Which practice is correct when assessing the horse's hooves during grooming?

• A. Pick out each hoof carefully, remove stones, check for cracks or injuries, and inspect the frog for thrush.
• B. Ignore stones and simply wipe the hoof with a cloth.
• C. Only rinse the hooves with water.
• D. Use a wire brush to clean the sole.

Answer: (A)

When you groom, thoroughly inspect the hooves by picking out each hoof, removing stones and debris, checking for cracks or injuries, and inspecting the frog for signs of thrush. This approach lets you clear out foreign objects that can cause bruising or punctures, spot cracks or injuries early before they worsen, and detect thrush in the frog before it spreads. Wiping with a cloth alone misses embedded stones and hidden damage; rinsing without lifting debris won’t reveal problems or clean the sole effectively; and a wire brush can injure the hoof tissue and is not appropriate for routine hoof cleaning.