This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Hoof Abscesses, Bruises, and Gravels »
  Discussion on Muddy paddocks...do they compromise hoof health?
Author Message
Member:
Pepette

Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2006 - 5:57 pm:

I know a trainer who turns out horses in the rain every day, where the paddocks are nothing but mud and puddles. I disagree with this practice, and feel it could compromise hoof health. I think this leaves the horse more susceptible to thrush, but can it weaken the hoof enough to cause a white line problem that would lead to a gravel? One horse under the care of this trainer recently had a gravel.

I normally would ask my vet, but we share the same vet, and they are close friends. Wouldn't want the vet to tell the trainer that I am questioning the trainer's ways, especially if I am wrong.

Dr. O.?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 8:31 am:

Yes this would be hard on hooves but if the horses are brought in and the hooves cleaned and perhaps an occasional dose of hoof wax things might be OK. After all there can be a number or reasons a horse gets a gravel. The way to solve this conjecture is not with a thought experiment like this but by looking at the feet themselves: do they appear and feel healthy? Let us know what you find.
DrO
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 10:56 am:

Pepette,

In the spring, and some years the fall and half the winter, my horses spend 24/7 in an area that is nothing but mud. I've never had any hoof problems from the mud, but had some trouble in extreme dry conditions with cracking hooves. The area is a gentle slope and the top is drier, but not dry. It's only been the last 2 years that I had nice set up with box stalls and now I do put them in just so they can lay in a dry place at night if they wish. Maybe I've just been lucky, but no thrush either. It sounds like these horses are in at night?? I think if that's the case, the trainer is letting the horses be horses is all.
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 11:36 am:

I am an "out 24/7" owner. I have been doing it that way for 16+ years. Only recently am I putting them in (for the really bad storms) cause of my old mare. Mud has never created a problem with the exception of pulled shoes. Their feet can get fairly soft which results in more potential for bruising. That is also rare for me even with my "rock gardens". I have never had thrush in the winter. The only caution is if its deep enough for the coronets to be continually wet with mud you can get rings in the hoof.
Here in CA I find it quite impressive the way the hoof adapts to the wet winter and then changes for the hot dry summer. The biggest struggle is in the spring. When the hoof is used to being wet and it suddenly has no outside moisture it dries very quickly and will get lots of cracks unless you give it LOTS of moisturizer. After a month or so of dry, the hoof adjusts to moisturize itself better and the cracks diminish. My shoer notices that their feet actually shrink.
Then in the fall when the rain starts, you actually might see some thrush. Once again, the balance of the hoof is thrown off until it can adjust.
It is quite amazing really.
Member:
Pepette

Posted on Saturday, Feb 4, 2006 - 4:05 pm:

Hi,

They are not my horses, so can't check them. They are not at my place. Those horses do stay out, they just come in to feed. They have really bad rain rot.

My horses come in at night during the winter, and during storms. In the summer, they are out at night and in during the day.

Thank you everyone's answers. I was glad and soothed to hear that your horses' hooves were just fine in lots of continual rain.

I've never experienced any hoof problems with my horses (30 years), so it led me to think that it was due to the way I cared for mine. I guess not, and I am grateful to be humbled. It also puts me at ease about the horses that are left out on mud.

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks to Dr. O. for your answer. I love having you at my fingertips! :-)
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC