riding in snow?

[TrainerSam]

Try Snow Poppers

[QUOTE=Bobuddy;8994571]
So, while we have not had snow here yet, one of my dreams is to trail ride in the snow. I have seen so many videos of people doing this in the farther nothern states, so maybe this winter we will get some snow here.

My horse is barefoot and I have easyboot gloves - can I ride him barefoot in the snow - or does he need the trail boots -or something else?

What do people do for riding in snow?[/QUOTE]

You can get snow poppers to ride in the snow they work pretty good and are fairly inexpensive!

[SharonA]

My horse slipped once on ice hidden under the snow, in a place where there should not have been any ice. She worked so hard to protect me… Now neither of us are comfortable going out in snow; too bad, because it can be wonderful. When I can be 100% guaranteed that there will be no ice under the snow, we will try it again.

[walkers]

Ice must be a east coast issue. I rode for years in Mts of Colorado without a thought of ice. We were just talking about this as here today in NC its icy andsnow is packing up on horses feet(shod) that was never a issue in Colorado. I well remember falling into 4 foot drifts and climbing off my horses back so he could get out, but ice issue, no never …

[Larbear]

[QUOTE=Bobuddy;8997308]
All good points from everyone! We might get 3-4 inches this weekend so I might try to ride around the farm - however temps will be around zero - so we will see if I really ride this time! Here in Ky - we get lots of ice and wet snow - so I will have to really choose the right snow to ride in, the possibility of ice underneath will be an issue.[/QUOTE]

You can try using hoof boots and put in some studs. Easycare and Cavallo both sell ice studs that you can easily screw into the hoof boots. My horse doesn’t have shoes but if I have any concerns about ice I throw on his studded hoof boots and we’re good to go

[gypsymare]

In the northeast we routinely hunt in the snow. I very rarely see any kind of snowball pads but everyone has ice/road studs.

Once out of a walk those snowballs do a good job of dislodging themselves though the flying snow clods are a hazard themselves… following distance gets a bit more respect.

[GallopingGrape]

Go for it! You’ll have a blast… know the cautions and ride on!

[gingerbread]

I would add that if you have to ride on the road to get to a trailhead, the shoulder along the roadside is usually no longer there–is plowed up snowbank–so be extra careful about car traffic.

[Bogie]

My horses love to go out in the snow! I wouldn’t use hoof boots – barefoot provides plenty of traction. I stick to “known” trails. Ice is an issue under the snow and when the snow gets very crusty and heavy it’s less fun. We had about 10 inches of snow on Sunday and Tuesday it was still fluffy and inviting, plus temperatures were in the low 30s and there was bright sun. Had two great rides! It is hard work for the horses so it’s important not to overdo it.

[Garnet_Z]

We had a thaw/re-freeze event up here which can create some ice patches under snow. I avoid riding where it’s really icy, but I got some studs for my horses’ trail boots so I can worry less about him slipping. I left him barefoot when the snow was fresh and ice patches weren’t a concern. We go for leisurely walking rides in the snow as long as it isn’t extremely cold.

[gothedistance]

@Bobuddy

…My horse is barefoot and I have easyboot gloves - can I ride him barefoot in the snow - or does he need the trail boots -or something else?What do people do for riding in snow?

You can do either. Personally, for only powder dry snow, I’d go barefoot. For any other snow - wet, soggy, thick or clumpable - I’d put on the Gloves. Snow compacts fast in a hoof cavity, and can be dangerous to both you and the horse if it builds to the point of lifting the hoof off the ground onto a ball of packed snow. The Gloves will prevent the snow balling from happening.

When we have nice “fast” snow we bring out the sleigh and one of the ponies. The ponies are ALWAYS put in boots - it just is far safer for them, and prevents hoof-formed snow balls from being thrown at the sleigh’s front dash curl during a trot.

[Ceylon_Star]

I did a TON of riding in the snow a few weeks ago, both in the ring and out on the roads/trails, because I’ve got the only barefoot equine at the barn.

Fluffy snow was no problem for my morgan/haflinger, but slush on pavement was sketchy. The slush wasn’t so bad on gravel or in our hogfuel ring or sand roundpen though.

Our vehicles got stranded on the farm, and we (BO, loft tenant, and myself) ran out of some essentials (like toilet paper), so I tossed on a backpack, pulled out my saddle bags, and rode down the road to the store, tied ponybutt to the cart return within view of the till area, ran in and grabbed stuff, paid, and rode home. We made a lot of people’s day, that’s for sure!

In the past, I trail rode a horse who wore easyboot epics, in the snow, and found he slipped a decent amount. The rubber got cold and the snow stuck and packed, similarly to how snow packs into shod hooves. Not fun! I’m not sure if your easyboots have a better tread or not. I haven’t seen any first hand.

[MontysGal]

@Ceylon Star

Our vehicles got stranded on the farm, and we (BO, loft tenant, and myself) ran out of some essentials (like toilet paper), so I tossed on a backpack, pulled out my saddle bags, and rode down the road to the store, tied ponybutt to the cart return within view of the till area, ran in and grabbed stuff, paid, and rode home. We made a lot of people’s day, that’s for sure!

That is amazing and I’m jealous. My lifelong dream is to ride through a Tim Horton’s (yes, I am that cool).

[Larbear]

@Ceylon Star

In the past, I trail rode a horse who wore easyboot epics, in the snow, and found he slipped a decent amount. The rubber got cold and the snow stuck and packed, similarly to how snow packs into shod hooves. Not fun! I’m not sure if your easyboots have a better tread or not. I haven’t seen any first hand.

Yeh, I wouldn’t use the hoof boots unless they have studs in them. I have Easyboot Gloves and if it’s snowy and icy I put studs in. If the snow is fluffy, the quick studs would probably work ok but for deeper stuff and/or wet snow the Easyboot ice studs would be better.

[Ceylon_Star]

@MontysGal

That is amazing and I’m jealous. My lifelong dream is to ride through a Tim Horton’s (yes, I am that cool).

I’ve done a Tim’s drive through and a Starbucks drive through on an old lease horse. I also visited my high school with her too. haha. Ponybutt and I are on the other side of a busy highway from the nearest drive through anything, unfortunately. But we rode down to get toilet paper AGAIN last monday because it snowed again. Haha

[MandySands]

Crisco in the hooves and go bareback. Fun!