MUD MONSTERS – THE IMPACT ON THE HOOVES

With all the rain we have been having in certain areas, you are likely struggling with some wet and downright muddy areas.

Continuous exposure to moisture can leave the horse more susceptible to a range of hoof and skin issues. Here we focus on the hoof problems that can result under these challenging conditions.

The problem

Hooves can quickly lose their shape when constantly faced with wet conditions because moisture causes the frog, sole, bars and walls to become more susceptible to deformity under normal weight-bearing pressures. When the outer structures of the hoof start to become affected, so do the inner structures.

There are many issues commonly facing moisture-laden hooves, but here are a few of the more common ones:

Sole bruising:Persistent mud and moisture make hooves susceptible to bruising even on normally innocuous objects. Bear this in mind if your horse is spending lots of time on wet, soggy arenas and fields.

White Line Disease:Bacteria or fungi enter and infect the inner non-pigmented space where the laminae attach to the hoof wall. White line disease seems to be even more prevalent in areas with higher humidity, alongside excessive moisture on the ground.

Mud Fever:Although not a hoof issue, it is a common question posed to farriers as the condition affects the heel bulbs. As it is formally known, Pastern Dermatitis is caused by bacteria that enter the skin. Wet conditions cause the skin to soften; mud and dirt then rub against these areas damaging the skin’s surfaces allowing bacteria to enter. Signs of mud fever include heat, swelling and crusty scabs around the pastern and heel area.

Thrush:Thrush causes painful destruction of the frog and sometimes the heel of the foot. The destruction is caused by anaerobic bacteria and fungi that thrive in wet conditions. Thrush is most commonly noticed due to the foul-smelling odour of the condition and the destruction of the tissue.

Lost shoes:When the hooves become softened from high levels of moisture, the walls become too soft to hold the nails, and this makes it easy for mud to pull off the shoe. Not only is this costly for owners, but it also increases the risk of injury to the horse in question through damage to the hoof as the shoe is ripped off, and the danger of standing on the exposed nails of the now removed or loose shoe.

Slipping:Wet terrain can cause the horse to slip and slide while trying to keep their balance. This can lead to them standing on themselves, causing injuries to tendons and pulling shoes off with other feet. Horses that are unbalanced tense up and take shorter strides, which can also affect the horse’s ability to work properly, leading to injuries.

What can be done to reduce the impact of mud?

This is possibly the biggest challenge, but a few steps can be taken to reduce the risk of issues when conditions are wet and muddy:

• Consider installing pads or permeant dense aggregate (compacted material such as crushed stone, sand varieties, for example) around high traffic areas such as gates and water buckets.
• It’s thought that used shavings are a cheap option to add to muddy areas, but they certainly are not ideal. When they become trampled into the ground and mixed with manure, pine shavings become acidic, which is not ideal for hooves. Unused shavings, not of pine origin, could be used, but a more permeant installation in high traffic areas will be far more cost-effective in the long run.
• Monitor your horse’s feet regularly and immediately alert your farrier to any issues.
• Hoof dressings can be helpful but moderate use (once or twice a week) should be exercised as using permanently makes the hooves reliant on artificial protection. Ask your hoof care provider about these.
• Avoid overgrazing – reducing the number of hooves through high traffic areas reduces the number of muddy and boggy areas. Having spare paddocks also allows you to move horses to drier areas in times of need.
• Avoid hosing the mud off as this adds more moisture to the problem and can force debris into open areas. Brushing can also cause scratching of the soft areas and so instead, use a lightly damp sponge to remove the dirt and debris before thoroughly drying the feet.
• Schedule more regular trims to reduce overgrowth or imbalance.