Strategies for Keeping Shoes on in Wet Conditions
Owning and caring for horses requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that each animal’s needs are being met 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While this refers to food, water, and shelter, providing quality hoof care is a foundation for a horse's safety, health and comfort. Just as every horse receives a particular grain, supplement or type of hay for their specific needs, the type of farrier work for our equine friends also varies.
The Challenges
Seasons across the world differ from location to location, but being involved with horses means facing wet conditions–and mud–at some point, whether in your horse’s paddock, on a trail or at a competition venue.
A common inconvenience during rainy, mucky periods is when a horse pulls a shoe while traversing sloppy mud-ridden terrain. That’s why most horse owners or barn managers have their farrier’s number saved on speed dial!
Clinches & Nutrition
Vance Myers, a farrier who services clients in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, as well as Ocala and Wellington, Florida, said, “I have a number of horses that live in muddy conditions, especially in Central Kentucky. The proper shoe fit, including clips and nail placement, are key to keeping the shoe on. Low nails and prolapsed clinches actually compromise wall integrity rather than maintain it.”
He also says that he recommends a good hoof supplement and conditioner for horses who have thin walls of the hoof, or just hooves of poor quality. Absorbine’s Hooflex line of hoof dressing and supplements is well suited to meet the needs of a horse in any condition.
“However, if I have a horse that just can't keep shoes because of poor wall quality and muddy conditions, I will put them in glue-on shoes until the foot recovers and can accept nailing again,” Myers said.
Shoe Selection & Balance
Leo Navarro, a farrier based in northern Virginia, spoke about the importance of the correct shoe for each horse and the horse’s job.
“In my experience, to keep a horse from frequently losing its shoes, I prioritize working on its balance—that's the main thing—and ensuring that the horseshoe is flat before nailing it to prevent any movement. This is essential to avoid the clinches from opening. The next step is to consider the type of activity the horse performs. For instance, with a foxhunting horse, I use a shoe that is well adjusted to its hoof, providing enough support to prevent the horse from overreaching due to the muddy ground,” he explained.
Environment
John-Michael Lorton, a farrier with clients across the Mid-Atlantic states, stressed that if your horse is prone to losing shoes in muddy conditions, alter their environment. “Keeping your horse’s hooves as dry as possible can really make a difference,” he said. “Whether that means turning them out in a dryer paddock during extra wet periods or maybe bringing them in for a longer stretch of time during extremely wet weather. When you do bring them in, clean the hooves off, bottom of foot and outside hoof wall.”
Conclusion
To keep your horse’s shoes secure in wet conditions, a combination of nutrition, proper farrier work, hoof care products, and environmental management is key. By working closely with your farrier, maintaining hoof health, and making adjustments to turnout when needed, you can minimize the risk of lost shoes and keep your horse comfortable and sound, no matter the weather.