hoof and leg health

Question
Our horses tend to spend most or their time standing on a concrete pad instead of turn out on soft ground.  How bad is this for them?

Answer
Hello Gary...Thank you for your question.

I had to read your question twice, to figure what you meant. :) I have clients that have cement in there stalls
w/shavings and the horses in time become very stiff & sore after long periods staying up in them. Also tendon swelling
is common. Not Good...
It sounds like your horses are just spending more time ON A
CONCRETE PAD than out grazing. Am I right??

Some horse will congregate together on or near driveways to barns and on pads...it's NOT uncommon. The PROBLEM is that during "fly-season" they will stomp there hooves, hundreds
and hundreds of times during a day (even though they are covered in fly-spray) and do untold damage to there hooves.
The shear strength and force will eventually loosen shoes,
slight cracks in the walls and in areas where there is high humidity and rain fall...it can be a "nightmare" for farriers and owners to keep up good hoof care !!
You can encourage them to move on if you have good grazing for them. If you see no swelling in the lower limbs//below the hocks and carpals/knees...them you will probably be O.K.
Again...a fly problem would be my main concern, so as to not harm or destroy good hooves.

Hope I have answered your question.
If I can be of any other help, please let me know !
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.