Horse Hoof Care and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Proper hoof care is essential to equine welfare. Neglect of hoof health causes chronic pain and lameness, while good farriery and management practices keep horses comfortable and mobile throughout their lives.

Key Facts

Laminitis — painful inflammation of the hoof laminae — affects up to 7% of horses annually
Horses bear about 65% of their body weight on their front hooves
Untrimmed hooves can curl and cause permanent skeletal deformity within months
Regular farriery (every 6-8 weeks) is essential for unshod horses and more frequently for shod horses
Thrush, white line disease, and abscesses cause significant hoof pain and are often preventable
Barefoot management, when appropriate, can promote natural hoof health and self-cleaning

Welfare Considerations

Horses with poor hoof care suffer chronic pain that significantly impacts their quality of life. Lameness is among the most common welfare problems in domesticated horses. Pain from hoof conditions causes behavioral changes, reluctance to move, and secondary musculoskeletal issues. Many cases of neglect stem from financial hardship or lack of knowledge. Early intervention, proper nutrition, and regular farriery prevent the majority of hoof-related suffering. Owners should learn to recognize early signs of hoof disease.

What You Can Do

Schedule regular farriery visits (every 6-8 weeks) for your horses
Learn to recognize early signs of laminitis, thrush, and abscesses
Ensure horses have appropriate diet and avoid obesity, a key laminitis risk factor
Support horse rescue organizations that rehabilitate neglected horses
Advocate for farriery education resources to be more accessible to all horse owners