Winter weather presents challenges to horse hoof health such as mud, snow, and ice accumulating in hooves. Owners should pick horses' hooves frequently during winter to remove debris, even if not riding, and relocate horses to dry areas if feet become too soft or damaged. Specialized pads that pop snow out with each step and rimmed boots can help prevent ice and snow buildup that can damage hooves.

1. focus on farriery
PART 3
Winterizing Your Horse’s Feet
Cold, mud, snow, and ice present challenges to the health of your horse’s feet
By Tom InczewskI, cJF information on common winter hoof is- in these conditions. Mud gets packed
wITH cHRIsTy wesT sues and prevention. beneath the pad and with each step, the
P
reparing your horse for winter water is pushed out of the mud, leaving
means different things in different Location, Location, Location an accumulation of dirt between the pad
geographic areas. For some, winter Horse owners in much of the country ex- and the sole of the foot. These dirt balls, or
is time to remove a horse’s shoes and give perience snow and freezing temperatures anything else packed very tightly against
him a break, while for others winter is a throughout winter, while others might the sole, can cause bruising and compres-
prime show season. Either way, remember experience only a wet season. During a sion of the sole’s blood vessels, which will
that winter is not a time to neglect your wet season winter, horses’ feet are often- result in lameness. If those mud balls were
horse’s feet. continuously exposed to mud. Such pro- to remain in there for weeks or months,
There are a few reasons why your horse’s longed wet conditions can lead to very soft pedal osteitis (inflammation and demin-
feet might need less attention in winter feet that are susceptible to more serious eralization [softening] of the coffin bone)
than in summertime. First, you might not problems, including hoof wall separation, could result. For this reason, I recommend
be riding and wearing his feet down as thrush, and puncture wound abscesses. that pad-wearing horses live in a dry area
much, and second, most horses’ feet grow Seek prompt veterinary care should your most of the time.
more slowly in cold weather and, thus, horse experience any of these problems, A similar problem can develop in ar-
can handle an extra week or two between and immediately relocate your horse to a eas with severe winter weather. Snow can
trims as compared to summertime. clean, dry area to prevent further damage. build up on the bottoms of a horse’s feet
However, wintertime rains and snows The risks of excess moisture are exac- in the right conditions and slowly pack
bring their own set of challenges to winter erbated when horses wear full hoof pads into balls of ice. This can create the same
hoof care, from mud/ice balls in the feet
to thrush. Thus, it’s essential to keep an UPCOMING TOPICS
eye on your horse’s feet even if you’re not
riding, picking them out frequently and FEBRUARY Feeding Your Horse’s Feet
checking for problems. Read on for more APRIL Spring & Seasonal Founder: Lush Pasture Risks
Anne eBeRHARdT
Wintertime rains and snows add challenges to winter hoof care, from mud/ice balls in the feet to thrush. Pick your horse’s feet out frequently, even if
you’re not riding much, so you can check for problems.
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2. FOCUS ON FARRIERY PART 3
pressure problems experienced by horses sharp shoeing
living in mud with full pads, including a Some horse owners remove horses’
higher risk of lameness and pedal osteitis. shoes during the winter months if they
The traditional way to prevent snow don’t plan to ride. But those who con-
buildup is to apply grease to the bottom of tinue to ride their shod horses in frozen
the horse’s feet hourly during a ride. These conditions generally need to takes steps to
days, owners often spray cooking oil on improve traction and avoid slips that can
the horse’s soles for the same purpose. lead to both horse and rider injury.
As a farrier, however, I recommend us- Historically, such “sharp shoeing” in-
ing specialized pads (also called bubble or volved one-inch spikes in the shoe toes and
rim pads) that pop snow out of the hoof heels to pierce the frozen ground. These
every time the horse steps down. It’s a days, much more practical and less poten-
very effective and much cleaner method to tially dangerous approaches include bori-
meRRI melde
avoid snow and ice buildup. Properly fit- um (tungsten carbide) or similar products
ted boots can also help avoid snow build- bonded to the bottom of the shoe. These
up, but they can be very slippery in snow Ice balls can bruise a horse’s feet and reduce modified shoes provide most horses with
and ice unless they are fitted with studs. traction, but special pads can pop the snow out adequate traction to manage in the snow
If you’re in an area where subfreezing with each step. and ice. Another option is adding studs
temperatures are the norm for long pe- to the shoes, which can be removed when
riods of time, frostbite is a small risk for The good news is that the shelter you the need for extra traction melts away. Still
equine feet (more so for foals or ill/elderly provide to keep the rest of your horse’s another is studded hoof boots.
adults) despite a shunting mechanism body healthy in winter (such as a barn, Horses adapt remarkably well to extreme
that diverts most blood away from the run-in shed, or grove of trees) can give his climates, and when properly maintained,
extremities and toward the body’s core in feet a break from the snow and help stave they can stay healthy and serviceable even
very cold weather. off frostbite. in the harshest winter conditions. h
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