Horse Care: When Less is More
Nancy S. Loving, DVM
May 27, 2026
Find out what commonly applied practices horse owners and caretakers tend to overdo.
Find out what commonly applied practices horse owners and caretakers tend to overdo.
Healthy, well-maintained hooves can stay strong for decades—supporting horses from their first steps to their final years.
Learn how to prevent shoe loss caused by farrier error, rider issues, management style, or horseplay.
Rocker shoes might help stabilize horses’ laminitic feet by improving breakover, reducing tendon tension, and redistributing weight to support healing and hoof growth.
Therapeutic heel elevation does reduce equine flexor tendon strain, but responses vary by individual horse, tendon, and degree of elevation.
Read about the steps veterinarians and farriers take to identify, evaluate, and treat riding horses’ hoof problems.
Two equine nutritionists shed light on the do’s and don’ts of feeding your horse to promote strong and healthy hooves.
Imbalances in horses’ hind hooves can lead to hock, tendon, ligament, and even lumbar pain; precise radiograph-guided farriery can help.
Learn how hoof care and shoeing can affect a horse’s joint health in this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt.
Review the latest research findings on how different horseshoes affect the hoof and a horse’s gait.
Here’s how one veterinarian manages horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome to keep them comfortable in a performance career.
Overly moist or dry and brittle hooves tend to break and bruise, leaving horses footsore or causing issues with shoe retention. Here are tips for hardening hooves.
Two hoof care experts answer questions about common hoof issues including subsolar abscesses, bruises, and thrush.
A veterinarian explains why hoof radiographs are important, how to use them, and what role they play in helping your horse feel and move better.
8 important tasks to check off your list before the colder weather arrives.
How soon can I ride my horse after he gets trimmed or shod? How do I know if he has thin soles? Vets and farriers answer these common hoof health questions and more.
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