Step 1

Place the skip bucket behind the leg you are about to pick up.

Holding the hoof pick in your outside hand, ask the horse to pick up their foot. Hold, and support, the hoof wall with your hand.

Step 2

Using the metal end of the hoof pick scrape the sole, in a downwards motion, from heel to toe.

Step 3

Continue on both sides of the frog and sole until the hoof is clear.

Very gently clean out the cleft of frog.

Step 4

If the horse is shod: Carefully clean out the edge of the underneath of the shoe.

If the horse is unshod: Carefully clean out the white line area.

Step 5

Using the brush on the hoof pick, remove any excess dirt or bedding from the hoof.

The hoof should be clear of dirt, stones or bedding when complete.

Repeat steps 1-5 on the other three hooves.

Whilst picking out the hooves try to keep the same order: near fore – near hind – off hind – off fore. By creating this routine, the horse will usually offer you their next foot.