The hoof must be pliable and healthy so that the horse is useful and sound for best performance. Clean hooves and inspect for loose shoes or other problems each day. Usually this bacterial infection is a result of unsanitary conditions and a neglect of foot cleaning. By keeping the horse's bedding clean and the hooves cleaned out, thrush can be minimized. Sometimes regular trimming and treatment with lime, copper sulfate, or hydrogen peroxide are helpful if thrush persists.
Most horses wear their hooves off at the same rate that it grows and minimal trimming is needed.
Many horses should have their hooves trimmed about every 6 to 8 weeks. This will prevent cracks in the hoof wall and seedy toe. Seedy toe is an infection between the wall and the sensitive tissue of the foot. The hoof should be trimmed to maintain the same hoof-pastern axis. That is, the hoof at the toe should be in a straight line with the front of the pastern.