A question about hoof picking

Burmilla said:
Horse stabled overnight in v clean bed. Out twelve hours a day on good enough grazing, poo picked daily. Some mud, round gates, not too bad at all. Otherwise, odd small stones, sticks from the big tree in the centre of the field. Ridden most days, roads tracks fields and sand school.
When I bought horse, two years ago,all four feet very poor, overgrown, splayed hooves, thrush, abcesses, cracks and crumbles all round. Horse had been neglected by previous owner, hurt, starved, turned out on the bog all summer,no hoof care at all. Now, no thrush, abcesses ( touches wood immediately) cracks gone and crumbles only on on one quarter of one foot, and continuing to get better.
All feet picked out on going out of stable, before and after sand school work, and any other excercise anywhere else. After coming in from turn out.
Feet picked out, attention paid to frog and creases either side, and, very gently, in middle. Soles brushed, and where shoe surfaces meet foot, especially the space between frog and heel. Excellent experienced farrier on a regular 5/6 weekly basis.
It's worked for us. Would pick out and check feet at least once a day on a routine basis for any horse/ pony/donkey in my care. It's was wot I woz brung up to do!
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This is me too ^^^
 
Up to 3 times a week in winter, more in summer. I'll pick them if I hear something, he looks uncomfortable or his legs are clean/I've cleaned them. I don't often hose his legs down. Never had any hoof-based soundness issues, excluding lami!
 
Horses hooves only get picked out when going for a ride just to check for stones which on the tarmac could cause bruising.

I have never used a brush to clean the soles.. & find that I get all the mud out with a hoof pick.
Horse lives out 24/7 and has excellent hoof health.
 
I never pick mine out - I have two - one out 24/7 with no shoes and one stabled at night with shoes.

The only time I did pick them out (with shoes) was when the snow was balling in her feet.
 
I pick my horses feet out in the morning before turnout, but never when i bring her in. I would much rather she had mud in her feet, than muck from her stable!
 
Every day.

I would rather catch any issues early on rather than wait until there are obvious signs like lameness.

Only takes a minute and is fantastic training for my rising 2 year old.
 
Always after riding and coming in from field for horse in work. If there is lots of bedding stuck in its only polite to pick before leaving the stable as well.

Have found stones, twigs, large bits of rubber form the menage all stuck in and would feel terrible if I hadn't found them quickly.

Now he is out of work, shoeless and lounging in the field its every other day, when I also use the brush part and spray with anti-thrush stuff.
 
Totally random but I was given a hoof pick with a built in torch today ! Ideal if you're picking feet out in the dark I suppose ;)
 
Question, if you never pick your horses feet out, do you ride on an arena? As you work the horse the muck in the feet will come out and over time trash the arena surface and block the drains.
 
Gosh if I had an arena I'd probably have lights, a stable, at least a bit of concrete to do it on to make it worthwhile! I would probably pick out after using an arena because of the bits of rubber etc, but not convinced the amount of mud etc brought into an arena in feet will do any harm.

I just can't imagine not having to walk through mud to get everywhere right now!
 
I dont pick my horses feet out unless they are in the stable all the time. As others have said a good trot soon sees the clods flying through the air.

With my BF boy his get picked out when hes getting his feet cleaned/photographed and I was treating them for thrush when he was stuck in after I lost my grazing when it changed hands. Now i dont as he goes out in the park and starts galloping around then he trots into his stable from the field and that clears his feet and being on paper it doesnt stick in the feet as much :)
 
I'm not an expert but after being away from horses for years and coming back to them and now looking after both shod and unshod (still struggle to say barefoot lol!) there is a big difference between those with shoes and those without, I would say that those without shoes there is hardly anything to pick out when you do it and those with shoes there is always an awful lot more and much more compacted.
 
HaffiesRock said:
I am glad I am not the only one :)

I know in the wild they wouldnt get picked, but my pony doesnt do the miles or the terrain that wild horses do so less chance of the muck coming out.
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Ever tried a bit of vasaline? not only does it keep the sole moisturised it stop the p** sticking lol
 
Every day without fail.

It drove me nuts when I got my pony as being unhandled couldn't pick out her feet or check them.

She's barefoot, lives out 24/7, has been on the forest for 41/2 years but still feel it's right to pick out her feet everyday now she lets me.

Of course she thinks I'm insane "what are you doing?":D
 
Hangs head in shame - I rarely pick out my horses feet! Serenity has awesome feet, the youngster not so good but only in that the hoof is not such good quality as her mum.

I used to when I lived or worked on a stoney surface and that was to ensure that there were no stones lodged anywhere.

If the horse is shod then a daily check more to check that the shoe is still in place, no clenches risen or the shoe loose or twisted.
 
I do mine about four times a week, and always before the trimmer comes they get their legs washed/dried and soles/frogs scrubbed.

Most farriers/trimmers will not do the horses around here unless they are clean and I don't blame them, why should they deal with your horse if you can't be bothered to have them clean, dry and ready for them
 
If I don't pick out, she usually gets a touch of thrush within a couple of days.

As thrush is anaerobic, it would love the airless conditions created by packed mud. I have come to the conclusion though, that some horses are prone to thrush and need doing daily, and some have feet which can cope.
 
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