Hi there!!

I was just wondering if I could get some advice on hoof health advice from some awesome people!

I have a 6 year old mare who has bumps on her hoof walls. I know a healthy hoof should be smooth on the hoof wall and these bumps cause me to worry of course!! They aren't super noticeable but if you run your hand on her hoof wall you can feel some of the bumps. They aren't huge bumps (pretty small) and they run horizontally across her hoof walls.

As well she has a bump on her soles that runs along the toe area (but they aren't right at the toe almost in the middle between the hoof wall and frog), when I push on it she doesn't react or show any pain. So could this just be the sole growing out?

Me being the worry wart that I am, I instantly think laminitis and worry! But she doesn't have a laminitic stance, she doesn't show any pain when handling her feet and she doesn't show lameness or tripping at any gaits. She stands correct with her legs set under her where they should be. But I have noticed that she tends to rest her back legs more then her front. She rests both back feet about the same amount. But she doesn't have any issues standing on all four (she shows no signs of pain or distress).

I should also mention she is on a grass and hay diet (she is allowed to graze for a while during the days but she also receives hay in her diet as well)

I am having the farrier out in the next week or so and I will discuss everything with him, but I wanted some advice/tips/info before. Should I be worrying about the bumps on her hoof walls? I have heard things like they could be stress bumps or grass bumps? I am not sure what those are exactly cause I've only heard them mentioned.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!!! :)

Horses with a sore hoof often pick one up momentarily then set it down, numerous times. If both are sore it will shift it's weight back to ease the weight on the front end and may lay down for several hours or more to ease the sore hoove and rest the tired hips more than once a day. That's not the same as a too warm horse laying down to cool off. Your farrier will answer your questions.

Thanks for replying! :)

That makes complete sense! I should have mentioned that I have noticed that she doesn't lay down an excessive amount (like you were saying they'll do sometimes if they are sore) She lays down for normal amounts of time, I have never seen her laying down for hours. Which could be a good sign I suppose? I should've also mentioned she doesn't always rest her back feet. I'd say 90-95% of the time she stands normally on all 4 feet.

I will definitely be talking to the farrier though and looking closer for soreness.

Thanks again!

The bump you describe on the toe area could just be a toe callus. There shouldn't be and noticeable bumps on the hoof wall, but the farrier should be able to tell you what they might be from. An interruption in diet or "environmental stress" can cause a "ridge"..and it ordinarily runs all the way around the hoof and can be felt as a "bump" if you run your finger down the wall from the coronet downward.

Do you have pictures of her feet?

Oh okay those all make sense! The bumps do run all the way around her hoof! And stress and/or feed changes would make sense cause she was moved to a new area.

No I don't have pictures right at the moment but I can get some in the next couple of days to show you guys!

I might be anaylising into this a lot haha I should add she doesn't have a TON of these "bumps" on the walls and I'd say her feet are decently "smooth" along the wall. I just always worry about my girl <3 :)

Thanks for all the replies!!
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Understanding Equine Hoof Care: Your Guide to Horse Health Care and Management - Heather Smith Thomas - Google Books

I found this link and I think this is what I am stressing over, I'll verify with the farrier when he comes but to me it sounds like these "bumps" relate to her in things such as "seasonal/environmental" situations or feed change, stess and whatever else ect.
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WHAT IS A HEALTHY HOOF AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE

The ridges as others have mentioned are link to "events", each horse is different ( change of diet, vaccinations, worming, illness, basically anything that may "unbalance" a horse's system ). Check out the above link, it has many good examples of hooves and their various issues.

I'm glad you are really taking an interest in her hooves! You'll be a better equine partner, your horse will be happier / healthier and your farrier will appreciate your willingness to gain a more educated eye!

Thank you! My farrier will be out later this week! And I want to learn more about hooves and know exactly what is always going on with my horse! :) cause someone once told me that the hooves are the "foundation" of the horse and without a soild foundation the rest will fall apart! So I know how critical hoof health is! As well as everything else! :)
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