what are hoof testers used for in horses?
Veterinarians and farriers often carry a tool that looks like a long-handled pincer with flat or rounded tips. This is a hoof tester, a device that can be used to apply gentle pressure to any spot on the horseâs sole, toe, or heel area. For a horse thatâs just a little bit âoffâ in its stride, the hoof tester will usually help in locating the source of the pain. A horse thatâs âthree-legged lameâ from a suspected hoof abscess will flinch when the hoof tester is applied over the infected spot. If a shoeing nail has been driven into sensitive tissue, the hoof tester can help to identify the bad nail, and there are plenty of other ways to use the device in diagnosing hoof pain.