Horse Hoof Care and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Regular hoof care is fundamental to horse welfare; neglected hooves cause pain, lameness, and secondary health problems that compound into significant welfare harm.

Key Facts

Horses require hoof trimming or shoeing every 6-8 weeks throughout their lives
Overgrown hooves cause abnormal loading that damages tendons, ligaments, and joints
Laminitis — inflammation of the sensitive structures within the hoof — affects up to 10% of ponies annually
Barefoot trimming has grown as an alternative to shoeing and suits many horses on appropriate surfaces
White line disease and thrush are common preventable infections of neglected hooves

Welfare Considerations

Hoof care is a continuous welfare obligation that cannot be neglected without causing harm. A horse with overgrown hooves experiences abnormal biomechanics with every step — forces that damage the tendons and joints of the leg over time, and that cause immediate discomfort through unbalanced loading. Laminitis, which causes excruciating pain within the hoof capsule, has a nutritional component that makes it partly preventable through appropriate grazing management. The cost of regular farriery is often cited as a barrier, but the welfare and financial cost of treating conditions caused by neglect far exceeds the cost of prevention.

What You Can Do

Schedule farriery appointments every 6-8 weeks as a routine welfare commitment
Monitor for signs of hoof abnormality including flaring, cracking, and uneven wear between appointments
Restrict access to lush spring grass for ponies and horses prone to laminitis
Seek veterinary advice promptly if a horse shows any sign of lameness or foot pain
Support farriery training and education to maintain a skilled workforce for horse welfare