Thrush

Thrush is a nasty infection that affects the horse’s frog, which is the underside of the horse’s hoof. Thrush is caused by a fungus or a bacterium that is in the soil. If your horse has hooves that are caked with manure and moist dirt they are susceptible to this infection. The wetter the weather becomes the more likely a horse will get infected with thrush.

The main sign that your horse may have thrush is a black-coloured discharge that smells rotten in the frog area of their hoof. Treating thrush is pretty basic, you will have to clean the horse’s hooves daily and move them to a dry space. Thrush thrives in moist conditions so it’s important to put your horse in a clean dry stable to help them recover.

To treat the thrush you can soak the horse’s hoof in strong iodine after you have cleaned it. You should do this every day until you can’t see the thrush anymore and the smell has disappeared. Just be careful not to soak the hoof for too long because this could in fact dry the hoof out and cause it to crack.

There are also a variety of products on the market today to combat thrush. If you are unsure what to use you should consult your vet. They will be able to tell you the right treatment to meet your horse’s needs. The best way to avoid thrush is to keep your horse’s feet dry and clean. This is because thrush is an anaerobic bacterium and will die off in the presence of air.

Thrush is one of the most common infections that horses get. It is simple to treat as long as you catch it early enough; if it goes untreated it could cause serious damage. It is imperative that you are diligent about your stable management and also make sure to clean your horse's hooves often.