Guide to Horse Hoof Problems

Abscess

Symptoms:

A vet or farrier can pare away the hoof to reveal and drain the abscess, confirming the diagnosis. If left untreated, the abscess may erupt on its own through the sole of the hoof or at the coronary band.

Causes:

A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection in the lamina. It can start with a puncture wound caused by the horse stepping on a sharp object in the barn aisle, or a misplaced horse shoe nail. The hole allows bacteria to enter the hoof, where it thrives in the warm, dark environment. While the bacteria eat away at the hoof tissue, the horse’s immune system attacks. The resulting pocket of bacteria, white blood cells, and dead hoof tissue puts pressure on the sensitive structures of the horse’s hoof, causing the pain response.

Treatment:

Once the vet has located and drained the abscess, the key is to keep the area clean to avoid reinfection. The hoof should be soaked in a solution of Epsom salts in warm water to help draw out any remaining infection. The hoof should be kept bandaged until it has healed. A vet may suggest an anti-inflammatory, such as Bute, to manage the horse’s pain. The recovery period is typically no more than a week to ten days, but this can vary widely depending on the severity of the abscess and the owner’s ability to prevent reinfection.

Further Reading
Hoof Abscesses and Puncture Wounds
Treating an Abscess
Hoof Abscess: What to do while waiting for the vet

Bruises

Symptoms:

A horse with a bruised hoof can show varying degrees of lameness. Some will only be off only on uneven or rocky surfaces while others may be consistently lame. A sole bruise may show up as a visible mark, but a horse will usually show lameness or sensitivity before the bruise actually appears.

In some cases, the bruise may not be severe enough to cause lameness, but the horse will be sensitive to hoof testers or concussion at the affected area.

Causes:

Bruises on the hoof and frog are very common. The most common cause is when the horse steps on a rock or hard, uneven ground. Crusty, icy snow can also lead to bruises. Regular work on arena footing that is too hard can also cause bruising, as can taking a horse that is primarily ridden on soft footing and working him on hard ground. Improper farrier work can also lead to brusing.

Some horses have thinner soles or flatter feet than others. This can predispose a horse to bruises. Left untreated, a simple bruise can become an abscess as more blood pools in the affected area.

Treatment:

If your horse is showing signs of brusing, have him stand with the affected hoof in a bucket of ice water. This will prevent the rapid blood flow to the area that causes bruising. In more severe cases, a vet may suggest treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication such as Bute.

You can reduce the risk of bruises by being diligent about picking your horse’s feet daily or before and after every ride to remove any rocks that may be stuck in his hoof. Keeping his feet clean and dry will also help, as wet soles may be more prone to bruising. If you have regular problems with bruising, your farrier can add a pad between the hoof and the shoe to protect the sole.

Some endurance and competitive trail riders outfit their horses with protective boots that cover the entire hoof when competing on long rides or over especially rough terrain. These boots can prevent bruises and other hoof injury while giving the horse some extra traction.

Further Reading
The Barefoot Life
Packing Your Horse’s Hooves

Cracks

Symptoms:

A crack in the hoof wall originating at the coronary band is known as a quarter crack when it occurs on the side–or quarters–of the hoof. Toe cracks may also occur, but are less common. These cracks typically begin on the inside of the hoof, where they are not visible, and become obvious when the crack reaches the surface of the hoof wall. Affected horses will not always be lame, but if the area becomes infected, it can cause severe pain.

Causes:

Cracks can be caused by trauma to the coronary band or heavy concussion, such as work on hard surfaces. Horses with weak or thin hoof walls are more prone to quarter cracks. Poor hoof conformation or an improper trim—especially long toes and underrun heels–can also lead to cracks. Quarter cracks can affect any breed of horse in any sport, but tend to be more common in race horses.

Treatment:

If the hoof is infected, your vet will open the crack to disinfect the area and remove any dead tissue, if necessary. In some cases, the vet will repair the crack using screws, staples, or wire lacing. The horse will usually require special shoeing to relieve pressure while the crack heals and begins to grow out. In most cases, your vet will cover the crack with an acrylic patch to reinforce the repair.

Laminitis

Symptoms:

The coffin bone of the interior of a horse’s hoof is attached to the inner hoof wall with Velcro-like structures called laminae. When the sensitive inner laminae become inflamed, the horse is suffering from laminitis. If the inflammation is left untreated, the sensitive laminae are weakened, leading to potential separation of the coffin bone and the hoof wall, which can lead to rotation of the coffin bone known as founder.

Laminitis causes varying degrees of pain. It can affect one or two or even all four feet, but is more common in front hooves than back. A laminitic horse may shift his weight back and forth or stand with both front feet stretched out (often referred to as the sawhorse stance) in an attempt to take weight off of his hooves. The affected hooves will be notably warm or hot and the digital pulse will usually be elevated. If made to walk, the horse may move in a hesitant manner.

Causes:

There are numerous causes for laminitis. The most common scenario is one where the horse is let out into a lush, spring pasture and gorges himself on rich grass. The high-carbohydrate, easily digestible spring grass is broken down rapidly by the bacteria in the horse’s gut. This fast digestion causes a byproduct which is absorbed into the horse’s bloodstream where it become a sort of toxin, causing inflammation in the laminae. This same scenario can play out in situations where the horse has broken into the feed bin and gorged himself on grain.

Other causes include heavy concussion (such as a horse that gallops or is worked at a high-stepping gait on a hard surface), retained placenta in broodmares or a hard workout without appropriate cool down. Exposure to environmental toxins such as black walnut can lead to laminitis. Obese or cresty horses are more prone to laminitis than fit and thin horses, but any horse can be affected.

Laminitis can also become a secondary issue if a horse is compensating for an injury on one leg by putting most of his weight on another. This was the widely publicized case with 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Treatment:

If laminitis is caught early, standing the affected hooves in ice water can slow the progression of the disease. Your vet will most likely prescribe an anti-inflammatory such as Bute to help relieve some of the pain. Some vets will also apply DMSO to the affected legs as it is believe to help increase blood flow to hooves, but it’s effectiveness has not been conclusively proven. Your vet may suggest special shoes to help relieve pressure on the affected area of the hoof.

Horses that have had laminitis in the past are more prone to it in the future, so proper management is key. The horse should be kept off grain, grass and rich hay during the recovery period. Some vets will suggest soaking grass hay before feeding it to laminitic horses. Overweight horses are more prone to founder, so keeping your horse on a strict diet even after he has recovered may be necessary.

Further Reading
First Aid for Laminitis
Old Hay: Is it better for laminitis?

Thrush

Symptoms:

Thrush is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the sulci (grooves) of the Frog. The infection causes a gooey black discharge with a distinctive foul odor. In most cases, thrush will not cause significant pain, but if left untreated it can cause sensitivity in the frog and heel and ultimately lead to lameness.

Causes:

Thrush thrives in a wet, dirty environment. Horses kept in a muddy paddock or left to stand in a dirty stall are especially at risk for developing thrush. When mud and manure are packed into the hoof, the dark, warm, wet sulci become the ideal home for bacteria to thrive. The bacteria eat away at the hoof tissue, causing the telltale black discharge.

Thrush can happen to any horse when conditions are favorable, but horses with deep sulci or contracted heels tend to be more prone.

Treatment:

In most cases, a horse owner can treat thrush quickly and easily by applying a commercial thrush medication to the sulci. A 1:10 mixture of bleach and water can also be used. Picking your horse’s feet regularly, keeping your stalls and paddocks clean, and making sure that your horse has somewhere dry to stand in the pasture during wet months are the keys to prevention. This may require putting up temporary electrical tape or wire fencing to keep horses out of flooded or muddy areas of the pasture.

If the infection has advanced enough to cause pain or sensitivity, your vet may trim off any dead tissue to expose the infection, then pack the hoof with antiseptic-soaked cotton. In rare cases, a vet may prescribe antibiotics.

Further Reading
Thrush

White Line Disease (Seedy Toe)

Symptoms:

White line disease is characterized by a separation of the inner hoof wall which may be visible as a hole or crack on the sole at the toe. Bacteria and fungi invade the space between hoof wall layers. As the infection eats away at the hoof tissue, the hoof may appear white and crumbly when scraped with a hoof pick. Hooves that are unusually dry and brittle may be a sign of white line disease. Lameness may or may not occur, depending on severity.

Causes:

The exact cause of white line disease is often uncertain. Bacteria and fungus can enter the hoof through undetected openings in the sole. Previous hoof injury, especially laminitis, can leave the hooves at risk for white line disease, and once a horse has been affected, he may be more prone to future bouts of the disease.

The hoof wall at the horse’s toe becomes weaker as it grows longer, so a long toe may be a risk factor for white line disease.

Treatment:

The infection that causes white line disease is anaerobic, meaning it lives in an environment without oxygen. Your farrier or vet will remove the hoof wall in the affected section to expose the bacteria and fungi to oxygen. The affected area must be thoroughly cleaned to get rid of the bacteria, fungi and dead tissue.

Your farrier will outfit the your horse with a supportive shoe while the affected area grows out. If the pocket of infection was low on the hoof, you may be able to keep your horse in light work while he recovers. If the affected area is near the coronary band, it will need to grow out before the horse can be ridden again.

Keeping your horse’s hooves clean, maintaining his stalls and pastures and keeping him on a regular farrier schedule are the best ways to prevent white line disease.