Winter Hoof Care Meets Paddock Care: Reducing Mud Fever and Thrush Risk in Canada

 Key Takeaways

• Wet + manure + poor drainage is the fast track to hoof funk (thrush) and skin issues (mud fever).

• The biggest wins come from managing high-traffic zones: gates, feeders, shelters, waterers, laneways.

• Pick hooves daily (yes, even in winter), and learn the early signs: smell, black discharge, tenderness, heel cracks.

• Mud fever prevention starts with clean, dry legs and minimizing chronic “wet socks.”

• Create a winter routine: manure control, footing top-ups, drainage checks, and a simple hoof/leg inspection loop.

• When in doubt: treat early and call your farrier/vet — winter infections can escalate fast under crusted mud and hair.

Introduction

If you manage horses in Canada, you already know winter isn’t one season, it’s a whole personality. One week it’s deep freeze, the next it’s a warm spell, and suddenly everything turns into a muddy sponge around the gate and hay feeder. What a rollercoaster!

Here’s the thing: thrush and mud fever thrive in the exact conditions winter creates:

• moisture that lingers

• mud packed into hooves and around pasterns

• manure mixed into high-traffic slop

• limited airflow under mud and packed snow

• horses standing in the same gross spots day after day

So if you’re trying to solve thrush or mud fever with only sprays and scrubs, you’re fighting with one hand tied behind your back. This blog covers the combined approach: hoof care + paddock care, with practical steps you can actually do (even when it’s -20°C and your hose is a frozen noodle). Let's get into it and tackle these common winter problems together!

Thrush vs. Mud Fever — what they are, and why winter sets them off

Thrush is primarily an infection of the frog and surrounding hoof structures. It loves:

• damp environments

• manure/urine contamination

• deep crevices (often from contracted heels or neglected trimming)

• low oxygen conditions (packed mud)

Common signs of thrush:

• strong foul odour (often the first giveaway)

• black, gunky discharge in frog grooves

• tenderness when cleaning

• deeper cracks or “chewed” looking frog

Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) affects the skin, typically around the pasterns and lower legs. It’s often linked with:

• constant wetness + bacteria/fungi

• irritated skin from mud/sand

• micro-cuts that let pathogens in

• heavy feathering that holds moisture

Signs of mud fever:

• redness, swelling, heat in the pastern area

• scabs/crusts, sometimes painful to touch

• hair loss, oozing, cracks

• lameness in more severe cases

Why winter is the perfect storm: freeze–thaw cycles create persistent wet zones, then refreezing creates micro-trauma (skin cracks, hoof chips), which makes infections more likely. 

The Winter Risk Zones

Most winter hoof/skin flare-ups trace back to a few predictable locations. Do a quick “walk-through audit” of your turnout and ask: Where do horses stand the most? Where does water sit? Where does manure build up? Those are the areas you want to be looking at!

Let's talk high-risk areas:

• gateways (constant traffic, churned mud)

• round bale feeders / hay stations

• water troughs (splash + overflow)

• run-in sheds / shelters (wet bedding, packed footing)

• laneways / paths between paddocks

• low spots where meltwater pools

Quick spotting checklist:

• Are there deep hoof prints that stay wet?

• Does water sheet across the surface instead of soaking away?

• Is there manure mixed into the mud (the “brown soup” zone)?

• Do horses stand in one place because footing elsewhere is uncomfortable?

If you can identify the top 2–3 “gross zones,” you can usually cut infection risk dramatically by improving those areas first. So now you know where to begin, this is a huge step in ensuring risk factors are lower!

Moves to Prevent Problems

This is where you really get the biggest return for your time and money! You don’t need to rebuild your whole property. Focus on traffic management + drainage + a dry standing option. So what should you do and where should you start?

1) Stabilize high-traffic areas

Your goal is a surface that:

• drains

• doesn’t turn to deep mud

• is safe under snow/ice

Practical options (depending on budget):

• Mud-control grids (stabilization panels) in gate and feeder zones

• Geotextile + gravel layering (classic, effective)

• Crushed gravel/top-up footing in sacrificial areas

• Move feeders regularly (even a few metres helps)

2) Create a “sacrificial paddock” (if you can)

Instead of destroying every paddock, set up one winter turnout area designed to take the beating, then protect the rest.

3) Improve drainage without major earthworks

Small changes can matter:

• fill low spots before freeze-up (or as early as conditions allow)

• redirect downspouts away from traffic areas

• keep ditches and swales clear

• prevent trough overflow from creating a skating rink + mud pit

4) Manure management (yes, in winter)

Manure breaks down footing, holds moisture, and increases bacteria load.

• pick high-traffic areas daily or every other day

• prioritize gateways, shelters, feeder zones

• if full picking isn’t realistic: do a “hot zone scoop” routine

Using the Paddock Blade will be a game changer for your manure management, even during the harsh winter months!

Hoof Care Routine in Winter

You don’t need a 12-step spa routine, even though you may want one. You need consistency, this is what is really going to pay off for your equine friends.

Daily (or as close as possible)

• Pick out hooves (especially frog grooves)

• Do a quick sniff check (thrush smell is real and unmistakable)

• Look for:

  • black discharge

  • deep cracks

  • tenderness

  • packed snowballs that change gait

2–3 times per week

• Dry and inspect heels and frogs more thoroughly

• Apply your farrier/vet-approved thrush management product if needed
  (In deep winter, many owners prefer products that don’t require washing.)

Keep farrier cycles steady

Long toes + under-run heels can trap debris and reduce frog health.

• stick to regular trims/shoeing intervals

• talk to your farrier about heel support and frog function in wet seasons

Snowball and ice management

• snow “balls” can stretch structures and strain tendons

• if needed: discuss pads, anti-snowball products, or turnout timing adjustments with your farrier

Mud Fever Prevention

Mud fever is tricky because the instinct is to scrub hard and peel scabs off. Sometimes that makes it worse.

Practical prevention:

• Limit constant wet legs: provide dry standing (gravel pad, shelter with dry bedding, stabilized loafing area)

• Check pasterns regularly: especially after thaw days

• Dry legs when possible: towel off when bringing in, or let mud dry then gently brush off

The “don’t over-scrub” rule:

• aggressive washing can strip skin oils and create micro-damage

• if you need to clean, use warm water sparingly, dry thoroughly, and follow your vet’s guidance

Feathering considerations:

• feather can hold moisture and hide early lesions

• some owners carefully trim feathers in winter for airflow (not always necessary, but helpful in chronic cases)

Weekly checklist

If you manage multiple horses or a facility, this is your “systems” section - simple and repeatable.

Weekly paddock checklist

• Walk gates/feeders/waterers and note:

  • pooling water

  • churned mud depth

  • manure build-up

  • icy patches

• Top up footing in hot zones if needed

• Rotate or move hay stations if possible

• Check shelter bedding dryness and airflow

Weekly horse checklist

• Record any:

  • thrush odour/discharge

  • frog sensitivity

  • pastern redness/scabs

  • changes in gait in deep footing

• If more than one horse has symptoms, treat it like a management issue, not “bad luck”

This approach is also great for AI summarisation and SEO because it’s structured and skimmable.

When to escalate

DIY prevention is great, but these are the “don’t wait” situations:

Call your farrier/vet if you see:

• lameness or marked tenderness

• deep frog cracks, bleeding, or swelling in the heel bulbs

• foul smell + worsening tissue damage despite basic care

• mud fever with significant swelling, heat, oozing, or spreading

• any sign of cellulitis (rapid swelling, pain, fever — urgent)

Winter infections can hide under mud, long hair, or packed snow. Early intervention saves money and suffering.

You don’t need a showroom paddock in February. You need to reduce the hours horses spend standing in wet, manure-heavy footing — especially in the places they naturally congregate. Pair that with consistent hoof picking and quick leg checks, and you’ll prevent most winter thrush and mud fever before they become a whole saga.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Can thrush happen in winter even if the ground is frozen?

Yes. Thrush doesn’t require “mud” — it needs moisture + bacteria. Packed snow, wet bedding, manure contamination, and freeze–thaw slush are enough.

2) Should I wash my horse’s legs to prevent mud fever?

Not automatically. Over-washing can irritate skin. If legs are caked, sometimes it’s better to let mud dry and brush off, then keep legs as dry as possible. For active lesions, follow your vet’s plan.

3) What’s the single best paddock improvement to prevent hoof and skin issues?

Stabilize high-traffic areas (gate + feeder + water). Even one well-built dry standing zone can dramatically reduce exposure time to wet, dirty footing.

4) Do hoof oils or conditioners help in winter?

They can help with superficial dryness, but they won’t prevent thrush if the environment stays wet and contaminated. Focus on clean hooves, good trimming, and dry footing first.

5) How do I manage this if I can’t re-grade my paddocks or add big drainage?

Go smaller: create a sacrificial winter area, add gravel pads at key zones, move hay stations, pick manure from hot spots, and provide a dry shelter base. Small targeted changes beat big plans that never happen.

TL;DR

Canadian winter is basically a never-ending cycle of snow → slush → mud → refreeze. That wet, dirty, low-oxygen environment is perfect for thrush and can trigger or worsen mud fever (pastern dermatitis). The fix isn’t just “better hoof care” or “better paddock care” — it’s both, working together: keep high-traffic areas dry, reduce standing water and manure build-up, support hooves with consistent trimming and daily checks, and act early when you see heat, smell, scabs, or soreness.