Picking out feet

[saultgirl]

In your opinion, how important is it to pick out a horse's feet?

[deltawave]

Depends. :)

I don't do it every day :eek: IF the ground is dry and the horses aren't going anywhere. I do check the shod one almost every day--usually there's nothing in there worth picking. The barefoot ones need even less checking--2-3x per week, maybe, and rarely I'll pick a bit out of the pony's narrow little feet.

Horse going out to work? Always before and after they are checked and picked if needed. Visual check of feet and shoes twice a day.

[FlashGordon]

LOL... for real?

I'd say it is pretty important....

[jaimebaker]

I'd say pretty important myself. But then again, we have thrush issues in the summer. I pick mine out 2x a week unless something is going on (thrush for instance) then I do it every day until the problem is taken care of. All of mine are barefoot.

[ThatScaryChick]

I think it's pretty important. I pick out the feet before riding or when I am grooming to make sure everything is ok.

[saultgirl]

LOL... for real?

I'd say it is pretty important....

So, in your opinion, does it need to be done every day? Every time before the horse is turned out and as soon as it is brought in? Would you pay someone to pick out your horse's feet on days you couldn't do it? Is it so important that barn staff should do it every day and the price should be included in board? Is a few times per week before & after a ride enough? Do all the same rules apply if the horse is barefoot or shod?

[Cruise1]

I pick before I ride. I ride 4-5 times/week. The main reason that I do it, is because I don't want them walking on a stone, and I don't want to get off to check if I find that they are a little off when I get on them.

[deltawave]

I'm thinking about the last 1000 or so times I've checked feet, and trying to count the number of times that I've seen or found something that was surprising or important.

Mmmm, two? :) (1 loose nail, 1 sole bruise)

Cleaning, yeah, that's important if the horse is in footing that leads to dirty, packed feet. Nine times out of ten when I "pick feet" I basically pick up, look, put 'em back down again.

[stryder]

Depends.

Before and after every ride, every time horse is groomed. Other than that, depends on the type of turnout and footing. Muddy or rocks? more often than if dry or grass. Depends on whether horse is shod or prone to thrush.

[Einstein]

I pick my horse's feet everyday and use an anti thrush liquid, every other day.
Hoof care is very important, especially with wet ground.
I also like to check for foreign objects or a lose nail.

[BornToRide]

I don't worry too much about it - they are both bare and pretty much self cleaning. I do each time I ride ....

[kcmel]

Every day in the winter, before they go into their stalls for the night. In the summer, not so much, usually before I ride.

[TheJenners]

Before every ride and whenever I just groom and pet. Normally I'd say "every time I touch the horse" but there are times (like today) when I'll just throw her in a stall for dinner, then toss her back out. If I hear a rock or anything weird, like one foot goes clop and the other goes clud, I'll stop and pick because it's probably full of dirt.

On the other hand, my BF only picks before rodeos and he's never had a problem. These horses are turned out together.

HOWEVER! He sent me this picture via text one night while I was at work. He said he was bringing Pinky in to eat (she's my little pony princess), and saw that she was standing sorta funny. He said she had NOT been lame at all or taken a weird step, just looked like she was standing sort of weird, so he picked up her foot to look. And saw THIS monster (http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg280/ReplacementUsername/Hoofwithrock.jpg)!! It took a claw hammer for him to get it out...I have no idea how she managed to wedge that in there. I saw it the next day (he saved it) and it is almost the size of my fist with a slightly flattened side.

[jaimebaker]

I guess it also depends on what the horses living conditions are. My horses are outside 24/7 (on quite a bit of land). Ya never know what they might get in their feet.

[FindersKeepers]

Horses that are stalled should be picked out every other day, in my opinion. If they are out on dry grass, once a week is sufficient. Also, if they are shod, more often is necessary than barefoot.

Our retired kids that are outside all day and in at night, get a quick check every night... of course if someone is in a hurry or sick, etc. Well the feet are left alone for the night.

I do know of a horse that was stalled, with turnout everyday, but short periods of time. He was shod also, which I really do think makes a difference. Never had his feet picked out. His hoof ended up crumbling and falling off. He had severe thrush that developed abcesses and the whole thing just fell apart. The owner didn't think picking was necessary. Bad decision.

[Flash44]

It depends on the situation. I always pick out feet before putting a horse in a stall. Pine shavings/sawdust have antibacterial properties, so getting the hoof good and clean and then letting the horse stand in clean shavings keeps it from developing thrush. My horses are turned out 24/7 right now, so I only pick out before riding.

[equineartworks]

I am kind of surprised by what I am reading. I was taught when I was little that a horse should be picked in the morning during their check and in the evening after their dinner and before each and every ride.

The way I look at is this...

If I check them in the morning and clean their feet I can see if anything is amiss. And when I clean them at night I rest easy knowing that that stone I might pick out hasn't been sitting there irritating them any more than a few hours. I can also be sure that their temps are normal and that there isn't anything nasty brewing that shouldn't be. Most of the time the feet are clean and a quick pick or brush is all that is needed. It takes maybe 10 minutes to do all three horses, sometimes less.

Peace of mind :) It's a priceless thing for me.

[lizathenag]

Graduate A pony clubber, so shoot me.

My horse walks up a sort of paved drive to be turned out every day and brought in at night. He is on nice grass pasture. You can hear the clink if something is loose (instead of the clunk).

He is bedded on mats with shavings.

I look at his feet when I groom. I can tell if the clinches are risen. I listen as I lead him to the mounting block.

I always ask the farrier how his feet are and she always says fine.

I have a lot of arthritis in my wrists and knees and I am at risk leaning over to pick out his feet.

There are many paths up the mountain.

[Guin]

Once a day. Every day. But then I am from the wet and muddy Northeast with all sorts of interesting rocks and other objects in our pastures.

[Ritazza]

I think I'm weird. At the barn where I work, I pick out the horses' feet before we leave their stalls to go outside. I pick out their feet when they come back inside. I pick out their feet before they leave their stalls to get ridden. I pick the arena footing out of their feet when they come back in from being ridden. So they all get picked like.... a thousand times a day.

But hell, I'm the first one to notice when something is NQR with their feet, just because I know them all so well from looking at them so darn much.

[Twisting]

Once a week or so I check his feet and toss some hoof oil on, as the sandy ground around here can be drying. He's out on pasture and most of the time I don't have to actually pick anything out of his feet. They're smooth and clean. He's barefoot.

I did have a horse who came in from a lesson with a block of tongue-in-groove wood from the wood chipped arena wedged in his shod foot. it raised the right front up a good inch higher than the other foot. The horse was fine though, not even sore the next day.

[deltawave]

There are many paths up the mountain.

:yes: :yes: :yes:

[goeslikestink]

In your opinion, how important is it to pick out a horse's feet?

no question- its important to pick horses hooves out on a dialy basis

1-- its bonding to a horse
2- its trusting to a horse
3-- you can prevent things if cuaght early and any changes noticed
4 it teaches ahorse manners and the horse will be more inclinced to stand for ve or farrier
5 safty for the above

6-- manners

[equineartworks]

I think I'm weird. At the barn where I work, I pick out the horses' feet before we leave their stalls to go outside. I pick out their feet when they come back inside. I pick out their feet before they leave their stalls to get ridden. I pick the arena footing out of their feet when they come back in from being ridden. So they all get picked like.... a thousand times a day.

But hell, I'm the first one to notice when something is NQR with their feet, just because I know them all so well from looking at them so darn much.

That's how I am too :lol: If it works for some to do it occasionally...great, on the great muddy and rocky north...well...we get ouchy horses if they aren't cleaned. I am jealous of people who have soft dirt :lol:

I have been on the fixing end of off and on cleaning and it ticks me off that something as simple as keeping a horses feet clean could have helped my poor dear old boy not be such a mess right now :( I'm not taking any chances...the farrier says at least once day and so does the vet. And so it will be done! :lol:

[FlashGordon]

Ok maybe I'm a hoof picking nazi, I don't know....

I'm a bit anal about grooming in general and tend to be ritualistic about it, and hoof picking is part of that. Even if I don't have time to groom, ride etc. I still look at his feet at least and usually pick them out quickly.

I have friends who "never" pick out their horse's feet. I'd say that they seem to deal with a lot more thrush, bruises, abscesses than I do. Maybe it is coincidence, but honestly I'm going to keep picking my horse's feet every day...

[BornToRide]

I have friends who "never" pick out their horse's feet. I'd say that they seem to deal with a lot more thrush, bruises, abscesses than I do. ...Never has been an issue for my two horses who are out 24/7 and one is an IR prone mini. I 'd say there's more to thrush and frequent abscessing - usually it is a diet too high in starches and sugars.

If one has it and another does not in the same environment and same lack of hoof picking is present it must be more than simply keeping the hooves clean on a daily basis. :)

Interestingly enough research found in increase of thrush often in well cared for stabled horses....those horses are also often overfed with grain.....:yes:

[FlashGordon]

Never has been an issue for my two horses who are out 24/7 and one is an IR prone mini. I 'd say there's more to thrush and frequent abscessing - usually it is a diet too high in starches and sugars.

If one has it and another does not in the same environment and same lack of hoof picking is present it must be more than simply keeping the hooves clean on a daily basis. :)

Interestingly enough research found in increase of thrush often in well cared for stabled horses....those horses are also often overfed with grain.....:yes:

Well at one barn I was at, thrush was rampant and I am sure something was living in the mud. I'd say that my anal retentive attention to my horse's feet saved him from the thrush and grossness that everyone else was dealing with.

OF COURSE I do think there is more to hoof ailments than simple picking.

I guess I just grew up with the mentality that it was a necessity.

[twofatponies]

I never knew there were so many approaches! :D

I always check feet when grooming before a ride, and again after - I look, and if there's dirt or anything, I pick. I also look at the rim and exterior and the surrounding legs - never know when you might spot a crack or cut.

If I'm not riding, such as on vacation, then the BM or BO (whoever is feeding) will eyeball each horse as it walks in and out, and take a closer look if something seems out of the ordinary, but they won't pick the feet unless I've left the horse in training and she's being ridden, or I ask them to because a horse is having issues (thrush, lameness, etc) and needs a closer eye on her.

[NowThatsATrot]

I once found a tooth in my horse's foot. No, really, it was someone's long-lost baby cap, just wedged in there like a rock would be, packed in by the mud. And this was in a hind foot, when he was barefoot in back.

I try to pick feet before & after riding, but will admit to skipping occasionally on the days I don't ride. Right now it's pretty dry and there's usually nothing to pick -- generally whatever's in his feet gets knocked out as he walks up to the barn anyway. But you never know. The one day you decide not to pick is going to be the one day a hoof does something really bizarre.

[vacation1]

I don't own, so it only comes up for lessons. And for them, I pick out before and after because:
- I feel my less-than-stellar fitness and ability are enough of a burden for horse without potentially leaving stones in his feet.
- it satisfies the little neurotic control freak inside me.
- it satisfies the 10-year-old inside me who longed to pick out hooves, use a curry comb, and run up stirrups - basically, 99% of my riding/care tics are due to this particularly exacting inner child.
- there's an element of opening clams to find pearls about it - I think I've only found a stone, etc., a couple times, but those couple of times were THRILLING.:lol: Look, I found a stone!!!! Wheeee!

[Sunny Side Up]

IMO, pretty important.
I do it before every ride, but generally not after (after long trail rides on rocky footing I try). One of the horses I ride is out in pasture 24/7, and even though it softish ground, I think I should always check his feet for rocks...but I always do it with the horses in stalls aswell :)

[atr]

We live in the high desert so don't have to worry about thrushy stuff. The pasture puffs are barefoot so I don't do them very often.

Actual working horse, I pick before I ride. Partly to get gravel out and partly to give the joints a bit of a flex and stretch before work.

[Chief2]

Feet get picked out every night, and before/after every ride. Too much mud out there, and too much thrush in the barn. I don't want to have to deal with it.

[Mukluk]

I check my girls feet before and after every ride. She's barefoot and often there isn't anything to pick. But she is so smart about picking up her feet, it's kind of fun. She lifts up her foot if I ask her too. Plus if there is anything, I like to think I'd catch it early. When trail riding I bring a hoof pick along.

[Mimi La Rue]

I pick after every ride or whenever my horse comes back from being out of his stall. At least once a day. I don't do it before because his stall is all shavings --no rocks or dirt would be in them then, just poop.

[Foxtrot's]

Every night in the winter so they go to bed with dry feet as it is always wet here. They need dry feet at least once a day.
In the summer if they are ridden. There are no rocks here in the pasture or paddock so the chances of anything getting in them is remote.
I actually like picking her feet because she is so cute - as soon as I approach the foot goes up waiting for me, then the next one, then the third and fourth in order. Easy, couple of scrapes, and done.

[TikiSoo]

I check my girls feet before and after every ride. She's barefoot and often there isn't anything to pick.

That's our routine too.
My horse came from a lady that did not believe in picking out hooves. It took me a good 6 months to teach her to stand quietly for inspection/picking. IMHO, it's just good for a horse to get used to, especially before there's any problems.
And yeah, she's almost to the point where she'll lift one in anticipation. :D

[gloriginger]

I think I'm weird. At the barn where I work, I pick out the horses' feet before we leave their stalls to go outside. I pick out their feet when they come back inside. I pick out their feet before they leave their stalls to get ridden. I pick the arena footing out of their feet when they come back in from being ridden. So they all get picked like.... a thousand times a day.

But hell, I'm the first one to notice when something is NQR with their feet, just because I know them all so well from looking at them so darn much.

The barn I work at is lke this too- except probably more- pick when they come out of the stall, pick before leaving the arena/turnout, pick when the are groomed. I pick feet so much I carry a hoofpick in my back pocket and there is one outside the arena, outside the turnouts etc. just incase you forget your hoofpick...all the horses are trained to have their feet picked from one side, so it does make things easier...

Some of this picking is more a way of keeping the farm neat- so the stuff in the feet doesn't get tracked all over.

Personally I think it depends on what type of footing the horses are standing on--always before riding though!

[lauriep]

Never has been an issue for my two horses who are out 24/7 and one is an IR prone mini. I 'd say there's more to thrush and frequent abscessing - usually it is a diet too high in starches and sugars.

If one has it and another does not in the same environment and same lack of hoof picking is present it must be more than simply keeping the hooves clean on a daily basis. :)

Interestingly enough research found in increase of thrush often in well cared for stabled horses....those horses are also often overfed with grain.....:yes:

NO, "well cared for stabled horses" stand in stalls, in urine and manure, more than a pasture kept horse. Thrush has nothing to do with diet and everything to do with moisture and bacteria.

For that matter, neither does abscessing...

[BelladonnaLily]

We keep a pick at the ring and pick them out just before mounting. And when grooming. Mine don't get picked out every, but most days. In a perfect world, they'd all get groomed, picked, flysprayed and massaged 2x/day, but I have to work to support them so it'll have to do ;) :lol:

[Boomer]

My 3 horses are out 24/7 in a 9-acre grass pasture:

1- dressage gelding is shod in front so I check his feet before/after riding... 5 times a week.

2- The mares are retired and barefoot. I check them a couple times a week and usually it's pick up feet and put them back down. They seem to "self-clean" well.

Winter is a little different due to the wet. If they're stalled they need to be checked daily when they come in at night to get the mud and slop out.

[greysandbays]

I don't make a point to pick feet unless something seems NQR when I do chores. Sometimes my horses go from one trim to the next without having their feet picked. They are outdoor horses, all unshod.

Except in winter when it's very cold and the snow packs to ice in their feet -- then I go around with a big spike to jab the ice clods loose.

[Auventera Two]

I don't make a point to pick feet unless something seems NQR when I do chores. Sometimes my horses go from one trim to the next without having their feet picked. They are outdoor horses, all unshod.

Oh, I just "LOVE" those kind of horses when they come due for a trim. I don't mind picking feet out before I trim. I kind of like it that way so that I can see what kind of footing the horse has been on. But its a real treat when I pry out 8 weeks worth of hardened, packed manure and dirt, only to find a raging frog infection, bruises on the sole, and fractured bars. The owner is completely oblivious.

Thankfully I only have 2 owners that are like this. There was a 3rd but I told her I wasn't coming back when the working conditions became deplorable. One of the ladies I don't blame at all because she has medical conditions that make it impossible for her to pick up feet. Sometimes I find thrush in her horses' frogs, and she feels bad about it, but there's not much she can do. They are beautifully cared for otherwise and want for nothing, but picking feet is impossible for the owner. The other owner, there's just no excuse for.

Also the problem with not picking up feet at least ocassionally is that the horses just plain forget that they're supposed to be polite about it. You can always tell the ones that only get picked up when I'm there. They throw all their weight on the leg you want, they try to jerk away, they run backwards in the ties.

I have enough customers now that I can be a lot pickier in who I want to work with.

[Roan]

I was taught as a kid to pick the feet EVERY day, so that's the minimum I do.

With my current horse, I pick her feet before I ride, after I ride and before put her back in her stall at night. She's got "mountain feet", doesn't do well in the wet conditions here in NoVA and tends to whiteline every spring. When it's really wet out, every second day she gets Coppertox or Thrush XIII spray (copper) on her feet. Otherwise she gets copper once a week.

Eileen

[BornToRide]

NO, "well cared for stabled horses" stand in stalls, in urine and manure, more than a pasture kept horse. Thrush has nothing to do with diet and everything to do with moisture and bacteria.

For that matter, neither does abscessing...Then explain to me WHY some horses do get it (got it after diet change) and others do not (stayed on same low NSC diet) , all in the same environment and why they all respond to diet changes??!That alone should tell you that it is more than "just" environment!

A compromised gut can also be a factor btw, which again affects nutrient uptake.

[LSM1212]

Unfortunately, I'm not at the barn everyday. And that's not a service that is provided. So I'd say my guy gets his feet picked 4-5 times a week.

I pick before I ride (when I groom) and after I ride (when I groom again). Just part of my routine. :)

He is shod all the way around. When it's drier weather, it's never an issue. But when it's muddy, he can get a bit of mud and small pebbles in there.

I do what I can do. :D

[Montanas_Girl]

I pick out my guy's hooves every time I go out to the barn to see him (I board), so anywhere between 5 and 7 days a week, depending on my schedule. For me, it is about more than just cleaning out his hooves. For one thing, I always palpate his legs when I pick up his hooves. I check for lumps, bumps, swelling, heat, or cuts. For another, I expect good manners from my horses, and I don't ever want to be that owner who's horse is a brat for the farrier. Montana will pick up his hoof and hold it in the air on command - usually after I do the first one, he'll pick up the next three as I walk up to the them, without my having to touch him or say a word.

[greysandbays]

Oh, I just "LOVE" those kind of horses when they come due for a trim. I don't mind picking feet out before I trim. I kind of like it that way so that I can see what kind of footing the horse has been on. But its a real treat when I pry out 8 weeks worth of hardened, packed manure and dirt, only to find a raging frog infection, bruises on the sole, and fractured bars. The owner is completely oblivious.

I trim my own so trimmer's fits aren't relevant for mine.

Also the problem with not picking up feet at least ocassionally is that the horses just plain forget that they're supposed to be polite about it. You can always tell the ones that only get picked up when I'm there. They throw all their weight on the leg you want, they try to jerk away, they run backwards in the ties.

No, they don't "plain forget that they're supposed to be polite about it" from not having their feet picked up. They "forget" because they are allowed to think politeness and cooperation is optional in the rest of their handling.

On client horses, if I had to pick between only having the feet handled only when I trimmed and having the feet handled everyday by some pushover who lets the horse do whatever it wants, I'd much rather have the feet unhandled between trimmings.

[Auventera Two]

I trim my own so trimmer's fits aren't relevant for mine.

And neither are they for me. Instead of having a "fit" I prefer to tell the owner their horse has thrush and to address it you need to clean out the feet regularly and apply one of these topicals.

No, they don't "plain forget that they're supposed to be polite about it" from not having their feet picked up. They "forget" because they are allowed to think politeness and cooperation is optional in the rest of their handling.

And if they don't have "the rest of their handling." When owners tell you that the animal hasn't even had a halter on since the last time you were out, it's pretty clear that lack of handling is the problem - not spoiling the horse.

On client horses, if I had to pick between only having the feet handled only when I trimmed and having the feet handled everyday by some pushover who lets the horse do whatever it wants, I'd much rather have the feet unhandled between trimmings.

And I prefer to work with people who can maintain a certain level of care in between visits, otherwise you're taking your shirt off to cover your butt and any problem the horse has just tends to get worse and worse.

[buck22]

before & after every ride, and just about every day during breakfast.

[caballus]

Originally Posted by lauriep View Post
NO, "well cared for stabled horses" stand in stalls, in urine and manure, more than a pasture kept horse. Thrush has nothing to do with diet and everything to do with moisture and bacteria.

For that matter, neither does abscessing... I disagree. The worst case of thrush, one which actually resulted in MAGGOTS eating the rotting frog, was on a horse from and IMPECCABLY KEPT stable with immaculate stalls and immaculate paddocks. The horses were given every "comfort" know to stabled horses including the 'best' farrier care in the region. Expensive competitive horses. (And, I mean expensive in the 100K type of expensive.) I don't think a pile of manure sat in a stall or in the paddock for more than the time it took to grab the rake and pick it out. I also find hooves on horses who have metabolic issues or dietary issues are more prone to susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. If the immune system is not functioning properly due to stressors in the body or mind then the opportunistic little critters will attack every time. (Meaning bacterias and fungii.)

The following is an excellent article by Dr. Stephen O'Grady:
Background on Thrush and the Hoofs Self-Cleaning Mechanism.

Thrush is a moist exudative dermatitis that specifically involved the central and lateral sulci of the frog. This disease has always been thought to be associated with unhygienic conditions, but this may not be totally accurate. The horse possesses a natural hoof-cleaning mechanism. In the nomad foot, as weight is home on the limb, the third phalanx will descend, causing the sole to flatten. Descent of the coffin joint occurs as the navicular bone gives in a distopalmar direction, pushing against the navicular bursa and the deep flexor tendon, and finally causes expansion of the frog as it approaches the ground surface. This continuous change in structure prevents the accumulation of material in the bottom of the foot. Impairment of this hoof-cleaning mechanism appears to be the outstanding cause of thrush, as it is seen in a large percentage of animals that are kept in immaculate conditions, whereas other horses who live in a filthy environment never contract the problem.

Impairment of the hoof-cleaning mechanism can be due to three problems: 1) chronic lameness; 2) improper hoof trimming, or 3) insufficient exercise.

Chronic lameness, especially when involving the heel area, causes decreased weightbearing, which in turn causes inadequate heel expansion and decreased wear on the horny wall. This causes increased length of heels, with a resultant deepening of the hoof sulci of either side of the frog.

Improper and irregular hoof trimming also leads to improper balance and increased length of the heels, causing impairment of the natural hoof-cleaning mechanism.

Third, normal exercise is vitally important to promote normal physiology of the foot structures and to prevent organic material from packing into the sulci of the frog.

Accumulation of moist saw-dust, manure, and other organic material creates an environent of increased moisture and decreased oxygen that is conducive to rapid bacterial development. A commonly isolated bacteria is F.necrophorum, which is responsible for the characteristic black, watery discharge associated with thrush. This bacteria can create a tremendous tissue response and associated pain when it invades normal sensitive tissue.

Treatment is directed at restoring the normal physiology of the foot through proper balance and trimming, adequate exercise to encourage frog stimulation, and debridement of all devitalized tissue. Application of any number of antiseptic or astringent preparations will resolve the associated bacterial infection. If a chronic lameness is present, the underlying cause must be diagnosed and corrected.


Stephen E. O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS

Dr. Stephen E. O'Grady is an equine practitioner and farrier practicing in the Northern Virginia area. He is also a member of the Farrier's Liaison Committee of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

[Equilibrate]

I do it daily because for me it is more than just picking feet. I forces me to run my hand down each leg which allows me to feel for heat, swelling, plus heat in the foot etc. This way I also have a very good idea of what is "normal" for my horse for those times when something is abnormal. Now would I drive all the way to the barn just to pick feet, or pay someone to do it everyday, probably not but anytime I'm at the barn (several times a week) I would do it.

Clair

[ryansgirl]

In your opinion, how important is it to pick out a horse's feet?


Seriously :confused:. I pick my horses feet EVERY day no matter what and sometimes more than once ;).

[Sunnydays]

GraysnBays - I do the same. I have my own place, and in the winter, the feet self clean due to snow - except the damp, packing kind that I pick out in big ice-clumps to prevent slipping indoors. Never had any thrush in the barn. I pick up the foals' feet a lot when they are tiny, and simulate picking out, so that it is no-big-deal when the farrier visits.
When I rode, in a commercial barn where the horses had about 8 hrs turnout daily, I picked out before and after riding, and often had to use thrush-buster etc The stalls tended to be less clean than mine at home (I'm a maniac at minimizing dust and urine-odours;)) - and I think having the feet packed with manure and wet shavings is what encourages thrush.

[JumpWithPanache]

Picking feet is the first thing in my grooming routine. I also re-pick after a ride. If I don't have time to do a full-on grooming, then I still pick out feet... I keep a hoof pick on her stall for exactly that reason.

[saultgirl]

Seriously :confused:. I pick my horses feet EVERY day no matter what and sometimes more than once ;).

What's so confusing? I asked for opinions and got quite a few different ones. You are one of the very few who said they do it EVERY DAY NO MATTER WHAT.

[Valentina_32926]

I always pick before I ride.

It makes you be "up front and personal" with the entire leg - so you check for bumps, sores, etc.

It helps prevent thrush.

It provides you with visual feedback on the health of the hoof and frog.

Even if horse is NOT ridden it should be done more often than every (for me every 5 weeks) time the farrier comes.

[Auventera Two]

Even if horse is NOT ridden it should be done more often than every (for me every 5 weeks) time the farrier comes.

That's my thought too. I don't pick every horse every day because they're all very clean and neat and have specific places where they use the bathroom. They don't stand in mud, manure, or wet shavings. But each horse gets picked out probably 3x a week, or before every ride. I also pick if I'm going to be walking them across the driveway because I don't want chunks of dirt on my white gravel. ;) :lol: I pick hind feet after trailering back home because they poop then stand in it in the trailer.
They can get rocks and sticks or whatever wedged in their feet and if you wait 5 or 8 weeks, it could become a problem.