Crumbly hooves
QMy 17-year-old cob has very bad feet. They’re very dry and crumbly, especially in summer. Why is this? Pam Evans, Royston
AThe hoof wall is a composite material (made up of more than one type of tissue) and has different properties and functions throughout its depth. If we took a horizontal section, we’d see that the outer part of the hoof wall has the appearance of a protective covering, like a laminate on a kitchen work top. Moisture moves from the inside of the foot, through this changing composition of hoof wall and is maintained and regulated by this outer protective layer. The movement of moisture and the nutrition dissolved within it is part of the way the foot sustains hoof wall health. The fact your horse’s feet are so dry and crumbly in the summer suggests this process is failing in some way.
What you can do
If your horse is suffering from crumbling hooves, there’s a couple of simple rules of thumb. First of all, your horse’s hoof is modified mammalian skin and, just like our skin, its health can be affected by a range of influences. To look after it, think of all the things you would do to look after your own skin and treat your horse’s feet the same way. Secondly, ask your farrier to work with you as part of a team of other professionals, including your vet, nutritionist and physio, to examine why your horse has these problems and help you find a solution.