With the National Hurricane Center reporting that torrential rains and flooding will continue for the next several days across parts of the Florida Panhandle and north Florida, horse owners are scrambling to keep their horses out of flooded areas and protect hay and tack along with their horse's health.
Satellite photo - tropical storm Debby
Horse owners in Florida are scrambling to keep their horses out of flooded areas and protect hay and tack along with their horses' health.
© 2012 by NASA
Many pastures are flooded or drenched along with barn and stall areas. As every horseman knows, water is not a friend to horse hooves and limbs.
An increase in foot problems in horses can be expected during extended wet weather. When the hoof is wet for extended periods, softening of the tissues will predispose the area to problems. Foreign matter such as sand, gravel, silt or bacteria can gain entry to the hoof and cause infection in the soft tissue.
Often horses become lame after hooves are soaked by flood water over a period of time. Lameness can vary from mild to non-weight bearing lameness and the hoof will be hot to touch. If left untreated, the abscess can burst through at the coronet.
Owners can reduce the likelihood of hoof infections and hoof abscesses by taking basic precautions, such as
- Moving horses from flood-affected or muddy areas. Horses need to have firm dry footings where their hooves can dry out
- Keeping hooves clean, including soles, of mud and manure
- Disinfecting hooves that have been exposed to flood water or mud with a disinfectant
- Carrying out proper hoof care per the recommendations of a farrier or veterinarian.
In addition, the hay in certain areas has been inundated by flood water creating further problems for horse owners because of the debris and contamination with possible disease causing organisms. In some areas, finding a dry place to feed horses is impossible and some horse owners are being forced to move their horses to other areas to protect their health and well-being.