Hoof care guide

Stone Bruises in Horses

A stone bruise can make a horse short, tender, or reluctant on hard footing. Start with the hoof, the digital pulse, and the farrier/vet decision path before thinking about product.

Quick answer: Pick and inspect the hoof, compare digital pulses, watch movement on safe footing, and call your farrier or veterinarian when pain, heat, lameness, puncture concern, or sudden worsening appears.

Red flags

• Strong digital pulse or heat in the foot.
• Sudden lameness or reluctance to bear weight.
• Puncture concern, drainage, abscess-like pressure, or strong pain response.
• Tenderness that does not improve with rest and better footing.
• Both front feet sore, rocked-back stance, or systemic signs.

What riders should check

1. Pick the foot completely.
2. Look at sole, frog, heel bulbs, white line, and shoe status.
3. Compare both front feet and both hind feet.
4. Check digital pulse and hoof heat.
5. Track whether hard footing makes it worse.
6. Ask whether the horse recently worked on rocks, hard ground, frozen ground, thin footing, or lost a shoe.

Read the Digital Pulse Guide →

Hoof-care path after urgent issues are ruled out

• Silver Hoof EQ Therapy® — hoof, heel, frog, and lower-leg care path.
• Hoof Care Collection — shop hoof support.
• Horse Hoof Bruise Guide — related bruise decision path.
• Use the Solution Finder — when you are not sure if it is hoof, stiffness, skin, travel, or not sure.