Our family has been ranching in the mountains near Salmon, Idaho, since 1955. We've put lots of miles on lots of horses over the years, horseback riding range all summer and moving cattle in rough country. During the 1970s and 1980s, we did some competitive distance horseback riding.
Horseback riding on the range and on the trail taught us a great deal about keeping horses sound under all kinds of conditions. Trail horses occasionally suffer foot and leg injuries, directly or indirectly related to poor footing. You can head off some problems by being prepared. Know what kind of footing you'll be dealing with, know your horse, condition him for the various situations you might encounter, and be cautious in tricky terrain. Slow down, and don't take chances.
Here, I'll discuss five different types of footing: Hard ground, rough terrain, sand, mud, and snow/ice. I'll tell you the potential problems each type of footing can create, how such problems can happen, and what you can do to head off an injury.
Hard Ground
Potential problem: Concussion to bones and joints.
How it can happen: Concussion on hard ground can take a toll on joints, but most often the concussion problems are in the feet. Young horses are particularly susceptible to jarring and hard pounding, because their joints and bones haven't yet matured. Your mature horse might suffer sore joints the day after traveling over hard ground, but generally it's only temporary. However, as your horse ages and his joints stiffen, hard ground might make him continually sore, especially if he has a degenerative joint or bone condition, such as arthritis.
Potential problems: Heel soreness; sole bruises; road founder.
How they can happen: If your horse is at all sore in the heels (which many horses are, due to the way they're built or the way they're shod), you'll see heel soreness first after traveling on hard ground. The foot naturally lands heel first. The heel area, with its extra cushioning, is better designed to absorb concussion than the toe area. However, your horse's heels will become sore first if you travel through rocks and hard ground all day. Pounding over hard ground can also lead to bruising on the soles of your horse's feet and road founder (inflammation of the laminae - the sensitive membrane layers in the hoof).
What you can do:
- Find softer ground. If you can pick your trail, find softer footing, such as the road shoulder instead of the pavement or hard-packed dirt track. Good earth footing is best, with enough "give" so the foot or shoe can sink in a little.
- Wait until your horse matures. Avoid riding your trail horse on hard ground until he's at least 4 years old. When he's 2 or 3 years old, he'll be more prone to stress-related problems, because his bones and joints aren't completely mature, thus vulnerable to injury. Even walking and trotting on the trail can lead to injury; avoid trail riding him until he's at least 4 years old.
- Consider special shoeing. Your farrier can shoe your horse with pads, which can help minimize concussive pressures that might aggravate arthritic and bony problems. Pads can also help with sole bruising. Some riders use plastic shoes to minimize concussion, but these don't work for all horses. Work with your farrier to find a pad or shoe that works best for your horse.
- Consider a joint supplement. Talk to your veterinarian about supplementing your horse's diet with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Such products seem to help relieve some joint problems.
