No horse without a hoof! What to do with hoof cancer, thrush and crumbling hooves?

The expression 'No foot, no horse' is old. And a cliché. But yes, healthy and strong hooves are indeed vital for your horse. We list the most important ailments and give you tips to keep your horse's hooves healthy.

The most common 'problem' with horse hooves is crumbling. Especially in dry conditions, many horses have crumbling hooves. Pieces of hoof break off and it doesn't look very nice. Fortunately, it's usually not a very big problem and a visit from the farrier usually resolves it. Sometimes crumbling is (partly) caused by a mineral deficiency.

To prevent hooves from crumbling, it is important for you to:

• Give your horse enough minerals and nutrients
• Provide enough (free) exercise
• Not constantly keep them on too hard or too dry ground

Many people in the summer wet the ground near the water trough or hay rack so that the horses stand in the mud when eating or drinking. This prevents a lot of problems.

Thrush in horses

Another common problem is thrush. In this case, the frog of the hoof is affected and becomes soft. It usually also smells quite bad. Horses that walk on their frog or have narrow hooves are particularly sensitive to thrush. Unlike crumbling, which is influenced by dryness, thrush often occurs when horses stand on wet or dirty ground with their hooves. This can be in the stable or in the pasture. The dampness allows bacteria and fungi to thrive, especially if your horse is experiencing a dip in its immune system.

To prevent and treat thrush, you can:

• Ensure a dry and clean environment in the stable, pasture, or paddock
• Ensure that your horse's overall immunity is maintained
• Spray the frog with EM spray containing good bacteria
• Ensure there is an adequate supply of nutrients and minerals in their feed

The immunity of the horse is also crucial in determining whether your horse develops thrush. This article provides more information on this: 6 tips to prevent thrush in your horse.

Hoof cancer in horses

Hoof cancer, also known as digital squamous cell carcinoma, is not very common. But it is a problem that requires immediate attention from a veterinarian. Hoof cancer involves the abnormal growth of horn tissue. It looks like a cauliflower-like growth in the frog. It is grainy and smelly, which can sometimes be confused with thrush. Hoof cancer is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the horse's immunity is compromised. The disease originates from within! Poor hygiene can exacerbate the problem.

If you suspect hoof cancer in your horse:

• Call the veterinarian
• Anti-inflammatory drugs are often used
• Minerals and nutrients for the hoof can support recovery
• Boost your horse's immune system

If you want to know more about the difference between thrush and hoof cancer, read this article: Thrush or hoof cancer? Differences and solutions.

Silicon: essential nutrient for hooves

Proper maintenance of hooves is crucial to prevent problems. This means regularly cleaning out the hooves, treating thrush with a spray containing essential microorganisms, and having the farrier or trimmer come in on time. Hooves also become healthier when they are used a lot, as this promotes the pumping function (hoof mechanism). Adequate exercise is therefore important for healthy hooves. In addition, you can help your horse develop strong hooves by adding the mineral silicon to their feed as a supplement. Silicon is the building material for strong hooves. It works well, but not quickly. This means it takes at least three months before you see a difference. If your horse has dry and crumbling hooves every summer, start giving them silicon before the summer. Your horse will also benefit from a beautiful coat, and strong tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones.

Boosting immunity

If your horse regularly gets thrush, it is also a good idea to boost their immunity. This can be done with a mineral cure or a gentle cleansing cure with nettle extract. If you want to let your horse choose what they need, you can set up a mineral buffet. Ensure good, unpacked roughage, a balancer with all daily minerals and vitamins, and enough exercise and social contact to keep your horse healthy.

You can read more about the mineral buffet here: Mineral buffet: menu options for your horse

Sources:

Jongbloets, A.M.C. & Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, M.m & Meeus, P.J.H.M. & Back, Willem. (2005). Straalkanker: een (auto-)immuungemedieerde aandoening? Tijdschr Diergeneeskd.. 130. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46658470_Straalkanker_een_auto-immuungemedieerde_aandoening

Preventing and treating thrush in horses. Michigan State University. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/thrush_in_horses

Thrush in horses can be a tricky condition. Agriton 2015. https://www.emvereniging.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/agriton-krant-2015-em-varkens-paarden.pdf