Thrush is a common hoof condition in horses. It is a bacterial infection of the horn of the strands of the hoof. Usually, thrush starts in the middle frog groove because it is the narrowest and bacteria can quickly lead to infection there. You also see thrush more often on the hind hoofs, but basically all hooves can be easily affected.
The bacteria thrive best in an oxygen-poor environment, which is why this condition can develop so quickly in the radials. These pack quickly with manure, mud, stable litter, urine and other filth.
The inflammation causes the horn to fall into serious disrepair, the odor glands become inflamed, and a foul mush develops that stinks violently. The healthy, firm, but flexible frog turns into a crumbly, smelly mass and many horses are lame and in pain and change their movement pattern (by one different way of putting the hoof down).
How can you prevent thrush?
Good hoof and stable hygiene helps enormously in the prevention of thrush. So regular hoof cleaning and a clean and dry (!) stable, paddock and/or pasture are the alpha omega. Unfortunately, there are also horses with a genetic predisposition for thrush, and no matter how hard you try to keep everything clean and dry, your horse can still get it.
Tip: exercise helps! Movement provides good blood flow to the frog horn and self-cleaning of the frog grooves!
What to do if your horse has thrush?
Make a treatment plan in consultation with your farrier and/or veterinarian. With thrush, the sooner the problem is addressed, the sooner it can be solved!
Have the farrier clean the frog grooves nicely and cut away as much affected horn as possible. Then disinfect the hooves and dry them well, possibly use a spray to help dry the hooves. Provide clean stalls and dry paddocks and/or pastures. Give your horse plenty of natural exercise (naturally on as dry ground as possible).
Daily cleaning and intensive treatment of the hoof is necessary, especially the first period, as well as regular visits from your blacksmith. If you have the thrush well under control, stick to the strict hoof-hygiene routine, but you can reduce the number of disinfectant treatments somewhat.
Note that the bacteria like to live in an oxygen-poor environment, so don't pack the hoof too much!
Support from the inside, too!
Help your horse with an individual supplement to keep or get optimal resistance, and/or possibly a supplement to keep the hooves healthy and strong and promote hoof growth. Remember: a good resistance is formed in the intestines: a healthy intestinal system with the right balance of microorganisms ensures that your horse can absorb all natural vitamins, minerals and possibly, supplements better and thus has building blocks to keep his resistance optimal!
Find suitable products for the treatment (and prevention) of thrush here in the link.
Remember: Our InfoBlogs are based on our (the people behind Equinics) personal experience, both in terms of the problems, products, therapies and gadgets discussed, but also in terms of our equine experience in general. 😃 We would like to emphasize, that we believe you should always ask your veterinarian for advice, if your horse needs help.😊