Proper hoof care is one of the most critical preventive welfare interventions for horses — neglect causes chronic pain and lameness that is entirely preventable.
Hoof welfare is foundational to equine welfare — as the saying goes, no hoof, no horse. Chronic hoof neglect causes progressive pain, lameness, and structural damage that can be irreversible. Laminitis, often triggered by dietary management errors, can be acutely and chronically debilitating. Regular farriery, appropriate footing, and attentive feeding management prevent most common hoof welfare problems. In working horse populations in low-income contexts, farrier access is a major constraint, and mobile farriery programs deliver direct welfare improvements to thousands of working equids.