Did you know that the socks of the horse keep the legs dry?

Autumn, winter, mud and rain... The perfect combination for dirty, wet horse legs. Often, we have the tendency to shave off all the hair of horses. Trim the legs neatly, tidy up the beard, make the ears look nice, and so on. A sleek horse, looking neat without much hair, standing like a real model. But is it really wise to shave everything off?

Hair has a purpose!

By now, it's (hopefully) common knowledge not to touch or shave off the whiskers of a horse. These whiskers are extremely important and serve a crucial function, preventing horses from bumping into things. But the hair in and around the ears also has a purpose: it prevents dirt and water from getting into the ears and protects them from external influences. Never cut/shave the ear shells, leave the hair on the inside intact!

The same goes for the hair on the legs of horses, they also serve a purpose. A KWPN horse might not have as much hair on its legs as a Tinker (Irish Cob), but the hair on the legs of a warmblood horse also has a function.

Leg hair keeps the legs dry!

Whether your horse has just a small tuft of hair behind the fetlock, the famous fetlock feather, or is blessed with lush socks. All of this hair has the same function: keeping the skin on the legs dry and clean. The hairs are positioned in a way that the water is drained through the fetlock and drips off the body. This keeps the legs dry and clean.

This is even more apparent in horses with large socks. Are the legs muddy/wet after a day of rain? Spread the hair on the socks and take a good look. You will see that the lower 1-2cm near the skin is dry and clean. The rain and mud don't penetrate all the way through the socks, keeping the skin dry.

Sock horses have their own leg protection

You could say that horses with socks have their own leg protection. The layer of socks partially protects against brushing, but it also prevents the skin from getting wet and dirty. It's like a raincoat protecting against mud. However, if the socks are completely soaked, problems can arise.

Check the socks regularly!

Socks are great and serve a purpose, but they can be a hindrance when problems develop underneath. Scratches, mites, pastern dermatitis, and other skin issues can occur in all types of horses, but unfortunately, we see them more often in horses with socks. Some of it is genetic, but it's also often discovered later (too late), leading to more serious issues. It is extremely important to regularly check the legs of horses with socks for wounds, chafing spots, or scratches. If a problem is identified, shave off the hair so that air can get to the area, making it much easier for wounds to heal. And if there are recurring problems such as mites or pastern dermatitis, it may even be advisable to shave off the socks entirely. This way, you can better inspect the skin and treat the conditions efficiently.

Does your horse have socks and you would like advice on how to handle them? Our own horses also have socks, so we have experience with them! Feel free to contact us for more information and/or advice.