Why it's a delicate area in winter
Pasterns and fetlocks are the part of the leg closest to the ground: in winter they spend hours in paddock mud and on damp bedding. The skin keeps getting wet and drying out, and long hair holds on to dirt and moisture.
The routine for the wet months
- Remove the mud: brush it off once dry or rinse it with water, without rubbing hard.
- Dry the area thoroughly with a clean cloth: the skin shouldn't stay damp.
- Apply a layer of Derma Clay by hand on pasterns and fetlocks and leave it on as a pack.
- Then remove it with water alone.
What to check every day
When you pick out the hooves, run your hand over pasterns and fetlocks: how the skin is, how the hair is, whether the area is warmer than usual. Knowing it on normal days helps you notice straight away if something changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Derma Clay?
A white clay (kaolin) pack that forms a protective barrier on the skin. It comes in 500 g and 1 kg tubs.
Where else is it used?
On the most sensitive areas: the girth area and the muzzle too.
How do I remove it?
With water alone.
And the hooves in the wet months?
The frog needs attention: here is the winter hoof routine, with Hoof Empower and SOS Hoof.
For the full check: hooves, legs and coat in 5 minutes. On the horse map tap «Legs and tendons» and choose «Fetlocks and pasterns».
