Why is my horse stamping and holding up its heels in wet weather?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse is stamping and holding up its heels in wet weather, the most common reason is irritation around the lower legs and heels, often linked with greasy heel or general muddy, wet conditions. It can also happen if something is bothering the feet, skin or lower legs, so it’s worth checking the area carefully rather than assuming it’s just the weather.

In many horses, the behaviour is a sign that the skin or feet are uncomfortable in damp conditions. The good news is that there are a few practical things you can check straight away, and sensible management steps can often help reduce the problem.

Things To Check

1. Look at the heels, fetlocks and lower legs for redness, scabs, crusting, wetness or broken skin.

2. Check whether the stamping happens after turnout in mud, after washing, or only when the legs are damp.

3. Feel for heat, swelling or soreness around the lower leg and foot.

4. Look at the feet for smell, thrush, mud packed into the hoof or signs the horse is reluctant to put weight down.

5. Note whether the horse is rubbing, biting at the legs or seeming itchy as well as stamping.

6. Check if only one leg is affected or if it’s both sides, as that can help you judge whether it’s local irritation or a more general issue.

7. Consider whether rugs, boots or tack are rubbing the area after turnout or exercise.

8. Make a note of whether the problem is getting worse, staying the same, or improving with dry conditions.

Common Causes

The most common cause in wet weather is greasy heel, where damp, muddy conditions irritate the skin around the heels and lower legs. Horses with feathering or very muddy turnout can be more prone to it.

General skin irritation from prolonged wetness, mud or repeated washing can also make a horse stamp and lift its heels, especially if the skin is becoming sore or itchy.

Less commonly, the horse may be reacting to foot discomfort such as thrush, a bruise or another hoof problem. Sometimes the stamping is the horse’s way of showing that something below the knee or hock isn’t comfortable.

If there’s marked swelling, heat or obvious pain, there may be another issue going on, so it’s sensible not to assume it’s only greasy heel.

What To Do

Start by keeping the lower legs as clean and dry as you reasonably can. If they’re muddy, rinse or sponge them gently, then dry them well rather than leaving damp mud in place.

Keep an eye on the pattern of the behaviour. If it mainly happens after wet turnout, after exercise or after washing, that can help you work out what’s making the area uncomfortable.

Review the horse’s environment too. Deep mud, standing water and constantly damp bedding can all make lower-leg skin more irritated, so improving turnout and stable hygiene may help.

Avoid over-washing or scrubbing, because that can sometimes make sensitive skin more sore. Gentle, consistent routine care is usually more helpful than doing too much at once.

If the horse is also footsore, very sensitive to touch or not improving as the weather changes, get a vet’s opinion rather than waiting it out.

Products That May Help

If your horse is getting repeatedly wet and muddy, a good routine for cleaning and drying the lower legs can be useful as part of day-to-day management. This collection may help support that routine.

Hoof, Leg & Mud Care

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