness, while massaging each hoof with a horseshoe float and cleaning the coronary band and sole with a wire brush, before applying shoeing products such as Boehringer Ingelheim’s ToMORROW or Kinetic’s Contender which stimulate hoof growth respectively.

After

Farriers and veterinarians play key roles in caring for horses with overgrown hooves. Overgrown hooves can be hazardous and painful for horses, leading to lameness that significantly diminishes quality of life.

Overgrown hooves develop when the outer hoof wall and coronary band, which connects it to the pastern, become long. A sole may also form, providing both traction on the ground and support to the horse.

Wild horses move over varying terrain that naturally wears down their hooves; those kept in pens, however, may experience overgrown hooves due to not getting enough exercise for their hooves.

To solve this problem, a farrier will use a hoof knife to trim away dead flesh from the sole and frog of a hoof. This allows them to breathe easier while also preventing moisture build-up inside them. A farrier will also trim and trim as necessary.

When a keratoma, or small tumor in the frog of the hoof, appears, a veterinarian will conduct X-rays to confirm their diagnosis and assess risk of laminitis (inflammation of soft protrusions that connect coffin bone to hoof wall). Keratomas are often caused by overfeeding rich foods like spring grass or an excessive amount of grain.

A veterinary professional will likely administer treatment for keratoma, such as injecting an anti-inflammatory steroid into the hoof frog to reduce inflammation and recommend diet consisting of low-grain, high-fiber foods that will ease pressure on feet.

Step 1: Trim the Hoof Wall with Nippers

Hoof overgrowth can be extremely harmful to horses. When excessive hoof walls take on weight-bearing functions intended for the frog and sole, problems arise such as thrushy frogs, chalky soles, fractured quarters, demineralized coffin bones and strain in other parts of the foot and leg.

Nippers should be used to trim away excess hoof growth on the outside, using spring action nippers with thin blades for optimal use. Work in small sections until all hoof lines have been covered – remember a healthy hoof should have uniform thickness throughout, as too much toe or heel can cause lameness in horses.

The coronary band or coronet of a hoof serves as the source of growth for its outer wall. A healthy coronet should grow approximately 3/8″ per month.

If the coronary band becomes damaged, its rate of expansion can become severely limited and eventually even reversed, often seen with rescue horses or those that have not received adequate nutrition or exercise. This issue often surfaces among rescue horses who have been underfed or neglected physically.

After trimming the hoof wall with nippers, use a rasp to level and smooth out the sole of each foot and remove any uneven trimming flare-ups in front of it. Always remember to apply equal pressure from both hands while using a rasp, as rasps have been known to take off hands, knuckles and fingers if used improperly.

Step 2: Trim the Inner Hoof Wall

The inner hoof wall contains lamellae – tubular-shaped horn rods which grow like pages in a book – that create the characteristic “white line” look, as well as providing a solid basis for sole growth. When these layers become damaged or broken down they cannot support sole development properly and the horse suffers. Anything which puts pressure on hoof walls such as work overload, sugar rich diets or long trim cycles may cause this damage.

As the horse walks, its hoof walls move in relation to its frog and sole to absorb each step and cushion any shock. This movement also helps support their weight while protecting internal structures from harm. If an outer hoof wall becomes damaged it may crack or form rings which expose its interior to dirt and other potentially damaging substances.

Healthy hoof walls must remain rigid without cracks or rings appearing on them, while from underneath, their shape should appear slightly concave. Think of an upside-down bowl.

To assess a hoof’s shape, lift up both feet and compare their angles, lengths and shapes against those of both feet on opposite sides of the animal. Check soles, frogs and periople for distortions before testing their flexibility under thumb pressure – they should flex enough so as to bend with thumb pressure. After performing an evaluation on all aspects of hoof shape it’s time to start rasping; begin with the outer hoof wall by eliminating any rough spots while making all sides as flat as possible on all sides.

Step 3: Trim the Frog and Sole

Frog and sole are important blood-pumping organs which play a crucial role in hoof movement, being sensitive to changes in ground conditions. Due to this sensitivity, care must be taken when trimming hooves as excessive trimming could pose serious problems for your horse.

When wet, both the frog and sole become soft and susceptible to over-trimming with clippers or shears. This may lead to sole ridges which are difficult to trim with regular scissors; thus compromising its natural sole plane. Cutting it too low risks causing laminitis in horses who walk laminar ways.

As summer arrives, you should help the hoof adjust to its more concave state by trimming away excess sole from its frog and sole area that has built up. Be careful when using a hoof knife – take your time, be mindful when cutting too deeply; pay attention to any color changes which indicate when too deep cuts have been made and leave enough thickness of live sole for natural wear and callus development.

Frogs and soles that have grown out too long often result in overgrown hoof tissue. If this situation continues, founder may occur as tissues lining the white line between hoof wall and frog begin to break down and create gaps that allow germs into the hoof, possibly leading to painful diseases or crippling conditions for horses.