H O R S E A N D H E A LT H
TEXT: CHRISTINE PINNA, CABALLO BAREFOOT TRIMMING
RAINY SEASON YOUR HORSE'S HOOF HEALTH
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t's been raining the last few days and finally, when there is a break, and the sun comes out, you head over to the yard, excited that you can finally have a ride. While tacking up, you give your horse's feet a good clean out to get rid of any excess mud and debris that may have collected in there while he has been frolicking in the rain. Suddenly you gasp in horror; his frog just came right off!
TIME TO PANIC? Surprisingly, you don't need to panic. This will happen once or twice a year, usually as we enter the wet season and sometimes again when we enter the dry season. It is entirely normal and natural, and probably even necessary, although nobody really
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knows exactly why it happens. Where I live, it's mostly very dry with sporadic rain, and my horses' frogs will shed every time there is significant rain after a good dry spell. In response to this unique environment, they have become very good at quickly growing back thick frogs. At the same time as this is happening, you may see white crumbly stuff as you are cleaning out your horse's feet. Some people mistake this for thrush; fortunately, it is just harmless crumbly sole that is shedding along with the frog. There is a good chance that at your horse's next trimming appointment, your hoofcare provider will gain deep satisfaction from removing any leftover built-up dead sole that is ready to come out.
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