We are getting our once every 10 years snow. I forgot that snows balls up on shod hooves. Any suggestions to prevent this when I take the horses out for a walk? They have been stalled up for 2 days due to rain/cold and I try to hand walk them every few hours.
We are in the deep south and do not get snow often.
I hope you get some useful suggestions but I have never had anything work well other than snow pads which obviously isn’t an option for you right now. (And with any luck you will not need the rest of the winter!)
Possibly some multipurpose grease just inside the rim of the shoe? Other thoughts are Vaseline or PAM, but I don’t think you will get any long lasting results.
If you do get something that works, please post it.
For a temporary fix, you can cover the shoe in duct tape similar to what you’d do for an abscess–it keeps the shoe out of contact with the snow and lessens the “stick.” Not the best for long-term, but can get you through in a pinch
I agree with Brigitte. I’ve tired all of that stuff. Doesn’t work for very long. Other than snow pads. Duck tape and vet wrap as Fredrich suggested will stay on for a while esp if the snow is deep enough so they don’t wear through it on hard dirt/ground.
We have to fill up our barn, 22 stalls during prolonged storms at times. They’ve had to stay in for several days. Would have to hire a bunch of temporary help to walk all of them every few hours, lol. Horses can stay in for days and be just fine. Unless they have “issues” that require hand walking. Horses on re-hab may have to be stalled for months.
To each their own on this.
I like the duct tape idea. One of mine tends to build up huge snowballs, even barefoot, when the snow is really wet. That might get her through a day or two a little more comfortably. Although, maybe it would be more for me, the giant snowballs really don’t seem to bother her.
The snow will typically only ball up of it’s wet, dry snow doesn’t tend to stick to anything.
Duct tape can definitely work for daily turnout. I wouldn’t be keeping horses inside because of the snow unless they’re running around like idiots with snowballs on their feet. Unless the balls are protruding 2-3 inches they should be able to walk around and eat hay without twisting an ankle. Once they come inside the snowballs will just melt and fall off…
We’re in Canada and the only time ours might stay in is during a freezing rain storm. Once it stops raining we throw a salt/dirt mix or used shavings everywhere and they go right back outside.
It is wet snow. Our horses don’t grown really heavy winter coats so they need to be in until it stops snowing. Wet and cold I never a good combination. I am hoping to get them out this afternoon. I will try the duct tape for out next walk. Thanks.
If that does not work for you you can a layer of vaseline or Bag Balm. Personally I never used anything and always had a hoof pick in hand to pull the snow ball before leading on hard surface.
Western Washington we also dont get a lot of ice / snow but rain and cold yes. Horse lived out 24/7 except in the most hard ( sub 20 ) or high force wind
As everyone else has said you can use Vaseline, Bag balm or WD-40 on the soles to keep the snow from sticking. They’ll get some snow, but if you’re only putting them out for short periods of time it shouldn’t build up too much. And even if they’re not used to snow/cold, they’ll be OK for an hour or two outside & will probably think it’s fun.
Duct tape worked great. Thanks for the suggestions. Tomorrow’s high it in the 50’s so Louisiana’s winter snow storm will be done and officially in the record books.
Crisco or cooking spray
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