All this wet weather and muddy ground is causing havoc for those horses who are standing out in it 24/7. The wet weather leads to abscesses and is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria; thrush and seedy toe are massive issues through winter.
What can you do about it?
1) Give feet a break
Winter tends to mean mud, and lot of it. It is important to give your horses feet a break from the mud as it’s a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This could mean keeping them in the driest paddock, providing dry shelter in the paddock or bringing them out of the paddock to stand on a dry surface for an hour or two a couple of times a week. Gateways tend to end up super muddy as this is where horses tend to congregate and wait for their people or dinner. Putting gravel down in gateways can be a great way to stop it from getting muddy.
2) Treat preventively
It is better to be prepared than be caught on the back foot after an infection has started. The bacteria present in thrush grows best in a dark, moist environment that is low in oxygen. One of the easiest ways to prevent thrush is to regularly clean out your horses feet. Through winter we are big fans of applying an antibacterial solution, once a week, to prevent disease. We use chlorhexidine, diluted 1:4 with water.
3) Regular trims
If hooves are left too long, they chip and crack. The chipping and cracking allow entry into the hoof for bacteria which can lead to seedy toe. In wet weather, these cracks can also act as entry points for abscesses.
What do you do to look after your horses feet in winter? Let us know in the comments.
