25/07/2026
A quick post to answer one of the most common questions Iâve been asked by my farriery clients over the past few weeks.
We are now many weeks into a sustained period of very warm weather with little to no rain. This affects almost every plant and animal in the country, and the horse - particularly its hooves - is no different.
If we leave aside the obvious visual problems such as splits, cracks and lost shoes for a moment, letâs look at what happens when the hoof itself dries out. The drying process is unavoidable, regardless of which hoof care product you prefer. Warm weather causes moisture to evaporate - thatâs simply physics. The aim isnât to stop that process entirely, but to help the hoof retain moisture as effectively as possible.
One thing Iâve learned after more than 30 years shoeing horses is that feet often follow patterns. Every summer, after several weeks of sustained dry weather, I receive almost exactly the same phone calls.
In my experience, the horses most commonly affected are:
⢠Navicular horses
⢠Older horses
⢠Horses with poor-quality feet
⢠Arthritic horses
⢠Horses regularly worked on hard or stony ground
To simplify the explanation, letâs first look at hoof function. I wonât bore you with the anatomy and physiology because understanding every detail isnât necessary to understand the basics.
The hoof is designed to move under load. Inside the foot are structures designed to absorb that load as the hoof capsule deforms slightly. These mechanisms compress and release internal tissues, helping to dissipate the landing and loading forces generated by a half-tonne animal.
As the hoof becomes drier, it becomes less able to deal with those forces efficiently. Some of that increased stress is visible as cracks, splits and raised clenches. More importantly, however, the structures you canât see are also working less effectively. Over time this can lead to a gradual build-up of concussion and general soreness, particularly in structures such as the frog, which plays an important role in the hoofâs shock-absorbing system.
These are the horses that most commonly become footsore once the ground becomes rock hard. The reasons are often nuanced and vary from horse to horse, but they usually come back to the same principle: the hoof is simply less able to do the job it was designed to do.
So what can I do?
Honestly, not an awful lot if your horse falls into one of the groups listed above - except establish a good daily hoof care routine. Different hoof care products can all help to varying degrees, but consistency is usually more important than constantly changing products. Good old HâO also has its place.
Iâve written a simple guide on my website for anyone wanting a little more guidance.
The good news
In the vast majority of cases, this soreness, reluctance to walk or mild lameness improves once we get some moisture back into the ground and conditions soften again. It doesnât necessarily mean a major problem is developing.
As a very general rule, if you turn your horse out into the field and it moves comfortably once on softer ground, there usually isnât too much to worry about. Navicular horses can be the exception to this rule in my experience, as they often dislike firm ground regardless, but they too usually improve significantly once conditions soften.
So try not to panic if your horse isnât moving quite as well as normal after weeks of prolonged hot, dry weather. In many cases, this will improve naturally as the familiar British rain returns and the ground begins to yield again.
That said, donât ignore a horse that is becoming progressively more lame, reluctant to bear weight, or suddenly very uncomfortable. While prolonged dry conditions commonly cause general foot soreness, they can also coincide with more serious problems such as hoof abscesses, puncture wounds, fractures or laminitis.
If youâre unsure whether what youâre seeing is simply the effects of prolonged dry ground, speak to your farrier. We see these seasonal patterns every year and can usually advise whether itâs something to monitor, whether simple management changes may help, or whether your horse needs to be examined more closely.
If your horse is acutely lame, unwilling to bear weight, has a strong digital pulse, excessive heat in the foot, or you are concerned for any reason, donât wait - contact your veterinary surgeon. Early assessment is always better than hoping something serious will resolve on its own.
As always, prevention is far easier than cure. A good trimming or shoeing schedule, sensible daily hoof care, and paying attention to the small changes before they become big ones will always put your horse in the best position to cope with whatever the British weather decides to throw at us.
HĂĂF
UNDERSTANDING SUMMER FOOT SORENESS
By Paul Conroy BSc (Hons) AWCF
