Changeable weather during winter and going into the spring months brings different conditions on a weekly basis. One week, the ground is soggy and wet. A week later, everything has dried out.

This wet-dry cycle creates problems with horse's hooves leading to brittle or cracked hooves, infiltration of bacteria that causes thrush and abscesses, and separation of the laminae that links bone and hoof wall, leading to white line disease.

Horses in constant wet conditions suffer from soft soles and sloughing of the frog, which compromise the strength of the hooves’ support structures and can make the horse more prone to sole bruising.

Thrush, while not caused specifically by mud, is more prevalent during the wet season. That nasty-smelling tar-like substance that indicates that a horse’s frog is rotting is caused by a bacteria common in manure. A mud-and manure-packed hoof is the ideal environment for this bacterial invasion to set up camp.

Aside from keeping horses out of excessive mud and moisture, maintaining sanitary conditions around the barn is important to limit the exposure to bacteria. Also, a regular four- to six-week shoeing or hoof-trimming schedule is essential for preventing hoof problems, whether they’re mud-related or not.

Some horse owners also have good results using acrylic hoof coatings and hoof dressings to seal in natural moisture, while sealing out moisture and bacteria from the ground. Going overboard with dressings, however, can actually seal in too much moisture and even trap bacteria inside the hoof capsule. Moderation is key.

Applications of iodine-based hoof preparations toughen up soft soles and draw some of the moisture out of too-soft hooves. Additionally, thrush-fighting products found in tack stores can knock out minor cases of thrush in a matter of days.

If it were possible to dry saturated horn slowly and in a controlled way over several weeks the molecular structure would rebuild itself to become both dry and strong, but that of course is totally impractical for most horse owners. A big difference exists between dry horn with a low moisture content and dry brittle horn that has been damaged during rapid drying out.

If your horse is lame or the hoof problem continues for a long period of time, you should consult your farrier or veterinarian for additional treatment options, which may include medication, management changes or special shoes.