Clean and dry the hooves daily, pick out the frog grooves, move the horse to dry footing, and apply a thrush treatment. Persistent or deep cases need your farrier or vet.
How to spot thrush
Thrush shows as a black, moist, foul-smelling discharge in the grooves either side of the frog. The frog may look ragged or feel spongy, and a bad case makes the horse flinch when you clean deep in the cleft. It thrives in wet, dirty conditions and in feet that are not picked out often.
Clean and dry first
Pick out the hooves thoroughly every day, working into the grooves beside and behind the frog to remove packed muck. A stiff brush on the pick helps clear the debris where thrush hides. A quality hoof pick makes this quick and lets you reach the deep clefts.
Treat the infection
Once clean and dry, apply a proven thrush treatment into the grooves following the label. Do this daily until the discharge and smell are gone and healthy frog returns. Keeping the hoof conditioned supports recovery in dry, cracked feet, so see our best hoof conditioner guide.
Fix the cause
Thrush is almost always a management problem. Keep stables clean and bedded dry, improve drainage in muddy gateways, and pick out feet daily. A horse standing in wet, dirty footing will get thrush again no matter how well you treat it.
When to call for help
If the infection is deep, the horse is lame, or it keeps returning, involve your farrier or vet. They can trim away diseased frog, check for underlying hoof imbalance, and advise stronger treatment.
