Horse Hoof Care Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have compiled a list of our frequently asked questions and we hope that these are useful for you. If you have any question which isn’t mentioned herein then please get in touch with us via email and we will do our best to advise you as soon as possible.
HORSE HOOF TRIMMING FAQ’s
How to trim your horse’s hooves yourself?
or
Can I trim my horse’s hooves myself?
The short answer is YES! However, if your horse has any kind of health issue involving its hooves then you should consult with an expert. If you are not entirely comfortable around your horse or if you aren’t sure how to trim your horse’s hooves, take it to a professional farrier instead of trimming the hooves yourself, because you could injure or potentially even lame your horse.
What happens if you don't trim horse hooves?
Or
Can Horse’s hooves be left untrimmed?
Wild horses regularly move over a wide area with different types of ground conditions which helps their hooves to wear down naturally. However, for Pet Horses a lot more hoof care is required by the owner or keeper of the Horse, for example if you didn’t trim your own nails and they didn’t break, they would grow very long and eventually they would begin to curl. Horses hooves are similar in the same sense, except that they are bigger and harder, but if left unattended and without regular hoof care and trimming the horse could develop serious health problems, and quite often and with great sadness would need to be put down
How do you trim a horse's hooves for Beginners?
Or
What is the best practice when trimming Horse hooves?
Just to give you an idea we have mentioned this in simple steps:
- Grab the right tools: Hoof Rasp, Hoof Nipper, Hoof Knife
- Soak the Hooves for 20 minutes to soften them
- Clean the Hooves with a suitable, usually a Curved Hoof Knife – There are many types to pick from!
- Look at the 5 different parts of the Hoof to determine how much trimming would be required and where.
- Get in the correct position which is comfortable for both yourself and your horse
- Trim the Hoof using Nippers to remove excess length in the outer hoof wall
- Rasp the Hoof with short, even strokes and keep your strokes flat.
- Trim the Hoof Sole using a Hoof Knife
- Check the Hoof to make sure it is even and symmetrical
- Repeat the above steps every 4 to 6 weeks
How do you know when your horse’s hooves need trimming?
Or
How frequently should Horse hooves be trimmed?
Horses Hooves should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks in Spring & Summer and every 6-10 weeks in Autumn and Winter – much of it also depends on the terrain the horses walk upon
How much does it cost to trim horse’s hooves?
Or
Is it costly to pay for Farrier services when Hoof trimming is required?
On average a good farrier would charge £25-£35 per trim in the UK and $35-$45 in the USA – Horseshoeing is an additional task which would cost you much more.
How often do you trim a horse's hooves?
Or
What is the recommended frequency for Horse hoof trimming?
It is best to trim your horse’s hooves every 4-6 weeks in Spring or Summer and every 6-10 weeks in Autumn or Winter – regular trimming is great for your horse’s overall health.
What are the steps to trim a horse's hooves?
Or
Which steps should be taken to trim the hoof of a Horse?
There are many online videos showing how to trim a horse’s hooves, but just to give you a 10-step breakdown see below:
- Grab the right tools: Hoof Rasp, Hoof Nipper, Hoof Knife
- Soak the Hooves for 20 minutes to soften them
- Clean the Hooves with a suitable, usually a Curved Hoof Knife
- Look at the 5 different parts of the Hoof to determine how much trimming would be required and where
- Get in the correct position which is comfortable for both yourself and your horse
- Trim the Hoof using Nippers to remove excess length in the outer hoof wall
- Rasp the Hoof with short, even strokes keeping your strokes flat
- Trim the Hoof Sole using a Hoof Knife
- Check the Hoof to make sure it is even and symmetrical
- Repeat the above steps every 4 to 6 weeks
