12/08/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
With ongoing dry weather conditions and the ground being excessively hard, horses can be more at risk of concussion, bruising, strains and general lameness.
๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค?
Any horse can become uncomfortable or injured, but greater care may be needed with:
โข thin soles or a history of foot soreness
โข pre-exisiting issues i.e. joint disease , tendon injuries
โข Older horses
โข Horses returning to work after a break
โข Young horses whose workload is increasing
โข Horses with poor or changing hoof balance
โข Overweight horses
โข Horses working frequently or at higher speeds
โข Horses that regularly compete on variable ground
โข Horses that are not used to work on firm surfaces
Shoeing or being barefoot does not make any horse more vulnerable -hoof conformation, sole depth, balance, workload and the individual horseโs adaptation all need to be considered.
Your farrier and vet can help assess what may be appropriate for your horse.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐:
A horse affected by firm or uneven ground will not always become dramatically lame. Early changes may be subtle and may only initially be noticeable when ridden.
Signs to watch for include:
โข A shortened or more cautious stride
โข Reluctance to move freely forward
โข Feeling less fluid than usual
โข Stiffness when starting work
โข Unwillingness to work on a particular surface
โข Preferring the grass verge to the road
โข Becoming noticeably worse on stony tracks
โข Tripping or stumbling more frequently
โข Reluctance to turn tightly
โข Difficulty maintaining balance
โข Problems on one rein
โข Reduced confidence when jumping
โข Refusing or putting in an extra stride before a fence
โข Taking longer to warm up
โข Heat in a hoof or limb
โข An increased digital pulse
โข Swelling or filling in a limb
โข Sensitivity when the sole is examined
โข An obvious unevenness or head nod
Take any changes seriously when they are unusual for your horse.
๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐
Bruising can occur when sensitive structures inside the hoof are damaged by pressure or impact. Trauma from stones and repetitive concussion on hard surfaces can contribute, although hoof balance, shoeing, sole depth and other factors may also be involved.
Signs can vary and some horses may become uncomfortable on hard or stony surfaces but appear more comfortable on softer going.
Bruising may not always be visible immediately. Discolouration can sometimes appear later as the hoof grows, while deeper bruising may not be externally obvious.
Foot soreness should not automatically be assumed to be simple bruising. Hoof abscesses, laminitis, nail-related problems and other conditions can produce similar signs and may require different treatment.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ
A horse that becomes pottery, short-striding or reluctant to walk on hard ground may be experiencing laminitis rather than sole pain.
Possible signs of laminitis include:
โข Being unusually careful on hard or stony surfaces
โข Preferring softer ground
โข A shortened or stiff gait
โข Reluctance to turn
โข Shifting weight between the feet
โข Increased heat in the hoof
โข Strong or bounding digital pulses
โข Reluctance to pick up a foot
โข A change in stance
โข Increased time lying down
โข A change in behaviour or willingness to move
The classic rocking back laminitic stance is not present in every case. Do not wait for this sign before seeking advice.
Laminitis is a painful condition requiring prompt veterinary attention. If you suspect it, remove the horse from grazing, avoid forcing them to walk and contact your vet immediately.
๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ?
Many factors contribute to tendon and ligament injuries - it is not always possible to attribute an injury to one surface or event.
Repeated fast or demanding work, sudden changes in training, fatigue and uneven ground can all affect the forces placed through the limbs. A field that appears dry and flat from a distance may contain hard hoofprints, cracks, holes or ruts which can make your horse land unevenly.
Look out for:
โข Heat or swelling along a tendon
โข Filling around a joint or tendon sheath
โข Pain when an area is gently examined
โข New or worsening lameness
โข A change in the appearance of one limb compared with the other
โข Reduced performance following strenuous exercise
If you find heat, swelling or lameness, stop exercising the horse and contact your vet. Continuing to ride may make a problem worse.
Hard ground may reveal an existing problem
Firm ground is not always the original cause of discomfort - it can also make an underlying issue more noticeable.
A veterinary examination can help determine between temporary sensitivity and a problem requiring further investigation.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ?
It may not be possible to avoid hard ground entirely, especially during a prolonged dry period but sensible adjustments can help reduce the demands placed on your horse.
Review the surface before riding
Walk the route, field or arena where possible. Look for stones, cracks, holes, baked ruts and areas that may be slippery.
Do not assume a grass surface offers cushioning. In dry conditions, grass-covered ground can become extremely hard underneath and may also be slippery.
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
Limit fast work, repeated jumping and tight turns on firm ground. Slower exercise generally creates less impact.
You can maintain fitness through walking, controlled schooling or exercise on a more suitable surface, depending on your horseโs needs.
๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ
A horse accustomed to working mainly on a synthetic arena should not be expected to perform a high volume of fast work on hard grass without preparation.
Conditioning should be progressive. Muscles, bones and supporting tissues need time to adapt to changes in workload and surface.
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐
Allow appropriate recovery after strenuous training, competition or travel. Fatigue may affect coordination and movement, potentially increasing the risk of a poor step or awkward landing.
๐๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ
Pick out and inspect your horseโs feet every day.
Check for:
โข New cracks
โข Loose or missing shoes
โข Raised clenches
โข Stones lodged in the foot
โข Heat
โข A stronger digital pulse
โข Sensitivity
โข An unusual smell or discharge
โข Changes in hoof shape or wear
Ensure regular farriery appointments and discuss any concerns with your farrier and vet.
๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐
Body condition, fitness, tack, previous injuries and the horseโs current workload all make a difference!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐?
Decisions should be made for the individual horse and the conditions on the day.
Consider:
โข How firm and even the ground is
โข Whether the organisers have treated or aerated it
โข Your horseโs age, fitness and soundness history
โข The speed and intensity required
โข The height and difficulty of fences
โข Whether your horse has already competed frequently
โข How the horse feels during the warm-up
โข Whether they are wearing suitable studs or footwear
โข The availability of an alternative event
Competition plans are never more important than your horseโs welfare especially if the ground feels unsuitable or your horse does not feel comfortable.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ญ?
Contact your vet if your horse:
โข Develops sudden or significant lameness
โข Is reluctant or unable to bear weight
โข Has persistent stiffness or unevenness
โข Shows heat, swelling or pain in a limb
โข Develops strong digital pulses or abnormal hoof heat
โข Becomes reluctant to turn or walk
โข Remains foot-sore after the surface has changed
โข Repeatedly loses performance on firm ground
โข Improves with rest but becomes uncomfortable again in work
โข Shows any signs that could indicate laminitis
Severe lameness or suspected laminitis should be treated as urgent. Do not force the horse to walk to โsee if it improvesโ.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
A lameness examination usually begins with a detailed history and a physical assessment of the horse. The vet may then observe the horse:
โข Walking and trotting in hand
โข Moving on a straight line
โข Turning
โข Working on a circle
โข Moving on different surfaces
โข Under saddle, where appropriate
Further investigation may include hoof testing, flexion tests, diagnostic analgesia, X-rays or ultrasound.
Pay attention when your horse tells you something has changed!!
Firm ground does not mean every horse needs to stop working, but it does mean workloads and surfaces should be considered carefully.
Pay attention to subtle changes in stride, willingness and performance. Adjusting a training session, slowing down or choosing a different surface may be enough to prevent unnecessary soreness or lameness.
If you have lameness or performance concerns, please call :
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ@๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐-๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ฌ.๐๐จ.๐ฎ๐ค
