The hoof's challenges in spring and summer
As the warm season arrives, the ground alternates between morning moisture and afternoon dryness, putting the hoof's horny structure under real strain. Temperature swings speed up water loss from the hoof wall, making it more fragile and prone to cracking, flaking and white-line separation.
Unlike winter — where excess moisture is the main enemy — in the hot months the chief problem is dehydration. A dry hoof loses elasticity, becomes rigid and absorbs micro-impacts on hard ground less effectively. The result is a horse working on a compromised structure, with risks to the tissues underneath.
Hydration: when, how and with what
The first step is to distinguish between topical hydration and structural hydration. Topical hydration (oils, waxes, ointments) creates a protective barrier but does not penetrate deeply. Structural hydration requires minerals that interact with the proteins of the horny keratin.
Nocera Umbra clay, thanks to its composition of silica, alumina and trace minerals, works by osmosis: it balances the moisture gradient between the tissue and the external environment, releasing minerals and retaining cellular water. Applied to the hoof's coronet and the lower part of the cannon, it stimulates the production of more compact, better-hydrated keratin.
The care programme by type of ground
Not all surfaces stress the hoof in the same way. On fine sand and dry ground the wall wears less but dehydrates more quickly. On mixed stony ground, the challenge is impact resistance. On dewy morning grass, the risk is softening of the sole.
- Dry sandy ground: intensive hydration every 48h, focus on the coronet
- Gravel or grit paddocks: protect the sole, supplement with minerals
- Pastures with morning dew: dry before applying any product, monitor the white line
- Indoor arena on fine sand: standard maintenance routine 2–3 times a week
Shod hoof vs natural hoof in summer
The shoe isolates part of the wall from natural stimulation and can concentrate heat on specific areas. In summer, shod horses benefit from a clay pack applied from the coronet to halfway up the cannon right after work: the thermoregulating, mineralising action offsets the limitations the shoe imposes.
Barefoot horses, on the other hand, have to contend with more variable surfaces. Their wall is generally denser and more self-sufficient, but it still needs attention during prolonged dry spells. For more on barefoot management, see our dedicated guide to barefoot horses.
The monthly check-up routine
Regardless of shoeing, it is useful to carry out a structural check of the hoof every month: hoof angle, mediolateral balance, condition of the sole and the frog. Photograph the hooves in the same light and from the same angle every 30 days: seasonal changes will be immediately visible and you can step in before they become problems.