July 2005

Hot Summer Hooves

Does it seem your horse’s feet are worst in summer? You’re not alone.

Hoof cracks seem to occur more often in summer months.

The dog days of summer often spell problems for horse’s feet. Lots of factors get blamed, but sometimes it’s more a matter of guilt by association rather than a true cause.

Some horsemen believe that turning horses out at night in the summer subjects the hooves to too much moisture from dew on the grass. The theory is that the feet soak up all this moisture, swell, then shrink again when brought inside to dry stalls or worked during the day under dry conditions. …