Metal hook, 15 cm long. Costs $5. Cheapest tool in the stable. And the most important.
Why
Stones, mud, manure pack into hoof grooves (sulcus). Without cleaning — rot (thrush). Rot — lameness. Lameness — horse can't work. Horse can't work — farm stops.
Ritual
Every evening after work. Lift the horse's foot. Hook-clean all four hooves. 5 minutes. Children do this from age 8. Not because they're forced — because horse = family.
One Amish farmer: 'I've cleaned Jenny's hooves every day for 14 years. 5,110 times. She's never gone lame.'