by Lindsay Grahaem

Created on: March 02, 2011   Last Updated: March 06, 2011

Dry hooves in horses can be a serious condition, causing cracks to appear in the hooves which can develop into a painful problem for the horse in question. There are a variety of causes for dry, cracked hooves in horses, from living in a dry, hot climate, to genetics and nutritional deficiencies, but regardless of the cause there are several different ways to treat your horse's dry hooves.

Working together with your farrier and vet to treat dry hooves in horses is far more effective than tackling the situation alone, particularly if horse owners have little or no experience in dealing with dry hoof problems. Ask for your vet and farrier's opinions, and depending on the severity of the problem and the causes, they may recommend the following methods to treat dry hooves in horses.

- Hoof dressings -

The moisture balance within a hoof is controlled by the hoof walls, and living in a hot, dry climate can really cause problems when it comes to drying out these sensitive hoof areas. Rain Maker and Hooflex are just a few types of highly effective hoof dressing, a treatment which is painted onto the horses hooves to hydrate the area and lock moisture into the hoof. Just as in very wet conditions, oil dressings can help to lock excess moisture OUT of a hoof, oils are also helpful in keeping existing moisture IN a hoof in dry conditions.

Once your horse has reached the point where his hooves are dry, adding a moisturising treatment or oil to the hoof provides quick relief; regular moisturising of hooves goes a long way to ensuring that the hooves recover their moisture balance. In dry conditions, this should be incorporated into your horse routine to ensure that the environment doesn't cause reoccurring dry hooves.

- Moisten the environment -

If your horse is exposed to dry, sandy environments which can really suck the moisture out of the hooves, it's important to give him a change of ground to stand on. If a less dry, grassed area is available, this makes a nice change for the horse's hooves. If this is not possible, try wetting down the dry ground with water to stop it being so dry - be careful not to soak the ground as in the long run this could have equally bad effects on the horse's hooves and cause thrush. Lightly misted ground will keep the hooves more hydrated and well as making the horse feel more comfortable.

- Dietary supplements -

It should be noted that the condition of a horse's hooves, coat and general appearance are very good indicators of the animal's general health, and that it may be the case that the horse is lacking some kind of nutrition. There are many dietary supplements on the market specifically designed to ensure the good health of your horse's hooves, and these are particularly useful when you're unsure whether your animal is receiving all the nutrients they need.

From Farrier's Formula and Grand Hoof to Omega Horseshine and Horseshoer's Secret, the range of hoof supplements is huge. Available at many horse specialists and feed stores, these dietary supplements contain valuable nutritional ingredients such as lysine, Omega fatty acids, vitamin B, zinc and manganese to keep your horse's hooves in great condition from the inside out.

As with all animal health problems, it is always best to consult a professional on these matters, particularly if the hoof problem appears to be serious. With help from your farrier and veterinarian, you can easily treat dry hooves in horses and make hoof problems a thing of the past.

- Sources -

http://www.horsehoofandfootproblems.com
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/hoof_ca re/eqhooftips837
Personal equine experience.

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