06/17/2026
Learn more about Thrush!
Many horse owners have at one point or another gone to pick out their horse's feet only to be met with a foul odor to the nose and the sight of black discharge. 🤢
This is an infection of the frog called thrush, most often associated with a compromised, recessed frog and conditions that let dirt, manure, urine, and moisture accumulate in the sulci.
It's commonly recognized by:
• Black discharge in the frog grooves
• Strong, foul odor
• A narrow, eroded, unhealthy-looking frog
• Sometimes a deep crack in the central sulcus
• Pain or lameness in more severe cases
Key Points:
• Wet, dirty footing and poor daily hoof care can contribute.
• Lack of exercise may also play a role.
• Cases often improve best when you address both the infection and the hoof mechanics/farriery behind the unhealthy frog.
• Simply applying products without improving the frog's health and hoof shape may have limited value.
Basic care include:
• Daily hoof cleaning
• Keeping the horse in a clean, dry environment
• Ongoing hoof care/farriery attention
• Veterinary/farrier involvement if the frog is painful, deeply fissured, bleeding, or the horse is lame
If you suspect your equine companion has thrush, reach out to your veterinarian and farrier.
