Why is my horse stamping its feet in summer?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your horse is stamping its feet in summer, the most common reason is fly irritation, especially from biting flies around the legs, belly or ears. It can also be a sign of general skin irritation, a reaction to midges, or something underfoot that’s bothering them, so it’s worth checking the whole picture rather than assuming it’s only flies.

Things To Check

1. Notice when the stamping happens most. If it starts after turnout, near water, at dusk, or when flies are around, that points towards fly irritation.

2. Look at the lower legs, belly, mane, tail and ears for redness, raised bumps, scabs or areas where your horse has been rubbing.

3. Check the hooves and ground surface for stones, thorns, hard lumps or anything that could be uncomfortable.

4. Watch whether your horse is also tail swishing, skin twitching, head shaking or trying to bite at their legs, as these can go along with insect irritation.

5. Feel for heat, swelling or tenderness in the feet and legs, and compare all four legs so you can spot any difference.

6. Check rugs, boots and tack areas for rubbing, trapped dirt or sweat that may be adding to the irritation.

7. Think about whether the behaviour is new, getting worse, or only happening in one place or one field, which can help narrow down an environmental trigger.

Common Causes

Fly bites and midges are the most common cause in summer, particularly if your horse is standing in a field with lots of insects or is sensitive to bites.

Skin irritation from sweat, mud, grooming products or rubbing from rugs and boots can also make a horse stamp or fuss with its feet.

Less commonly, discomfort from the hooves or legs, or something sharp or irritating underfoot, may be behind the behaviour.

If the stamping is part of a bigger change in behaviour, such as obvious pain, marked lameness or significant swelling, it needs a closer look.

What To Do

Start by observing when and where the stamping happens so you can spot patterns. A simple diary over a few days can be surprisingly helpful.

Check the skin and feet carefully after turnout and after exercise, especially on warm days when flies are active.

Keep the coat and skin as clean and comfortable as possible, and make sure rugs, boots and tack are fitted well and not rubbing.

Try to reduce exposure to biting insects where you can by changing turnout times, avoiding peak fly times if possible, and keeping the horse’s environment as tidy as practical.

If you can’t find an obvious cause, or the stamping is becoming more frequent, it’s sensible to ask your vet for advice.

Products That May Help

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care may be useful as part of your day-to-day fly-season routine, especially if your horse seems bothered by insects, stamping or general summer irritation.

Horse Fly Sprays & Summer Care

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