Thrush is a common but painful hoof condition that causes welfare harm and increases vulnerability to other foot problems without appropriate management.
Thrush causes welfare harm proportional to its depth and extent. Superficial thrush causes mild discomfort and malodor; deep sulcus involvement causes significant pain with pressure on the frog - measurable as a response to hoof tester application. Horses with thrush may show subtle signs of foot discomfort - sensitivity on hard ground, slight changes in movement on turns - that are easy to attribute to other causes. Prevention through clean housing conditions and regular hoof picking takes minutes per day and entirely eliminates thrush as a welfare concern. Horses housed in chronically wet, dirty conditions are in a state of preventable ongoing welfare compromise. The condition is a barometer of management quality - its presence signals that basic environmental standards are not being met.