Most of us understand the importance of hoof care as an aspect of overall horse care and, therefore, make it a priority. However, once a horse is past their prime and retired to pasture, farrier visits may become less frequent and hoof problems may go unnoticed.
Though older horses likely won’t need shoes, they still need routine trimming and regular hoof inspections. The time between farrier visits can vary depending on the horse’s environment, the season, as well as the individual horse. Some may need a trim every four weeks whereas others can go up to several months between trims.
However, if the hoof wall (and especially the toe) is allowed to overgrow, this can place added strain on a horse’s joints—especially problematic for older horses that are dealing with osteoarthritis.
Aside from regular farrier visits and routine inspections of the hooves, here are some other tips related to hoof care for senior horses:
Modify the Trim
Trimming senior horses can present some challenges. Arthritis often makes it difficult for them to lift their feet onto a hoof stand or hold their feet up or in certain positions for long periods of time. Therefore, you’ll likely need to make some modifications when having them trimmed.
Using a shorter hoof stand can be beneficial so they don’t have to lift their feet as high. Take care to move their legs slowly and gently, and give them frequent breaks during the trim as well. Essentially, anything we can do to make senior horses more comfortable during farrier visits will help.
For horses that can’t lift their feet at all, a low block of wood can be used as a stand. Place the foot on the block, leaving one side or the other just at the edge. You can then trim from the ground this way. Move the hoof to the front of the block to trim the toe.
One product you or your farrier may find quite helpful with senior horses is a set of electric trimmers which basically work as a hoof grinder. These trimmers can cut trim time down considerably which places less stress on aching joints (as well as on the person doing the trimming!). Electric trimmers can also be used for “ground trims” when the hoof is placed on a block of wood.
Pain Relief
Because older horses are almost certainly dealing with osteoarthritis and possibly other types of old injuries, providing pain relief before and after the trim can be helpful. Bjute Natural Pain Relief is a great option which won’t cause harmful side effects like bute can.
Keeping your senior horse on a regular joint supplement such as Equine Mega Joint or MSM can also be helpful in keeping joint inflammation and pain in check. It’s also important to allow senior horses plenty of regular exercise and movement as this can reduce joint pain and ultimately, make trimming easier on them.
Yes, senior horses require more time and patience, but they deserve the best care we can give them and this includes good hoof care!