Regular hoof care is foundational to horse welfare since neglected hooves cause lameness and chronic pain that affects every aspect of horse life.
Hoof care neglect represents one of the most visible forms of equine welfare compromise since overgrown, imbalanced feet cause obvious lameness and pain that is easily preventable through regular farriery. Horses with severely overgrown hooves develop altered gait patterns that stress joints, tendons, and ligaments throughout the limb, causing secondary musculoskeletal problems that compound the primary hoof welfare issue. White line disease progresses from cosmetic to severely painful if the hoof wall separation allows anaerobic bacteria to undermine the hoof structure. Laminitis causes extreme pain from the inflammatory destruction of sensitive laminae and requires emergency farriery alongside veterinary treatment. The welfare of horses in all management systems depends on regular farriery by qualified professionals and owner vigilance in monitoring hoof health between visits.