How Has The Heatwave Affected Our Equine's Feet?

This summer has brought warmth and sunshine quashing any British complaints of a lack of summer but it is well worth considering how the recent heat wave may have affected our horse's hooves. We are all familiar with the old proverb "no foot, no horse" and this sentiment still couldn't be truer today. In actual fact the dry weather is not quite as detrimental as extremely wet weather for our equine's feet, as it is in fact the wet weather causes the bonds within the horse's hooves to weaken on a molecular level. Nonetheless the hot weather can result in the following; Inactivity; A lack of exercise during the summer months as a result of the summer holidays, hard ground or simply when it is too hot to ride can cause the the amount of circulation to the hoof to decrease which can compromise hoof integrity. To prevent issues like this affecting your horse provide regular turnout and exercise where possible. Imbalance or Lack of Vitamins and Minerals Dry, overgrazed or parched grazing is common during the hot weather and this can cause there to be a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Offer your horse a vitamin and mineral supplement which is specific to his needs will help to balance the diet. Poor Shoeing or Trimming. During the summer your horse's hoof growth can sometimes reduce when this is paired with poor shoeing or trimming it can be a recipe for disaster. Always provide the best hoofcare in order to allow the hoof to function as effectively as possible and limit the negative effect of any environmental factors. Provide optimum hoof care is paramount to equine health and wellbeing. For a range of products to compliment our horse's lifestyle visit www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk.