Hoof Pick or Hoof Cleaner? How to Choose the Right Daily Hoof Cleaning Tool in Qatar
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This guide helps you choose between the hoof cleaners and hoof pick brushes we stock. We list each one honestly, including when it is not the best choice, so you can pick what fits your horse and your budget.
What does a hoof cleaner or hoof pick do?
It clears dirt, sand and packed debris from the underside of the hoof. That lets you see the hoof properly before and after riding. VPI describes its rubber-grip tool as a hoof cleaner for "clearing dirt and debris from the underside of the hoof".
Which size of VPI rubber-grip hoof cleaner should I choose?
It is the same tool in three sizes: Small, Standard and Big. All have a rubber-grip handle and all cost the same.
| Size | Handle | Price (QAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Rubber grip | 15 |
| Standard | Rubber grip | 15 |
| Big | Rubber grip | 15 |
What we can and cannot tell you: the supplier does not publish measurements for the three sizes, so we will not guess them. If size matters to you, WhatsApp us on +974 6668 2040 or come and hold them at our Wukair shop. Not the best choice if: you want a brush on the same tool. See the options below.
What other hoof pick options do you stock?
Each of these is a fair alternative. The right one depends on how you work.
| Option | What it is | Not the best if |
|---|---|---|
|
EZI-GROOM Hoof Pick/Brush QAR 6 |
A pick and a brush in one tool. Several colours. | You want a rubber grip or a heavier tool. |
|
Waldhausen Grippy Hoof Pick Brush QAR 8 |
A metal pick with a firm brush, made for daily yard use. | You want a pick only, with no brush. |
|
Artero Hoof Cleaner Hook F1 QAR 40 |
A metal hook with stiff bristles (about 3 cm) and a bamboo handle, for daily hoof cleaning. | You are new to hoof cleaning. Artero says the metal hook must be handled with care. It also costs more than a basic cleaner. |
|
EZI-GROOM Premium Hoof Pick Brush QAR 50 |
An angled metal pick and a firm synthetic brush on one beech handle. | You only need a basic daily tool. You would pay more than QAR 15 for the same job. |
|
EZI-GROOM Premium Hoof Brush QAR 35 |
A brush only, with firm synthetic bristles for dried mud. | You need to pick out packed debris. It has no pick, so buy it alongside a hoof cleaner. |
How much does each option cost?
Prices below are current as of 3 Nov 2026, based on current stock. Pricing may change in future shipments. Check niceequestrian.com or WhatsApp us at +974 6668 2040 to confirm current pricing before ordering.
| Tier | Item | QAR (each) |
|---|---|---|
| Posh | EZI-GROOM Premium Hoof Pick Brush | 50 |
| Posh | Artero Hoof Cleaner Hook F1 | 40 |
| Mid | VPI Hoof Cleaner with Rubber Grip (any of 3 sizes) | 15 |
| Budget | Waldhausen Grippy Hoof Pick Brush | 8 |
| Budget | EZI-GROOM Hoof Pick/Brush | 6 |
What these prices cover: one tool per price, for one buyer. Not included: a separate hoof brush (the VPI hoof cleaner and the Artero hook cleaner are not sold with one, apart from the Artero's built-in bristles), and any farrier or vet service. Posh means the highest prices among what we stock, not a promise of better results for every horse.
How often should I clean my horse's hooves?
Artero recommends using its hoof cleaner twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Many owners also clean before and after every ride. Your farrier or vet can advise on what suits your horse.
How do I clean a horse's hoof safely?
This is general good practice. Artero's own instructions for its hook cleaner say the same on tying the horse and where to stand. Ask your farrier or vet if you are unsure.
- Tie your horse where there are no posts or walls close by, and stand to the side, never in front or behind.
- Lift the hoof as you normally would.
- Work from the heel towards the toe, with the tool moving away from your body.
- Clear the grooves on both sides of the frog (the triangular soft part). Do not dig hard into the sole.
- Look for stones, cracks, a bad smell, heat or a loose shoe. If something looks wrong, stop and call your farrier or vet.
Qatar Climate Note: Fine sand and dust pack into the hoof grooves quickly in Qatari yards and arenas, so clean the hooves before and after every ride. In summer, do not leave your hoof tool on a sun-heated rail or in a hot car. Rubber and plastic handles can become uncomfortable to hold.
Pro Tip: Keep one hoof tool at the stable and a second one in your grooming box. If you use a tool on a horse with a hoof problem, wash it before using it on another horse.
Common questions
Which size VPI hoof cleaner is best?
The supplier does not publish measurements, so we cannot name one size as best. Message us on WhatsApp +974 6668 2040 or hold them at our Wukair shop.
Is the VPI hoof cleaner a hoof pick?
It is a hoof cleaner with a rubber-grip handle, used to clear dirt and debris from under the hoof. We list it as a hoof cleaner because that is what the supplier calls it.
Does the VPI hoof cleaner include a brush?
No. If you want a pick and a brush together, see the pick/brush options above.
Do I need a farrier to use a hoof cleaner?
Daily hoof cleaning is normal horse care. Anything beyond cleaning, such as trimming or treating a problem, belongs to your farrier or vet.
Why are the prices so different?
They are different tools: a basic cleaner, pick-and-brush combinations, a hook cleaner with bristles, and a premium wooden-handled pick brush. All of them clean hooves. The right one is the one you will use every day.
Who makes these hoof cleaners?
Wyne House, Amir Street, Model Town, Sialkot 51310, Pakistan
Phone: +92 304 6116113
Website: veterinaryplanetintl.com
Category match: VPI lists Hoof Picks and Hoof Scrapers within its Farrier Tools range.
Details checked against VPI's own website on 3 Nov 2026. This is the only phone number VPI lists.
C/ Narcis Monturiol, 2-4, 08339 Vilassar de Dalt (Barcelona), Spain
Customer service (WhatsApp): +44 792 2421 271
Website: artero.com
Category match: Artero lists the Equine Hoof Cleaner F1 in its Equine Care range.
Product details checked on artero.com on 3 Nov 2026. The street address comes from Artero's own email signature, not its website.
Note: all prices in this article reflect current stock and may change in future shipments. Current pricing is always shown on the product page at checkout.
Shop VPI Hoof Cleaner Shop Artero Hook F1 Browse VPI Farrier Tools WhatsApp Us
This is the first guide in our Farrier Tools series. Browse the full VPI farrier tools collection in the meantime.
Sources: VPI contact page; VPI Farrier Tools; Artero Equine Hoof Cleaner F1; Nice Equestrian product pages. The cleaning steps are general good practice, apart from the points Artero states on its own page.