However, if that same horse is roaming a pasture in the South where frequent rains keep the ground soft and spongy, the natural wearing factor won't apply. A normal hoof will grow at the rate of approximately three-eighths of an inch per month. While that might be an average, there is a vast difference among horses. The point is that no matter what the geographical area, horses need ongoing hoof care 12 months a year. In the more arid areas, a key problem that can have a profound effect on the length of the spring tune-up period is hoof dryness.
Hoof moisture has a direct bearing on hoof health.
A hoof with too little moisture becomes dry and brittle and is prone to cracking and breaking. There is constant evaporation of moisture from the hoof, and much of this is replaced by the blood and lymph supply within the sensitive inner structure of the hoof. Augmenting this supply are environmental sources, such as damp grass from an early morning dew, muddy areas, or even river or pond water in a horse's pasture. It is far easier to regulate environmental moisture in the summer than in the winter. Areas that are arid during the summer usually become even more so during the winter months.