Hoof care prep from Natalie McGoldrick, Equine vet & event rider   - Absorbine

Hoof care prep from Natalie McGoldrick, Equine vet & event rider  

Natalie McGoldrick MA VetMB MRCVS - Equine vet and event rider  

Natalie graduated as a Vet from the University of Cambridge and went on to set up her own practice. She is an advanced level event rider having represented GB on the team at 3* and has produced horses up to 4*  

Hoof care and preparation is an essential part of pre-event planning; the old adage “no hoof, no horse” should always be in the back of your mind if you own horses. 

Natalie and her 4* event horse Tricky Johnie in action.

Firstly, it is wise to have your horse or pony shod well in advance of any event or show, if you can plan this. Some horses may be slightly foot sore for a day or two following being shod, so it’s wise to make sure any farriery is done at least a week before an Event or show, especially if it’s an important competition. A couple of days before an Event, double check all four shoes, to make sure they are all in the correct place, and no clenches are raised. 

 

If your horse competes in studs, then always  prepare the stud holes the day before an Event; there is nothing worse than finding a small stone firmly wedged in a stud hole, half  an hour before your dressage test!  

 

I start by  giving all four feet, including the soles, a good scrub, and then saturate the whole sole, including the frog, with Absorbine Hooflex Frog and Sole Care. I use Frog and Sole as part of my routine hoof care because it helps soothe the hoof and eliminates odours caused by bacteria and fungi without stinging or drying out the hoof – if I have an event coming up, then I make sure I use it the day before.  

 

Preparing the feet like this before a competition, allows you to have a thorough check for any abnormalities of the sole and hoof capsule. All of the stud holes are cleaned out, tapped, and plugged with rubber bungs, which makes studding up at the Event the next day, much easier! 

 

After putting the studs in at the Event, I always finish off by applying Absorbine Supershine Clear, which gives the hooves a beautiful shine, seems to last for days, and is completely non-greasy and non-sticky when it dries, so you can take studs out after competing, without covering your hands in grease! 

Natalie McGoldrick MA VetMB MRCVS

 

 

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