Spring showers bring muddy pastures to the equine world. While the horses are usually more than happy to play outdoors in the mud, the mud can sometimes cause damage to the hooves of horses. Here are some mud and hoof related conditions to keep in mind over the course of the spring season.

When horse go out to pasture in the wet mud, they often come back to their stalls with their hooves caked in the mud. Sometimes the mud dries outdoors before they even come back to their stall. Other times, it dries within their stall. Either way, as the mud dries, it also dries out the hooves. Over time, this drying of the hooves can cause cracks in your horse’s hooves. If the drying of the mud happens frequently, your horse may experience even more serious hoof problems than just the drying of the hooves. He might develop diseases or abscesses in his hooves as a result of severe drying, cracks, and separations in his hoof walls.

Because of this problem with drying mud, it is essential that as a horse owner you remove any mud or dirt when your horse comes in from the pasture. It is really best to make it part of your regular routine each day before leaving your horse alone in his stall. You can help prevent any problems from occurring, and catch problems that have already begun before they become too serious. It is always a good idea to check your horse’s hooves regularly so that you can recognize when something is not right with the hoof.

Even with regular cleaning, the mud may cause problems. Standing in wet conditions, whether it is a muddy pasture or unclean stall, can cause the hooves to weaken. As the hooves weaken, they become more prone to bruising. Additionally, they are at risk for thrush, which is the rotting of the frog due to bacteria. Mud creates the optimal conditions for this bacteria to thrive.

It is important to maintain regular hoof trimming to keep the hooves strong against bacteria and injury. Keep the stalls and pastures as clean as possible. Call your veterinarian and your farrier at the first sign of hoof problem.