Barefoot - do you change your management for the wetter weather?

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canteron

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My horse, who has great feet, has now been barefoot for 2 months and so far really good. The feet are looking great and coping well.

But planning ahead, it is going to get wetter and as the horses are out 24/7 inevitably their hooves will be in wet grass for longer periods of time.

Do you have to adapt your management and what should I be planning for. Our land is high and free draining so rarely gets boggy but they will definately be having wetter feet for longer, will this impact on their hooves?
 
My main issue is to try and prevent/control thrush. I use red Horse Field paste, after washing his feet with hibiscrub once a week, and also apply eucalyptus oil to the sulsis daily.
 
Mine stand in mud for about three months and I don't have any problems usually. If I'm going to have any issues it's when I bring a turned out horse back into work after a few months off - then I sometimes get the odd abscess. However, I do know that my trimmer trims differntly during the winter to allow for the soft ground.
 
If hooves are strong and healthy, and the white line is tight then I don't do anything. If the hooves are not so great however I will disinfect once or twice a week.
 
Shysmum said:
My main issue is to try and prevent/control thrush. I use red Horse Field paste, after washing his feet with hibiscrub once a week, and also apply eucalyptus oil to the sulsis daily.
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Thanks for all replies and although my horses seems to be getting even sounder on all surfaces she does have some thrush - argh!! Is this a barefoot horse problem? Can't think why it would be more prevelent in barefoot horses then shod ones? Or does it just impact more on the comfort level of the horse when they don't have shoes?

I can't remember this horse having thrush ever before in over 10 years is it just coincidence that it has happened now she is barefoot?
 
Tetcin spray and give a good wash with hibi scrub then pick out feet daily, that is where the thrush comes from.

Also any long flaps of frog should be cut off to stop bacteria harbouring there.
 
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