The hot and dry days of summer typically bring a rise in dry hooves. Dry and brittle hoof walls will often crack and chip, especially with horses that work on hard surfaces. Horses that have long toes, underrun heels and thin hoof walls (like the thoroughbred) are even more prone to develop cracked and chipped hooves during the summer. 

Besides the hotness and dryness of summer, rapid changes in the moisture of the hoof wall can greatly affect its integrity as well.

Scenarios that affect the moisture balance of the hoof: 

- Thunderstorms force the horse to stand in mud for a prolonged time, making the hoof wall soft.
- If the weather gets hot and dry again, hooves also become dry.
- Horses are frequently bathed and hosed off during summertime, adding moisture to the hooves.
- Riding in the sand ring, then bathing, then immediately putting your horse in a shaving-bedded stall quickly changes the hooves’ moisture balance.

Going from wet-dry-wet-dry-wet-dry conditions takes a toll on the hooves and promotes cracking, chipping and peeling of the hooves. Horse’s hooves, as well as human skin, have a layer of dermal tissue that contains compounds called phospholipids. These compounds have a segment that repels water and a segment that attracts water. Phospholipids can maintain correct moisture balance in mild to moderate environment changes; however, this mechanism is overwhelmed in excessively wet or dry conditions.

Tips for maintaining healthy hooves during summer  

1) Maintain a regular Farrier schedule
Excessive untrimmed growth dramatically alters hoof balance. As a general rule, no horse should go untrimmed beyond eight weeks. A properly trimmed and balanced foot will be less mechanically predisposed to cracking due to landing the right way.

2) Keep moisture changes to a minimum
Although impossible to avoid completely, try keeping your horse from going through wet-dry-wet-dry conditions.

3) Try using a hoof conditioner with phospholipids
They help promote the correct moisture balance of the hoof capsule in excessively dry or wet conditions. Recommended hoof conditioner: Farrier’s Finish^®

4) Clean your horse’s hooves before riding
Clean your horse's hooves daily to prevent nasty stone bruises and thrush. Take care to clean the grooves on either side of the frog as well, as that's where stones and bacteria tend to collect.

5) Feed a balanced diet and a hoof supplement
Strong and healthy hooves are less prone to cracking and chipping. Recommended hoof supplement: Farrier’s Formula^®

6) If the hooves have bacterial or fungal problems…
Avoid using hoof dressings that contain caustic ingredients such as formalin (formaldehyde), iodine crystals, copper sulfate and solvents such as acetone and turpentine. These ingredients provide a type of hardening that greatly reduces hoof wall elasticity and shock absorption, which makes the hooves more prone to crumbling and cracking.

J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS 
Founder of Life Data Labs, Inc. 
H. Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS 
Equine Nutrition Consultant