Foot Stomping
Reena is constantly in Canterpants because of the serious reactions she has to fly bites, but for Fozz and Crissy I’ve tended to leave their legs bare unless they’re really bothered. When the flies are out Fozz stomps her feet often (and hard), so it got me wondering whether this was doing her harm.
I went searching for articles to help me understand the impact of stomping on horse health and what I found makes me rethink my bare legs approach.
Fran Jurga in an article in Horse Illustrated on hoof problems caused by stomping says “Continuous pounding can damage hooves, loosen horseshoes, and crack even healthy hoof walls.” You can read Fran’s full article here.
Portia Eaton's article on Ranvet's website is about the much overlooked benefits of leg protection (specifically flyboots, but the same applies to full leg covering). In it she adds adds tendon issues and joint problems as well as the impact on the environment to the list of potential harm from stomping and she also touches on the potential for developing allergies with unprotected legs in the sensitive horse. You can read Portia’s full article here.
The horse's mental wellbeing is also something to consider. Stomping is a result of agitation, so if you think about how you feel when you're constantly pestered - flat? frayed? exhausted? - no doubt it's similar for our horses. From my experience covering the legs when even just a few flies are around can have a considerable calming effect on my horses.
If you take that one step further, we understand that prolonged stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol and in turn lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. So stomping as a sign of agitation can result in bigger implications for our horses' overall health and wellbeing.
Back to stomping - have you considered your farrier in all this? If you can stop your horse stomping and tail swishing during their “pedicure” you can make your farrier’s heavy and dirty job just that bit easier. And if you can avoid damage to the hoof or loosening of shoes (or like Fozz, throwing a shoe while I was writing this article) it will be far easier for your farrier to maintain their hooves.
In an article by Rebecca Fraser ("Why Do Horses Stomp Their Feet") the number one reason for stomping is insect irritation. Of course, if the stomping is caused by something other than insect bites simply covering the legs won’t do much good and you should find the source of the irritation and treat it accordingly. You can read Rebecca's article here.
Like rugging, I believe that horse’s legs should only be covered if it is necessary for their wellbeing. But seems to me there are more and more times when this is necessary. Up until now I’ve avoided covering my horse’s legs unless the stomping is particularly bad. But having read these articles I’m more inclined to cover them even when flies are a minor irritation, if stomping becomes an issue. When you consider the potential risk to their hoof health, joints, tendons and overall wellbeing it makes sense to protect their legs to reduce or eliminate stomping.
🐴Together - making our horses’ lives better – regards, Yvette
Articles:
“Why Do Horses Stomp Their Feet?” – Rebecca Fraser – 6 March 2024
“What are Fly Boots for horses?” – Portia Eaton
https://www.ranvet.com.au/what-are-fly-boots-for-horses/
“Hoof Problems Caused by Fly Stomping” – Fran Jurga – 29 August 2023
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts and opinions and should not be considered expert or medical advice. I recommend that you seek professional advice in relation to your horse/s.