Hoof horn grows constantly – about a centimetre each month. We can therefore always adjust or support its development. A balanced diet provides all the nutrients a healthy hoof needs, but sometimes it’s necessary to adjust feed and provide extra care.

Although hooves look firm and lifeless on the outside due to their hard horn layer, don’t forget that underneath lies the sensitive corium, which contains many sensitive nerve endings and blood vessels. A horse with problem hooves will have irregular gaits, avoid hard surfaces and, in severe cases, even lie down noticeably more to take the pressure off of its hooves.

Sensitive hooves are often caused by inflammation responses after overloading or from being ridden on uncomfortable terrain. However, older horses often naturally have sensitive hooves or thinner soles, making them more prone to pain.

Your horse may also appear to be walking on eggshells if the farrier has trimmed his hooves just a bit too short. Another frequent cause for sensitive hooves is laminitis. This disease is often the result of a metabolic disorder, where toxins are produced that cause inflammation of the laminae that connect the hoof wall with the corium. It is extremely painful and requires a “whole-horse” approach.