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Hoof Hints - Summer Hooves
Dry, summer heat can create problems for your
miniature's hooves. Because the miniature horse
doesn't wear shoes, their hooves are in direct
contact contact with the ground. Dry ground
pulls the moisture out of the hooves causing
them to harden, crack, and spread. Pine tar, or
products like "Hoof Maker", applied to the
hooves on a routine basis (1-2 times weekly) can
help a great deal with this problem. Wheat germ
oil added to your horses daily diet not only
helps with the hooves but adds to the health of
your horses coat!
Routine trimming is also healthy maintenance for
your miniature horse. It is recommended that
during the summer months of June through August,
to have them trimmed every six weeks. Hooves
tend to grow faster when the weather is warmer.
During the colder months hoof growth slows and
trimming is recommended every eight weeks.
Alice "Doc" Nelson, March, 2002 |
