Make a hoof care kit for hoof emergencies
You might want to supplement your horse’s Vet Kit with a hoof care kit – being prepared for supportive measures until your vet and farrier can arrive. Mainly because the hoof is so critical for your horse’s health, and has a way of seeming just fine until it’s not. Please call your veterinarian at the first sign of hoof trouble. Many hoof issues look like each other, and early intervention might save your horse a lot of pain and save you a lot of money.
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Things to have for emergency hoof problems
Sharpie Pen
- A working sharpie pen in a color that will show up on your horse’s hoof sole and wall. In the rare instance that he steps on a nail or screw, your vet will need to tell you to leave it or pull it. If you pull any screws or nails per your vet’s instructions, you need to mark the spot on his sole where it went in, and also mark the spike to the depth it went in.
- You can also use the sharpie to mark cracks on the hoof wall to determine if they are getting bigger or growing out.
Not just permanent – SUPER permanent.
Boots for icing the hooves
- Now, these aren’t just for laminitis. A horse with a fever, diarrhea, or tender feet after a farrier visit or schooling on the hard ground needs some ice therapy.
- Also, the horse that ran around like a fool on rock hard ground, or the horse with metabolic issues, or the horse that busted into the hay or feed room. Or some way to get and keep ice on the hooves without your horse spending hours in tubs. Boots are easier for everyone.
- Incidentally, any ice holding device will usually double as a way to soak your horse’s hoof. A simple feed tub is clumsy, spills, and large to store, so grab a specially designed soaking boot to have. Many shapes and sizes and budget points are out there. I prefer a model that has a sturdy bottom, and a way to snug up the top.
Horseshoe pulling tools
- Have your farrier show you how to pull a shoe, and invest in a few tools for a few bucks so you can save your horse in a pinch. This article can give you the steps to go through to pull the shoe yourself!
Hoof packing.
- Depending on where you live, your horse, and his affinity for various hoof issues, you may choose to have some Epsom salt packing or ichthammol dressing on hand.
- Diapers and disposable gloves (from the Vet Kit) are handy, too. I can vouch that ichthammol is not an easy smell to erase from your skin. More on hoof goops here!
Reminds me of roofing tar or asphalt.
A hoof wrap and pad.
- Lost shoes, abscesses, and other hoof ailments that need to stay dry can benefit from a hoof wrap. These replace the need for a diaper, tape, vet wrap, and the like. The pad supports the naked sole, and will even out his legs so he’s not moving unevenly. Most hoof wraps can also wrap around a diaper if needed to hold in some goopy stuff if you need it.
It’s easier than a bucket.
Your, your vet, and your farrier are the hoof care team. Your vet can help with diagnosis, x-rays, and pain medications and your farrier is there to support the hoof as it heals with shoes, a different balance, wedges, and more. Get everyone together.
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If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
A simple and trusted hoof supplement.
The gold standard for stinging hooves and anytime you need to pack the hooves.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
Buy bulk and save! This is great for stubborn hoof infections like seedy toe and thrush.
Feed your horse's hoof health from the inside out.
This supplement helps high-laminitis risk horses and has calming ingredients like magnesium.
The gold standard for bell boots in a rainbow of colors.
These boots are my favorite for wrapping hooves with poultice or clay and a diaper. No more duct tape boots! You can also use inserts with these for more squish.
This style is great to protect the hoof, but is not soft and squishy for laminitis cases.
These boots are great for protecting barefoot horses.
Every horse owner needs a digital thermometer for fast and accurate vital signs
Help your horse cool out in hot and humid weather.
If hooves are your jam, this book is for you.
For bits, sores, dry patches, cracked skin, and more. Great for your horse's first aid kit!
The gold standard for stinging hooves and anytime you need to pack the hooves.
Support and softness for laminitis and other painful hoof conditions.
This medical tape will quite literally hold your life together, it's that amazing.
These boots are my favorite for wrapping hooves with poultice or clay and a diaper. No more duct tape boots! You can also use inserts with these for more squish.
These SilverSox are great for protecting the legs from rubs, help with scratches and mud fever, and provide some compression, too.
Thank you!
