[dancer]

I know they should be picked every day, but our's probably only get picked a couple times a week.

[aBreeze]

Wow. Im neurotic about most things, but not picking hoofs.

However you have to look at the footing before taking into consideration the number of pickings(ha, bad humor). Most of my horses are out 24/7 in a large drylot. The ground is dirt, no gravel or such. If anything is in the hoofs it will be a twig, or woodchip. The likelyhood of that happening if the horse is barefoot? Pretty much nonexistant.

I also work my horses on grass the majority of the time.

So. My horses with shoes get their feet picked before a work. The barefoots ones get them picked whenever I feel like it, or if its been wet out and the footing is in the stage where its not mud, but its "thick."

[mistylover]

ill be critisized for this lol but i never clean her hooves.. very rarely. i groom her like 3-4 times a week but never pick hooves. havnt read other posts but thats just me shes always fine to. if i noticed her limping or having bad/dirty hooves a would but usually everytime i do look at them there clean anyways.