The Correct Way to Trim Hoofs

Hoof trimming is an essential part of raising healthy horses. While cleaning the hooves should be a daily activity, trimming the hooves should be performed every four to six weeks. The main goal of trimming hooves is to properly shape the hoof. The bottom of the hoof must be level. Each hoof wall needs to be the same width, any imperfections must be corrected and burrs removed. Incorrect methods of trimming hooves can cause several problems for the horse, such as pain, bleeding, and lameness.

Things You'll Need

  • Hoof knife or hoof pick
  • Rasp
  • Nippers
  • Apron or chaps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Understand the proper position for holding the horses feet. Put on an apron or chaps before beginning. For front feet, rest the hoof firmly between your knees. For back feet, make sure the leg rests on your lap and is under your arm.

    • 2

      Pick out any debris in the hoof. The most common materials found in the hoof are nails, gravel and sticks. Cleaning the hoof in advance of trimming will help prevent sores, called quittors, from forming. Also, debris left in the hoof during the trimming process dulls the tools quickly.

    • 3

      Apply a horse dressing to help maintain moisture in the hoof. Horse dressings that contain lanolin are recommended to keep the sole pliable and eliminate dead tissue. Non-petroleum derivative products can also be applied to other parts of the horses foot.

    • 4

      Trim the hoof with the nippers. The goal of trimming the hoof is to encourage the proper shape for mobility and balance. Both sides of the hoof should be the same length and the bottom of the hoof should be level. Most beginners make the mistake of cutting a straight line from heel to sole. The proper straight line is from the heel to toe. Carefully remove any burrs or imperfections. Make sure not to take off too much of the heel wall. It is best to err on the side of leaving too much heel, because it is very painful for the horse if too much is taken off .

    • 5

      Use the rasp to level the hoof and smooth out the trimmed regions. To level the hoof, run the rasp back and forth from heel to toe until the rasp touches the front, back, and both sides at the same time. Smooth and round the outside of the hoof wall.