05/08/2026
We are seeing a lot more lameness and bruising in the feet (understandably). When all 4 feet are sore sometimes it’s not obvious that the horse is lame as all the lame legs sort of “balance out” What you might get is a choppy stride or nappiness or a even a tight back as they brace themselves. We are also seeing puffy joints and even swollen limbs. Bear in mind that even if you are not riding too much on hard ground, cantering around their fields at the moment when turned out is enough to jar them up! Some horses benefit from pads or gel inserts/heel supports like 3D pads. Always chat to your farrier or vet for more advice!
☀️ Hard ground ☀️
When the ground becomes very hard the effects of repeated concussion can influence the entire musculoskeletal system.
When the ground has very little give, the hoof’s natural shock-absorbing mechanisms become less effective. The digital cushion of the hoof and associated soft tissues have less opportunity to dissipate impact forces, meaning more of the force is transmitted up the limb.
Over time, this can increase the demands placed on the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles throughout the body.
There may be increased compression through the hocks and stifles, particularly in horses with existing arthritis or straighter hindlimb conformation. Some horses may also develop increased muscle activity through the back and thoracic sling, with compensatory tension developing through the neck, poll and jaw.
The nervous system may respond by increasing muscle activity- a clever protective strategy but one which can also reduce normal joint mobility and subtly alter the way the horse moves.
Often, we notice small changes before obvious lameness develops. Your horse may:
• Feel a little shorter-striding.
• Be less willing to go forwards.
• Feel stiffer on one rein.
• Resist canter transitions.
• Become more reactive through the back.
• Perhaps lose that feeling of freedom and enthusiasm they usually have.
Don’t forget- arenas are affected by the weather too. During prolonged dry weather they can become deeper, looser and less stable. Whilst very hard ground increases concussion, a surface that is deep or unstable can increase the demands placed on tendons and ligaments, particularly the suspensory apparatus.
If your horse competes on firm ground, completely avoiding it isn’t necessarily the answer. Brief, controlled exposure to may help prepare the musculoskeletal system, but this should form only a small part of a varied training programme. Train on a variety of surfaces and adapt the workload to both the footing and their discipline.
Ways to help reduce risk to your horse include:
🐎Adjust workloads to suit the conditions.
🐎Reduce speed before reducing movement- for example, choose hacking or walking over fast work.
🐎Avoid repetitive jumping on very firm ground.
🐎Avoid prolonged schooling on excessively deep or unstable arenas.
🐎Vary surfaces where appropriate.
🐎Maintain good hoof balance.
🐎Pay attention to subtle changes in performance, behaviour or recovery after exercise.
Horses rarely go from comfortable to lame overnight. It’s often the slow but cumulative effect over days or weeks, rather than a single ride.
