Honest answers - how often do you pick your horses feet out?

[Red-1]

Mine are both barefoot and I trim them myself, so I prefer to do it a few times a week so it isn't a big job.

They get picked whenever they move areas, so when turned out or brought in, or before and after riding. Often I intend to just pick but see a little something just out of line, so I fetch the rasp and straighten it up.

Rigs has maybe a squiz round with hoof oil on the sole if they have been wet and have got a bit soft. BH has product daily. Different products. Pretty products. LOL.

 

[Baywonder]

During my horse owning years, feet were checked and picked out minimum once a day, and always after riding.

 

[onemoretime]

Just looking at a charity video saying it must be done every day. But I don’t, somehow it doesn’t make it into my routine and don’t really see many people who do!
Do you?

Every day and sometimes twice a day.

 

[Ratface]

Every day. Before turning out in the morning. After bringing in, the evening. Before and after excercise in the school or out hacking. State of hoof exterior, sole and heels also checked.

 

[Arzada]

How often do people treat with Kevin Bacon or similar, use sole cleanse or field paste type products in this dry weather?

Never

 

[Gloi]

Most days and always before and after riding. There's sometimes rocks in there and I don't want to set off with one in.

 

[Gloi]

How often do people treat with Kevin Bacon or similar, use sole cleanse or field paste type products in this dry weather? If using something like Kevin Bacon do you paint the sole as well as the hoof?

Used to be when I went to a show but I don't go to shows any more

 

[catkin]

Checked every day. There's not always anything to pick out but like to check.

 

[Chappie]

Glad to read this thread - I used to religiously check their feet every day but I've let it go a bit lately, as a lot of issues have made me make only very short late visits to the yard. You know what, I am going to get back to my good old routine! I need to get my work hours under control, somehow ignore the problems at the yard and get on with things.

Luckily, it has been very dry lately there is often literally nothing to pick out, even from the stables, they seem so dry and clean atm.

Prince has very good feet (says farrier) they are deep though so I do normally like to have a good look every day. He's terrible with picking his feet up though, it literally took YEARS of patience from when I first starting loaning him to co-operate, and he still can kick out with his backs. So only if the weather is REALLY bad eg storm, sheet ice, I don't pick his feet out as his stable is too small for doing things like that (another issue).
I absolutely HATE picking out feet in stables anyway, it badly gives me the ick, I have to IMMEDIATELY pick up the dirt if I ever have to!

I do use Kevin Bacon and similar products, don't use them daily or even weekly though. I do put it on the sole, but it's very difficult to find anywhere clean and dry for them to stand. My Pro Feet (a green gel) went strange, I don't know if it was the hot weather? Or I contaminated it? As horrid white lumps appeared in the bottle.
Just bought some Cornucrescine for Dry Conditions as the Prince's heels look dry now.

Princess was obviously well-trained in her youth as she even picks up her feet in turn before you come to them, bless her. Shallow feet but "likes" to stand in the poo pile!

Prince has started to pick up his feet in turn, I feel so proud of him when he does this. (Well, treats may be involved!)

 

[GinaGeo]

All barefoot.

In winter they live on a surfaced track. I pick out daily and check white lines. Then spray feet with a very dilute Milton Solution once a week. If anything is thrush then they get appropriate treatment.

In summer they’re on a grass track. When it’s dry they don’t pick anything up. I check them every few days, but very little needs to be done.

I do them after riding if we’ve been hacking. Or before popping boots on the booted one.

 

[scats]

Barefoot and picked out every day. It wouldn’t enter my head not to do it as tiny little stones can get in and cause all sorts of problems.

 

[black and brown]

Everyday, twice a day and an additional time after hacking. I'm amazed at the size of stones which get wedged in whilst hacking and I wouldn't want them stuck there all day

 

[Sealine]

I check feet before taking my horse out of his stable and when he is brought in from the field. When it’s dry I apply Kevin Bacon’s 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[thommackintosh]

Typically three times a day. Once in the stable before turn out (saves having to clean shavings from the yard), when I bring him in before riding, then a final time and coat of effol before tucking him in for the night.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Every time I’m at the yard. If I’m not riding I usually do it once. If I am riding I’ll do it before and after a ride even if it’s just in the arena. We picked up a nail in the school once that must have come loose from another horse’s shoe! Mine is prone to thrush in the winter and sometimes throws shoes in the summer when it’s dry so I like to keep an eye on his feet.

 

[MiLeTa]

Barefoot and checked/ picked out every day- in the summer there's often nothing in there, but he can sometimes pick up stones on the way out/in from the field, so I always like to check.
Checked/picked out again after riding.
Sole Cleanse used once a week (ish)

 

[Tiddlypom]

Usually daily at least, but if my back has gone into one of its hissy fits they may not have it done for a fortnight or more, because I'm physically not capable.

Interestingly, yet another benefit of putting them all on oily herbs two years ago is the improvement in their hoof health. No more stinky thrush (I used to have to use Sole Cleanse by the gallon) and no more abscesses. So even after a fortnight their feet don't stink.

 

[Surbie]

Barefoot horse here with a deformed white line after a nasty abcess 5 years ago.

I pick out before turning out, sometimes at the field gate too, on bringing in and after riding. We have very stony tracks and little stones get lodged in his feet.

Eta: I don't use many products on feet. Hoof Stuff or Field Paste are my main ones.

A friend recently.forgot to check feet after a fun ride. Horse came in from the field sound that evening but with this in his foot. Luckily no damage!

 

[paddy555]

Usually daily at least, but if my back has gone into one of its hissy fits they may not have it done for a fortnight or more, because I'm physically not capable.

Interestingly, yet another benefit of putting them all on oily herbs two years ago is the improvement in their hoof health. No more stinky thrush (I used to have to use Sole Cleanse by the gallon) and no more abscesses. So even after a fortnight their feet don't stink.

I am starting to ask myself if all these stinky feet and thrush is being made worse by constant treatments. If feet (and am talking about barefeet here) would do a bit better with less interference. Lotions and potions on barefeet is pretty new. We (people in general) never used to. Apart from stockholm tar I don't even think there were any products.
Having experimented with lots of ideas over the years the best has proved to be do as little as possible and preferably nothing.

(not knocking oily herbs in any way, I have 2 on them who have shown great gut improvement however no change to their feet)

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I pick out after hacking as we have sharp flinty stones everywhere on the bridleways. I don’t always pick out if only been in the field and not being ridden and it’s dry.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Mine are cleaned out in their stables prior to going out in the paddock. They are also cleaned out when they come back in from the paddock. They are cleaned out prior to exercise & also after exercise. They are also groomed when they are brought in from the paddock, not just to look pretty but also to check any injuries they may have picked up.Oh, tack is cleaned at least twice per week. If you keep on top of it it takes very little time & is always in good condition. I cannot understand why people are too lazy to clean tack & groom their horse.

 

[Z3bby]

2yo - weekly
3yo - 3-4 times a week
In summer anyway.
3-4 times a week for both in winter.
Checked for general injuries and lameness by yard staff daily.

 

[ycbm]

How often do people treat with Kevin Bacon or similar, use sole cleanse or field paste type products in this dry weather? If using something like Kevin Bacon do you paint the sole as well as the hoof?

Never. I love dry feet, they are hard and strong and withstand wear really well.

 

[ycbm]

Just looking at a charity video saying it must be done every day. But I don’t, somehow it doesn’t make it into my routine and don’t really see many people who do!
Do you?

When I ride and when I trim. The problem with not picking out feet more often is not spotting things stuck in the foot, like a nail. And failing to spot thrush until its got a hold.

 

[scruffyponies]

I used to do it every time I rode. Truth is I stopped that years ago, having found that there was never anything in there. Now it's only when I trim or the very rare occasion horse picks up a stone out hacking. That doesn't happen often with barefoot horses as it has to be small and sharp enough to lodge in the white line and most of our hacking is on grass.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

Once a day, asides from my cheeky old boy who doesn't always let me catch him every day x

 

[Arzada]

exactly, they cope fine and in fact I have found that they cope far better than daily picking out, washing, scrubbing and applying various products.

why is because it allows mud to build up and compact tightly in the colateral grooves and sulchus which provides support at the back of the foot. That is mud not dung.

I am starting to ask myself if all these stinky feet and thrush is being made worse by constant treatments. If feet (and am talking about barefeet here) would do a bit better with less interference. Lotions and potions on barefeet is pretty new. We (people in general) never used to. Apart from stockholm tar I don't even think there were any products.
Having experimented with lots of ideas over the years the best has proved to be do as little as possible and preferably nothing.

I agree. My 'picking out the feet once every 7 weeks, 30 minutes before the farrier arrives' regime started a little over 8 years ago when I was injured. Arzada went something like 10 weeks until I located the farrier of choice. Lo and behold, wonderful if a little too long feet. It was a revelation. I've stuck with this and the feet are still wonderful. Also the farrier!

There was a time when I picked out, but only before and after riding so not every day and I've used various products over the years. Even before the regime of neglect which was at first forced on me and then adopted when I could once again pick up feet I had started to query constant interference, including digging around with a hoof pick to remove every vestige of non-foot, as not being good for the feet.

I have previously looked after many shod horses on a large BHS exam centre yard and the feet were picked out numerous times per day. If I had a shod horse (I won't, Arzada is my last horse) I would trial leaving mud in the foot so see if the feet benefited from reduced interference and from the extra support at the back of the foot

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Just looking at a charity video saying it must be done every day. But I don’t, somehow it doesn’t make it into my routine and don’t really see many people who do!
Do you?

answer is rarely, and no it is not laziness - wild horses don't have feet picked ( yeh i know they don't have shoes either) advice by farrier, my horses have lovely clean feet never had any issues with thrush or such like.


normally it comes out on the road or when they have the farrier that is all.

Think some are obsessed with it, and my farrier said the mud protects the hoof from thrush and poo and urine going in.


So I don't normally pick them out, unless painting keratex hoof hardner on pony.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Can I add a question please.

How often do people treat with Kevin Bacon or similar, use sole cleanse or field paste type products in this dry weather? If using something like Kevin Bacon do you paint the sole as well as the hoof?

never with kevin Bacon, just a huge tin of lard and expensive.

Morning due is the best thin for horses feet.

 

[Burnttoast]

answer is rarely, and no it is not laziness - wild horses don't have feet picked ( yeh i know they don't have shoes either) advice by farrier, my horses have lovely clean feet never had any issues with thrush or such like.


normally it comes out on the road or when they have the farrier that is all.

Think some are obsessed with it, and my farrier said the mud protects the hoof from thrush and poo and urine going in.


So I don't normally pick them out, unless painting keratex hoof hardner on pony.

Yes I'd far rather have mud than manure in feet. The number of stabled shod hooves I've picked hard-pressed manure out of over the years. It really isn't good for them.