Hoof care routine guide

Clean hooves. Protected footing. More confident rides.

This is the no drama hoof routine riders actually stick with. Start with clean, dry hooves, then choose the right finish for your season and footing. If you use a topical, Silver Hoof EQ Therapy® 16oz | Draw It Out® Hoof Care is designed to go on clean hooves for a tidy, reliable result.

5 minute daily check wet weather and odor season hard ground and bruising weeks when to call your farrier
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Short reads

Hoof focused reads that actually help

Pick one that matches what you are seeing. Then come right back to the routine.

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Common hoof issues and what to do first

Not medical advice, just a calm rider-first decision map. Start with clean and dry, then decide if this is routine maintenance or a call-your-pro situation.

Foul odor, black gunk, soft frog grooves

  • Pick thoroughly and dry the area.
  • Improve footing if you can. Standing wet makes everything harder.
  • If you see deep cracks, heat, swelling, or rapid worsening, call your farrier or vet.
If it smells worse fast or the horse is suddenly sore, treat it as urgent.

Tender on hard ground or after a big week

  • Check for packed gravel, bruising signs, and uneven wear.
  • Reduce concussion for a few rides and keep your daily checks tight.
  • Loop in your farrier if it does not improve quickly or if one foot is clearly worse.
Uneven tenderness is more concerning than general “week sore.”

Chips, cracks, clinch changes

  • Photograph the change once, then watch for progression.
  • Do not rasp aggressively unless your farrier asked you to.
  • Text your farrier if the crack is traveling up or the shoe looks shifted.
Fast changes often mean the reset is due sooner than planned.

Sudden heat, pulse, or a “three legged” moment

  • Stop work and keep the horse quiet.
  • Check for nails, foreign objects, and obvious puncture risk.
  • Call your farrier or vet. Sudden lameness is not a DIY project.
If you see a puncture, do not pull it. Call your vet.
Where to go next

Pick the fastest path for your horse today

Use the routine above as your daily baseline. Then choose the next step based on what you are seeing in the hoof and how hard you are riding this week.

Get a guided recommendation

Answer a few quick questions and get a simple match that fits your workload and goals.

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Build durability before problems

Prehabilitation is the calm way to stay ahead of soreness with structure you can repeat.

Go to Prehabilitation

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If you are here for the daily check, stay on this page. If you are here to shop, the hoof care collection is the aisle.
Decision map

Common hoof issues and what to do first

Start with clean and dry. Then decide if this is routine maintenance or a call-your-pro moment. This is rider-first guidance, not medical advice.

Foul odor, black gunk, soft frog grooves

  • Pick thoroughly and dry the area.
  • Improve footing when you can. Standing wet makes everything harder.
  • Keep the daily check consistent so changes show up early.
Escalate: deep cracks, heat, swelling, sudden soreness, or fast worsening.

Tender on hard ground or after a big week

  • Check for packed gravel, uneven wear, and sensitivity in one foot vs all four.
  • Reduce concussion for a few rides and keep the routine tight.
  • Text your farrier if it does not improve quickly.
Escalate: one foot clearly worse, heat, pulse, or a sudden change in stride.

Chips, cracks, clinch changes, shoe feels “off”

  • Take one photo and monitor progression.
  • Avoid aggressive rasping unless your farrier asked for it.
  • Message your farrier early if the crack is traveling or the shoe looks shifted.
Escalate: a crack that climbs, a sprung shoe, or sudden tenderness.

Sudden heat, strong pulse, or “three legged” moment

  • Stop work and keep the horse quiet.
  • Check for nails, foreign objects, or obvious puncture risk.
  • Call your farrier or vet. Sudden lameness is not a DIY project.
Escalate now: puncture suspicion, drainage, swelling up the leg, or intense pain.
Shortcut that saves money: if something changes fast, do not wait for the next reset. A quick text with a photo to your farrier often prevents a bigger problem later.

Quick questions

Horse hoof care FAQ

What should I check every day?

Pick each hoof and check the frog, heel, odor, heat, tenderness, cracks, drainage, and digital pulse. Compare both front feet and both hind feet so a one-sided change is easier to spot.

Does Silver Hoof EQ Therapy® replace a farrier?

No. It supports a consistent hoof-care routine. Structural concerns, trimming, shoeing, persistent tenderness, and fast-changing cracks need farrier or veterinary guidance.

When is a hoof concern urgent?

Stop work and call your farrier or veterinarian for sudden lameness, a strong digital pulse, puncture concern, marked heat, drainage, swelling, or severe pain. Do not pull a suspected puncturing object unless your veterinarian directs you.