Bruising from frozen ground

[Skippity]

Our barefoot horses, who are turned out 24/7, are footsore now due to the frozen ground. Even the warmblood mare with “great feet” is showing signs of bruising for the first time; it’s not just the flat footed TBs. They can walk around pretty normally, but are short-strided at the trot. These are retired horses.

What do you do? Any treatment suggestions? Do you shoe your guys for this or just wait it out? Have you tried any of the Vettec products such as Sole-Guard? We do use Dura-Sole, Tuf-Foot, and Venice Turpentine, but don’t see much effect from them for this.

Thanks for your advice!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

My horses (also out 24/7) get a bit gimpy after we have several days of freeze after a lot of rain and muddy conditions (when the frozen mud has peaks and valleys and hoof prints in it - aka its very uneven). Then after a few days of warming, are fine. I have never treated them with anything. I do try to rake the spots around water troughs and gates, but can’t keep them from stepping there before it freezes solid. We added a bunch of gravel this year, and that has helped in those areas somewhat.

Last Thursday 2 of the three were tender footed (except the Welsh pony, who seems to have hooves of steel). Yesterday it was 65° (today it was 70°) and everyone was back to normal. But will be following to hear what others do.

[Scribbler]

Are they short strided because of pain inside the hoof capsule or just because they don’t like the concussion of trotting on frozen ground?

None of the hoof hardener products are a quick fix. The only thing you could really do would be hoof boots maybe with a pad in them.

I would expect horses to be shorter strided on frozen ground especially after a wet fall. I don’t think it will hurt them to just move carefully until the ground thaws or soft snow falls.

[S1969]

@Scribbler

Are they short strided because of pain inside the hoof capsule or just because they don’t like the concussion of trotting on frozen ground?

None of the hoof hardener products are a quick fix. The only thing you could really do would be hoof boots maybe with a pad in them.

I would expect horses to be shorter strided on frozen ground especially after a wet fall. I don’t think it will hurt them to just move carefully until the ground thaws or soft snow falls.

Agreed. If this is a temporary and unusual weather pattern, I would probably not do much other than to make sure there are some places they can stand comfortably (stall,run-in, etc.).

If this will be a longer term/common occurance, I would probably shoe them with pads. I have one horse in shoes and this is the primary reason. Uneven, frozen ground is the worst terrain for her to navigate and it hurts her.

[Skippity]

Thank you all! This is very helpful and, honestly, reassuring.

Scribbler, that’s a very good question about the reluctance to trot out possibly occurring because of frozen ground rather than hoof pain. I can’t answer that but will keep it in mind, along with the possibility of using padded hoof boots when needed.

And S1969, we will keep the footing in the sheds comfortable for them and will consider shoeing if the bruising persists. As for unusual weather, yes, we had sub-zero temperatures last week with temps in the sixties this week. It’s a challenge!

[candyappy]

Not much you can do with frozen solid ground made worse by being rutted from walking in it when it was mud. I don’t do anything for mine as they gingerly walk on the rutted spaces.

I do feed them in a flat, dry ,clean place at the barn and have water right there. That way I minimize the amount of bad ground they must walk on.

[Herefordgirl]

I use hoof boots for my horse if the ground is frozen. I use Cavallo Trek Hoof Boots and so far no rubs and he is much more comfortable.

[Palm_Beach]

@Skippity

Thank you all! This is very helpful and, honestly, reassuring.

Scribbler, that’s a very good question about the reluctance to trot out possibly occurring because of frozen ground rather than hoof pain. I can’t answer that but will keep it in mind, along with the possibility of using padded hoof boots when needed.

And S1969, we will keep the footing in the sheds comfortable for them and will consider shoeing if the bruising persists. As for unusual weather, yes, we had sub-zero temperatures last week with temps in the sixties this week. It’s a challenge!

This is normal. If it’s muddy, the feet will get a bit soft, then when the ground freezes they get a little sore. Horses will protect themselves and just limit activities until their feet toughen up. No reason to put shoes on a retired horse that otherwise has good feet. Like you said, even the horses with good feet are not striding out on frozen ground. It’s normal.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

I would not put shoes on in such a situation. Added $$ for a very temporary problem.

Every horse I’ve ever managed acts footsore on frozen, rutted ground. Being in Canada, we have a lot of that from November to April. Every single one that doesn’t have a preexisting lameness (arthritis, etc) trots out sound on decent footing in an indoor or even when we get enough snow to cover the ground. They don’t play much outside when its like this, so you run into the trouble of very fresh horses even with lots of turnout.

The mincing little steps are how they protect themselves. You probably aren’t power walking or running on that footing either, even with good footwear on.

Just make sure they have a comfortable place to eat and rest, they’ll be fine. I bed my run ins heavier and try to keep the area around the hay feeder more level. Make sure each of them is getting around well enough that they can and will eat and drink, they will be fine.

My own mare is of the theatrical sort, and sometimes will refuse to leave the run in for anything, so when its that bad I will add a water bucket to the run in and feed her in there.

[Scribbler]

Yesterday we had our first deep freeze of the year. I handwalked maresy to the turnout arena. She takes footing seriously, and is excellent at obstacles and gnarly mountain trails.

She was wuffling the air and looking at the ground, and even trailed her nose on the ground for several steps. She adapted her stride to here’s the slight hill, here’s frozen like concrete, here’s frozen plus surface ice, and then when we got to where the sun had thawed the sand path, she relaxed into a longer stride. The turnout hogfuel was a sun trap and totally thawed but she didn’t blast around like I expected. She seemed to be conserving energy, wisely.

Anyhow, she was going short by choice on the harder sections. Nothing wrong with her feet.

We did bruise a heel on broken ice one winter. It was sore for most of a month and didn’t really heel up until she got trimmed and some broken bar removed from her heel area. Then she was fine in a week.

[Discoteka]

I have a very flat footed TB whom I put boots on when he goes out when the ground is frozen and rutted like that. The boots really help him be more comfortable.

[S1969]

I assumed by “bruising” that there was visible bruising, not just mincing steps to protect feet. I would expect all horses to walk more carefully and limit activities on hard, frozen ground. Actual bruising might necessitate something more to protect them unless its really an unusual situation.

Boots can be a good option but not all are great if there are icy conditions. I switched to shoes with borium after a truly heartstopping incident trying to get my mare off some ice in boots once. Thankfully she is sensible and did not flip out or it would have had tragic consequences.