Is it cruel to race a horse barefoot if her hooves are healthy?

Horses need shoes if their hooves have a problem or need protecting (like founder or white line disease). If the horse is doing a lot of showing, racing or work where there is a lot of rocks/uneven footing then shoes would also be indicated. If a horse is just out in the pasture and gets ridden only lightly or intermittently then shoes are not likely necessary. If you are worried about your horse's feet in particular then I suggest you consult with your vet and/or farrier to see what they think about your specific horse's needs. Hope this helps.

Hello. I do not believe the color of the hoof indicates strength in the foot overall. Is she shod? You may need to have a farrier out to see if she needs a reset or perhaps pads added to protect the sole. If she continues to come up lame, despite plenty of rest, you really need a vet to come out & do a through lameness exam. This will involve a good physical exam of the leg & foot, blocking the leg/foot to isolate exactly where the pain is coming from & possibly x-rays. She may have not completely recovered from the bruise, or there may be other changes in the hoof/leg at work here. Knowing exactly what you are dealing with will tell you how to keep Flirt comfortable & working pain free for years to come. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could be a sign of laminitis, a hoof abscess, inflammation or arthritis of the joints, tendinitis, etc. You will need to make an appointment with your equine vet for an exam. The least your vet will give or prescribe is pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medicine, If there is an abscess or infection your horse will also need antibiotics.

If both your vet and farrier have approved light rides for Georgie, you might want to just try a short, easy ride in the arena, and then see how she does with plenty of rest in between. If she seems sound and isn't lame after, you can then see if she'll handle a gradual increase in activity, or if she requires more rest. A regular check-in with your vet and farrier afterwards to make sure there aren't any changes can also help you determine if you can continue with the rides over time.

Unfortunately it looks like Cayenne has significantly damaged the part of her hoof from which the growth starts - her coronary band. Additionally the part of the foot that attaches the hard part of her foot to the deeper living tissues, the lamina, appears to also be damaged. The most likely cause of this was a bad bout of laminitis and, possibly, ongoing damage over the intervening years. When this happens, the coronary band cannot produce a normal hoof and the laminar damage makes the foot grow abnormally. These problems can also set her up for chronic foot infections along the white line. To maximize her comfort and health, you need to partner with both a veterinarian and a farmer. The veterinarian can do some tests to try and see why this happened and prescribe medications, if needed, to reduce the incidence of flare ups. They will also take x-rays to assist the farrier in providing the best foot trim and, likely shoes. This condition cannot usually be cured, but management can help make her more comfortable. Thank you for using pet coach!

The hoof cracks are not that bad in the photos. Cracking can be due to any number of things: * hoof being too dry * injury to the hoof * poor nutrition Your farrier can help you more regarding what care you need to do for the hooves. There are no quick fixes. There are biotin supplements you can use and hoof dressings but I honestly don't think they work that great. They won't hurt though if you want to use them. Getting him a good diet is the most important. ( https://www.jefferspet.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&animal%5B%5D=&q=biotin&button=search ) ( https://www.jefferspet.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&animal%5B%5D=&q=hoof+dressing&button=search ) As for the face, I would not be concerned; I don't see anything that looks diseased. The hair should grow back over time with a good diet. He probably just rubbed it off. Keep in mind that all horses, especially rescues, need to have their teeth checked. I suggest you have a vet out to examine the teeth. If there is an issue he can't chew or digest his food properly.

Hello. This may be a sarcoid, but without a biopsy there is no way to know definitively. Unfortunately, this site prohibits us from giving out any kind of medical advice, & ethically, it would just be wrong to do so. There are other advice sites that are more generous with information since we can have an actual chat. You might try to access one of these & see if someone can help you there. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.