This article is brought to you by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc.
Maintaining hoof health year round is imperative for the longevity, soundness, and health of your horse. His happiness starts from the ground up, (literally), so don’t get lax on your hoof health routine even when the temps drop and you’re not riding as much.
Winter Hoof Health Woes
Maintaining hoof health during the winter months is essential for keeping your horse sound, comfortable, and safe. But the fluctuations in moisture, temperature, and lack of work can cause you hoof problems during winter.
Cold weather, wet conditions, and frozen ground present unique challenges that can lead to issues such as thrush, abscesses, and cracks in the hoof wall. Your horse might move less in winter, which means reduced natural wear on his hooves. This can cause overgrowth if they’re not trimmed regularly, leading to imbalances that affect posture and joint health.
Not to mention, mud, snow, and ice can create slippery, uneven footing, increasing the risk of slips and injuries. By keeping hooves trimmed, clean, and dry, you help prevent many of these winter-specific issues and keep your horse comfortable.
1. Tips For Managing Moisture
Moisture management is another crucial aspect of winter hoof care. Prolonged exposure to wet, muddy conditions can soften hooves, making them more susceptible to infections like thrush and bacterial infections. On the other hand, alternating between wet and dry conditions can lead to brittle hooves that are prone to cracks and splits. Using a hoof conditioner when it’s dry and cold is a good option. Cleaning your horse’s feet out daily to remove buildup and wet, packed manure or mud is important to avoid thrush or bacterial infections. Be observant of your horse’s feet, and check him daily to monitor his hoof health.
When it comes to safe footing, decide in advance which barn and pasture areas you’ll plow and where snow piles will go. Chart the safest paths between stalls and turnout area. Consider using landscaping materials, such as pea rock or wood chips, to “pave” the paths to provide better traction in light to moderate snow conditions. Be wary of using sand as your horse can ingest it, causing sand colic.
2. Supplement For Hoof Health
Daily supplementation is another thing you can do to support healthy hoof growth and strengthen his feet. A supplement in the form of a pellet is an easy way to help your horse get the vitamins and amino acids he needs to support his feet. (Tip: If you plan on heading out for an overnight ride pre-make your bags of grain and include his supplements in them.)
A daily hoof support such as Calxequin® is a great solution as it has biotin in it to support the quality and growth of hooves in horses; methionine and lysine for protein production to support hoof integrity; and copper and zinc which supports hoof strength and durability. Additionally, Calxequin® includes vitamin E and selenium. These ingredients provide powerful antioxidant benefits and support hoof membrane stabilization.
[READ: A Journey to Joint Health For Your Trail Horse]
3. Think Ahead
Meet with your farrier to discuss any adjustment of the shoeing or trimming schedule over winter. Set farrier appointments in advance. Form a Plan B if a shoeing appointment is on a “snow day” when driving may be hazardous.
Prepare the area around your barn and pasture for winter. Remove anything that can be an under-snow hazard to a loose horse. Fence off low areas where water collects. Inspect fences, and remove wire fences that can trap a hoof.
4. Diet Is Key
A balanced diet containing all the important nutrients for healthy hoof horn is essential. Good pasture provides these nutrients. Of course during winter, green pastures might be in scarce supply. Ensure your horse is on a quality hay and forage-first diet. Supplement as needed to help him get his vitamins and minerals that are crucial to his overall health, and the health of his hooves.
5. Winter Shoeing Options
There are a few options for shoes (or no shoes) for your horse in the winter. First, ask yourself, “is your farrier a winter warrior?” Some new graduates or farriers from warmer climates may not be experienced with winter hoof needs, so be sure to ask a new farrier in your barn about his or her experience.
Then, talk with your farrier about your horse’s needs and what will work best for him in terms of winter shoeing. You might opt to pull shoes completely in the winter and let him go barefoot. You can choose to only shoe his front feet, or keep him shod all the way around. You can also explore options like hoof boots with studs for winter riding or even shoes that provide traction. Your horse’s shoeing needs in the winter will depend on his unique hoof health, your riding goals, turnout area, and climate. Work with your farrier to develop the best shoeing plan for your horse in the winter.
6. Snowball Management
When you ride your horse in snow, snowballs can accumulate in his feet. As they build, he can look as though he’s standing on top of grapefruits! Snowballing presents several problems: Your horse will be imbalanced and at risk for a fall; and traction devices are useless if his shoes don’t touch the ground.
Snow and ice building up in your horse’s hooves can cause him discomfort, pain, and he can become unbalanced, leading to the threat of slips and falls. Wirestock/adobe.stock.com
Even small amounts of snow can compress invisibly inside your horse’s shoes, becoming a solid, frozen brick. This compacted snow can cause severe sole pressure, as well as sole and frog bruises.
To prevent snow accumulation, you can fit your horse with snow pads, or be diligent about (carefully) chipping ice out of his hooves everyday.
