Mythbuster Monday: Mud Is Beneficial for a Horse’s Hooves and Skin
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Mud is beneficial to a horse’s hooves and skin?
It’s Mythbuster Monday, where Horse Nation dives into different equestrian myths and provides research-based evidence to either bust or confirm those myths. Today’s topic: Is mud beneficial to a horse’s hooves and skin? Should your horse have access to mud to roll? Are there muds that are not beneficial to horses? Read more to find out!
Myth: Mud is beneficial to horse’s hooves and skin
Myth or Fact: Mixed
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Mud is a mixture of subsoil and water. It can be compromised of silt, clay, subsoil, stones, gravel, straw, and/or lime. It’s usually formed after rainfall or near water sources. Mud has been used for centuries for building and binding a variety of different things, including at spas to on our own skin. But, is it good for a horse’s hooves and skin?
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According to Equus Magazine, mud is good for a horse’s hooves and skin because it keeps the horse from getting too dry and hot. Rolling in the mud protects a horse from insects and produces natural oils leading to a shinier coat.
Equus Magazine says the general rule is that mud that extends up past the horse’s coronary band and persists at that level for more than three days is too much. At this depth and length of time, horses can lose shoes, pull tendons, and get skin infections.
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The Horse writes that if you had to pick between a pasture that was completely dry versus one with some mud, you should pick the one that is dry. Their article asserts that exposure to moisture causes various hoof problems including hooves getting too soft, hoof sensitivity, hooves that won’t hold shape, and damage and infections to the structure.
Paul Goodness, a senior farrier, states that when horse hooves get wet they tend to lose their shape. With moisture, hooves become flatter and wider, which is nature’s way to give the hoof more surface so they do not sink.
Steve Norman, a farrier who shoes many of America’s top Thoroughbred racehorses, asserts that with mud, the hoof’s horny tissues become deformed under normal weight-bearing pressure. Norman started shoeing in the western United States where mud is less prevalent. When he moved to Kentucky he stated the horse’s hooves were softer, flatter, and more saturated with moisture.
Julie Bullock, an equine practitioner and farrier, also agrees, saying that horses feet were designed to be dry all the time. Longterm mud exposure leaves hooves vulnerable to thrush, cankers, abscesses, and white line disease. When hooves get moisture in them, frogs may begin to recede and atrophy.
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The University of Minnesota Extension wrote an article that outlines the dangers of horses getting mud above the hoof. They state that while the hoof can handle the moisture better, right above the hoof can be sensitive to it. A horse’s pasterns and legs are more susceptible to dermatitis and cellulitis when they get mud on them. Both conditions thrive from moisture. Their biggest takeaway in the article is to be aware of if the mud is mixed with manure. This exacerbates issues.
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Enriching Equines states that mud itself is not bad for horses in that it is not toxic or poisonous. While dirty, it is not unhygienic. Mud is beneficial to a horse’s skin, coat, hooves, and mind. It prevents excessive dryness and a cool down mechanism on hot, dry days. It also provides a protection layer against insects and the sun. When mud gets onto a horse’s skin, it gathers up skin cells and other waste. When it dries and is shaken or brushed off, it takes that debris with it.
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After diving into the research, there is mixed information on mud being beneficial to a horse’s hooves and skin. Some experts points out how it creates skin issues and hooves breakdown while others state it creates a protective layer in hot weather.
The bottom line? This is one of those times that moderation is best. Some mud is fine, but not in excess or for extended periods of time.
Check your horse’s pasture conditions frequently to gain insight on if they’re being exposed to too much mud and be aware of how much manure is mixed with it.
Do you have an equine myth you’d like us to tackle? If so, send it our way! Email your suggestions to [email protected]. Put Mythbuster Monday in your subject line.
