Top 5 Hoof Care Tips for Spring 2025

Spring 2025 is right around the corner—well, it’s nearing the end of the second week of March as I write this, so it’s basically here if you’re in the horse world. The mud’s thawing, the grass is poking up, and your horse’s hooves are about to take a beating from wet ground and new growth. I’ve been messing around with horses long enough to know that spring hoof care can make or break your season. Here are my top five tips to keep those hooves solid, whether trail riding or just keeping your barn buddy happy.

1. Pick Hooves Like It’s Your Job

Spring means mud, and mud means junk packed into hooves—think rocks, manure, and soggy footing that can soften things up too much. Get in there daily with a hoof pick, hitting the frog and those grooves beside it. A quick scrape keeps thrush at bay and lets you spot cracks or soreness early. I’ve seen horses go lame from a stone I could’ve caught if I’d checked sooner—don’t skip this.

2. Trim on Schedule (Or Call Your Farrier Already)

Winter might’ve let you slack on trims, but spring growth kicks hooves into overdrive. Overgrown hooves crack, flare, or throw off balance, especially with wet-dry cycles. I recommend sticking to a 6-week or less trim schedule—I trim my own every 3 – 4 weeks, and I don’t budge on that. A tight trim keeps hooves tough for spring’s sloppy trails.

3. Slap on Some DIY Hoof Conditioner

Wet spring ground can turn hooves brittle or soft, depending on your luck. I swear by my homemade hoof conditioner—coconut oil and a splash of tea tree oil. I include some other beneficial ingredients in my previous post as well. 

4. Watch the Grass (Yes, Really)

New spring grass is a sugar bomb—great for your horse’s mood but not always for their hooves. Too much lush stuff can spark laminitis, especially in easy keepers or ponies. I learned this the hard way when my old gelding got tender after a gorging session. Ease them onto pasture—start with 15 minutes a day and build up over weeks. The Horse has a solid rundown on managing spring grazing.

5. Dry Out Wet Feet When You Can

Spring mud is hoof enemy number one. Constant wet feet soften the sole and invite abscesses or white line issues. If your paddock’s a swamp (mine usually is), provide your horse with a dry spot—gravel, a stall, or even a mat—for a few hours daily. I use bedding pellets to keep stalls supper dry and bring in sand to help the soil drain faster. Dry hooves stay harder and fight off spring’s gunk better. Just don’t let all that mud and other stuff harden up in the hooves. Pick feet before drying them out in a clean stall. 

Spring Hooves, Happy Horse

These five tricks—picking, trimming, conditioning, grazing smart, and drying out—keep my horses’ hooves ready for whatever spring 2025 throws at us. Muddy trails, wet barns, or that first green grass—well, green spring grass is a whole topic all on its own! Got your own hoof care hack for spring? Drop it in the comments—I’m always up for stealing a good idea.