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Understanding the effects of seasonal changes on your horses’ feet!

Equines worldwide live in a wide variety of climates and the horse itself has a great ability to cope with seasonal changes. However, there are often questions from clients as to why they have seen a rapid change in the feet of their horse and why this happens.

In this blog we will talk about some of the common effects of seasonal changes in horses’ feet and identify some of the causes to help you better understand what is happening.

Climate:

Climate is the major contributor to both long term and short-term fluctuations in horse feet.  In Australia we experience a vast variety of climatic fluctuations from wet and humid to hot and dry in a relatively short period of time in some cases. So how can climatic change effect the hoof?

Temperature:

Hooves are poor conductors of heat hence we can hot fit shoes without hurting the horse! Donkeys have long been used in arid climates and cope well in this dry environment.

However, when we rapidly change from a wet lush environment into a hot dry environment like we do coming into summer in Australia, this must obviously affect the hoofs moisture content! Therefore, hooves will go from being supple to hard as they lose moisture. This must have an effect on the Viscoelasticity of the hoof capsule.

Energy Dissipation & Anti – Concussion:

The capsular movement of a hoof is a fundamental part of the horse’s anti concussion mechanism within the foot. Both the external and internal structures of the hoof work together to minimize the forces of impact. When the horse moves and encounters ground force reaction, this, in conjunction with bones, joints, tendons and ligament helps to disperse shock and redistribute that force into propulsion. It makes sense that if the hoof is low in moisture content it will not be as Viscoelastic, hence this would have an adverse effect on function.

Moisture content:

What is the approximate average moisture content of the horse’s foot?

• Wall:25%
• Sole: 33%
• Frog :50%

This average will vary, obviously in hot/ dry environments the content will be lower! This must have an effect on viscoelasticity and the function of the hoof.

A hoof that is high in moisture content will wear faster than that of a horse with low moisture content, hence to maintain and optimize function in some cases it is necessary to shoe the horse to protect from excessive wear of the hoof wall. In dry arid environments the hoof will be resistant from wear due to low moisture content, this may have adverse effects in the hoof function by reduction of viscoelasticity.

How can we assist to maintain moisture:

In hot dry conditions I have found that application of a good hoof dressing on a regular basis will help to keep the horse’s foot softer and more supple. Although this is anecdotal and I have no evidence other than my own experience to back this up, it is something that all my clients are recommended to do in dry conditions. It has been my experience that the feet are softer and easier to work on in summer months with the application of a dressing, the one I choose is Carmel Valley and it works great for my clients’ horses, however that is a personal choice.

Growth:

Hoof growth is also affected by climatic changes and during cold months we see a reduction of hoof growth, hence in winter we may in some cases be able to space out farrier visits as the hoof is not growing as fast. Then as the weather warms up and the grass grows, we see a rapid growth period occur. Often this catches some hoof care practitioners and owner alike by surprise as all the horses in their shoeing round suddenly need an earlier appointment. This coupled with other effects of rapid pasture growth and warmer weather, such as laminitis cases, also catch many off guard. Nutrition and hoof supplements in cold or poor conditions may also assist mature or older horses to maintain good growth.

Hoof growth rates:

Hoof growth in young horses is faster than that of older horse. For example a foal’s hoof will grow at approximately 12mm per month, whereas a mature horse’s hoof will grow an average of 6/9mm per month and elderly horses an average growth rate of 3/6mm per month.

These growth rates coupled with seasonal changes are constantly changing.

So, we as practitioners and owners need to be aware of external factors that have an effect on the growth rate so as not to be caught out! Record keeping in your practice is a great way to monitor how your horses react to seasonal changes from year to year. This may also help you to predict the effects that excessive wet or dry has on that particular horse and the best treatment protocols for that horse.

The other thing that will affect a horses growth rate is nutrition as we all know. We must all be aware of the seasonal changes and the rapid growth of pasture thus changing the horse’s diet to reflect the season. Monitoring this well should help to reduce the onset of laminitis in horses which is the single biggest issue faced by hoof care practitioners in spring time.   

The sole (soleae ungular)

The soles’ main function is to protect the underlying structures in the hoof average moisture content is 33% and the average depth of approximately 10/11mm, however the sole depth is constantly changing as the sole exfoliates. The change from moderate to extreme dry environments may result in horses having discomfort on rocky or sandy surfaces when the sole has either worn excessively or recently exfoliated and is at its thinnest.

In some cases, hoof pads may assist during this period to offer greater protection to the sole whilst it regenerates.

In my practice I will use pads or sole protection material to normalize this type of situation and keep the horse sound and working. However, when things are normal again and the horse can cope, I will take the pad off and go back to normal procedures. Again, your records that you keep will remind you of which horses and what type of conditions that this may occur.

Humid /Moist conditions

Humidity and wet moist conditions can also have an adverse effect on the horse’s hoof as these conditions, such as tropical environments are a perfect breeding ground for anerobic bacterial infections to undermine the hoof wall.

This often starts with a simple grass crack that allows the anaerobes to take hold and work away at the stratum Internum of the hoof wall (the inner attachment of the hoof wall). This condition is known as seedy toe (some refer to it as white line disease), however this is the wrong description as the white line emulates from the terminal papillae at the distal aspect of the stratum Internum, whereas seedy toe is an anerobic bacterial entity that effects the stratum interim.

Treatment:

Treatment for this condition would include stabilization of the hoof capsule with a bar shoe or similar in conjunction with opening the anaerobes to the air and possibly treating with a topical ointment which should be prescribed by your veterinarian. Covering such anerobic bacterial entities with hoof reconstruction materials is fraught with danger in my opinion as this gives such anaerobes a little incubator to proliferate in and this will only compound the problem.  

Conclusion:

Understanding the effects of seasonal changes and monitoring the environment will help you to maintain your horses all year round. This information coupled with nutrition and regular maintenance, should help you to identify and predict the effects the seasons and environment can have on your horses’ feet and its performance.   

I hope you have enjoyed this blog until next time all the best,  

Dean Lewis CJF AWCF