Tips for healthy hooves

• Handle your horses feet so they grow accustomed to it. If your horse is used to you touching their feet then it will be much easier when the horse has to get their feet trimmed, get shoes on, or get treated for problems. My foal who is going to be a yearling soon is still getting used to getting her feet touch, she is good with her front and her back legs still need work. When they are that age it is good to get them used to being touched on their feet instead of trying it when they are older and they already have the bad habit, thrust me it will take a lot longer and be more dangerous if you wait.
• Their hooves should be cleaned daily, if a horse has a rock or another small object they may end up with a bruise or a corn, and may limp. You need to remove mud and manure so your horse does not get any infections. Since it is March and snow is melting it is even more important for you to clean your horses hooves. In winter and spring it is important to clean their hooves, their hooves could get ice in it and pens and pastures are wet and muddy, so pay close attention to their hooves during this time.
• Use your hands to feel if there is any areas with heat in the hooves or swelling in the lower leg area, this may be from an injury or an infection. 
• Look at the whole hoof is the hoof strong and healthy or brittle and weak? Are there cracks nicks, or even bruises? Also look at the length of the hoof, if a hoof grows to long it may begin to split or make the horse walk differently. If the hoof does look long it is time for a trim. One time it was time for my horses hoof to be trimmed and I waited then one day her hoof had a split in is and she was limping. After a horses hoof is trimmed is it is not unusual for the horse to limp a couple days later especially if their hoof was too long, because they get used to walking on their hoof with it being too long.