Why hoof horn cracks during Spring/Summer
Almost with the same assurance that night will turn into day comes the annual problem of hooves cracking and lost shoes during the transition from wet Winter conditions into drier Spring/Summer conditions.
These symptoms are blamed on the hooves drying out, which is certainly part of the cause, but the main problem is that the hooves have absorbed too much water during Winter.
Simply, the hoof horn swells to accommodate the extra water molecules which in turn disrupts the basic structure formed mainly from Keratin. Since water molecules have no basic strength, hoof horn, when saturated, becomes softer and weaker. An added dimension is that the swelling effect compresses cracks and defects, misleading an observer into thinking that the horn is actually better when saturated.
Structurally and chemically hoof horn is strongest and most resilient when it is 'dry'; that is with a nominal moisture content determined by the hooves internal mechanisms rather than environmental conditions. The visible horny hoof wall is also dead, so it cannot be repaired naturally by the horse once it has been damaged by the environment - it has to grow out, forced down by new horn being produced at the coronary band.
During the period between Winter and Spring horn quality is additionally complicated by saturated hooves drying too quickly between these wet and dry seasons. The drying out causes the horn to shrink, as it looses water content, and this in turn causes further disruption to the molecular structure of the keratin which normally provides hoof horn with its strength.
The result of this transition from wet to dry, swollen to shrunken, is that the molecular structure comes under so much stress that the horn wall cracks and crumbles. Just like a clay river bed when the water dries out in hot weather.
Tubbing the hooves or standing the horse in a pond or stream just exacerbates the problem by swelling the already weakened horn, which then shrinks again as the hoof dries in the warm weather, putting the molecular structure under yet more stress.
Water caused the problem, it is by no means the answer!
Effectively the fluctuating water content in the horn, between Winter and Spring, has caused a complex change in the chemistry of the molecular structure, leaving it weak and unstable and prone to cracking.
The only way of ensuring a proper solution to this age old problem is to tackle it at source, which in this case it is the damage done to the structure of the hoof.
Keratex Hoof Hardener is a patented formulation which has been used and recommended by Vets and Farriers around the world since its introduction in 1990. Its patented status makes it unique in being the only product which can effectively repair the water damaged keratin molecule and prevent the hoof from breaking up during Spring and Summer. The advanced chemistry of Keratex Hoof Hardener adds atoms between molecules of keratin to bond them more tightly together - like putting more cement between the bricks of a damaged wall.
Not only does Keratex Hoof Hardener strengthen the structure within hours of the first application, it also conditions the horn to slow down the absorption of environmental water. The chemistry may be complex and the revelations about water may be contrary to popular belief, but Keratex Hoof Hardener is the scientific breakthrough which is now used by thousands of horse owners to ensure strong hooves throughout the year. Cracked hooves nearly always coincide with the best riding weather. By understanding the cause in good time prevention is easy.
Why are many horses hooves so intolerant of water? The simple answer is that most UK horses are either pure or part Thoroughbred, which in turn were bred from Arabian desert horses. As there is not a lot of water in a desert there is no inbred protection against its effects.
Western Europe is essentially an unnatural environment for the TB horse so any husbandry is at best a compromise of the conditions for which the TB evolved. It is too wet and natural forage is generally too rich for a horse designed to live in a desert. Also, horses are naturally roaming animals and would not normally be stabled or standing in there own dung and urine. By taking account of these factors, and there are many more, it is easier to see the extent of the compromise and start to understand the effect this can have on the hooves.
Ironically the part of the horse most compromised by European conditions are the hooves and no amount of slavishly following traditional methods will have any effect on improving overall hoof health. The very high incidence of hoof related problems in the UK should be proof enough that the old methods of daily hoof care and general husbandry do not work well in todays environment.
As a result of scientific investigation and research there is so much more understanding about what is causing problems in horses feet and equally the ineffectiveness of, what might best be described as, the methods of yesteryear. New products are now available which have been developed with the benefit of considerable scientific knowledge, but the market is slow to accept the many benefits these offer, preferring to stay with poor performing traditional methods.
Hoof quality is no longer a matter of the best that can be obtained in a given environment because products now available protect against the adverse elements of any environment so that horn quality can be maintained at its molecular and chemical optimum.
Many like to think that the TB horse is as near perfect as nature could possibly make it, but still seem to accept that it is quite normal for hooves to crack at certain times of the year as that is a function of nature; probably because it has always been like that. A function of nature? Yes, but not a natural function of the horse. Wild horses in their natural dry arid conditions suffer very few hoof related problems, because the hooves are hard and dry and have a constant moisture content throughout the year. They certainly don't crack up leaving the wild horse lame and unable to forage.
Think environment, think appropriate hoof care. The products are available - it just needs a new way of thinking to get greater pleasure and benefit from horses all year round.
To prevent water absorption after a treatment cycle with Keratex Hoof Hardener and as an all year round hoof maintenance use Keratex Hoof Gel. The hooves will maintain a natural moisture content controlled by the horse, not the environment. Do not use Keratex Hoof Gel if you are already treating the hooves with Keratex Hoof Hardener as the Gel will prevent the Hardener from getting into the horn.
Use Keratex Hoof Hardener to repair damaged horn which is cracking and loosing shoes.
Use Keratex Hoof Gel after 3-4 months of treating with Keratex Hoof Hardener to protect the hooves from further damage.