Hoof problems

How to poultice a horse’s hoof: your essential guide *H&H Plus*

Dr Stuart Thorne MRCVS, of Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic, gives really useful tips to make poulticing a hoof easy

Winter hoof care tips *H&H Plus*

Ricky Farr MRCVS gives some helpful tips on how to keep your horse’s hooves healthy through the winter with some easy to follow preventative measures

Thrush in the horse’s hoof *H&H Plus*

Thrush is a degenerative infection of the horse's frog that causes it to rot away and has a distinctive aroma so find out how best to deal with it before it becomes a major problem

Puncture wounds in horses *H&H Plus*

Never trivialise puncture wounds, because the most innocuous-looking injury can mask a more serious underlying problem

Hoof cracks in horses *H&H Plus*

Hoof cracks can range from being little more than a cosmetic blemish to a serious cause of lameness and pain so find out what’s the best way to tackle the problem

Hoof abscess (pus in the foot) *H&H Plus*

An abscess in the hoof can be excruciatingly painful for the horse but this common problem is normally quite straightforward to treat

White line disease (seedy toe) *H&H Plus*

White line disease can be found in all sizes, types and breeds of horse, while donkeys are particularly susceptible to it, so make sure you’re up to date with the latest expert advice

Maintaining frog health in horses’ hooves *H&H VIP*

A horse’s frogs enhance his bounce, balance and blood circulation, so let’s all give them some love, says master farrier Ben Benson AWCF

Puncture wounds in the hoof *H&H VIP*

What should you do if you find a foreign body embedded in a hoof? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS offers expert advice

Hovis’ Friday Diary: I seem to have a ‘Kevin’ living in my foot

Hovis has some bad news to share with his fans this week

Can feeding biotin improve hoof health? Spillers explains... *Promotion*

Spillers’ equine nutritionist Clare Barfoot provides one H&H forum user with some insightful information on whether biotin can help support hoof health

Most common hoof problems - and relationships with the farrier

Hoof disease warning: Connemara ponies most at risk *H&H VIP*

Research is shedding light on a devastating hoof disease that can affect Connemara ponies. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains

Hoof abscesses: what you need to know *H&H VIP*

A foot abscess can create a painful build-up of pus — and the prospect of a more serious problem if treatment is not prompt. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains

Treating soft tissue injuries in the hoof [H&H VIP]

Treatment of soft tissue injury in the hoof is most successful when vet, farrier and technology come together, as vet Dr Peter Milner and farrier Ian Hughes explain

Professor honoured for presentation at hoof-care summit

Professor Renate Weller's talk was voted one of the top four given at last year’s International Hoof-Care Summit, the biggest meeting of farriers in the world

How to keep hooves healthy this summer [H&H VIP]

Hoof health is a top priority in the summer months, when cracks, splits and bruising can soon lead to soundness problems, so we find out how to survive the season

Foot shape and lameness [H&H VIP]

Pioneering research suggests that clues to future lameness can be found in the feet. Dr Sue Dyson explains what to look out for

Is a hot horse's hoof really a sign of trouble?

Research has been conducted to see how good an indicator a hot foot is of laminitis or a hoof with an abscess brewing in it

Beware of dogs 'snacking' on discarded hoof parings

Your dog may love the hoof parings discarded when your horse is shod - but vets are warning that large chunks could be potentially fatal