On the Road with the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Team
Howdy and hello from sunny Arizona. I hate to mention this at the beginning of the January article but a timely topic follows.
We are well into winter and most of you are exercising horses inside barns or out in snow covered fields. It is at this time of year that the on-going debate surmounts and people start asking the question—should my horse go barefoot through the winter months or do I keep him shod?
When answering this question we must consider the natural conformation of your horse’s hooves, the level and type of his exercise during the winter months, the footing in his exercise and turn-out areas, the typical weather patterns in your area, and the expertise of your farrier.
During the winter, hoof growth rate can slow to almost half its spring rate, which means the hoof cannot stand a great deal of excessive wear. If you are actively riding during these winter months, horses should be shod. Shoeing offers protection for the hoof and helps to maintain proper balance. In addition, winter shoeing can serve two other purposes: providing additional traction and preventing snow-balling.
When shod, horses’ feet should be inspected frequently to be sure that shoes are not thrown, pulled off or sprung in the constantly changing ground that may be wet and sloppy one day and rock hard, slick and treacherous the next. Secondly, when there is snow cover on the ground, horses wearing shoes are much more prone to accumulating “snowballs” in the soles of their feet. The warmth from the sole of the horse’s foot partially melts some snow which re-freezes and then the inside rims of horse shoes hold this material tightly in place. Horses with such accumulated ice in their feet are susceptible to sole bruising, abscesses, foot discomfort, strained tendons and ligaments, compromised balance, injuries from falls, etc.
There are a variety of increased traction options available depending on the techniques used by your farrier. Rim shoes provide more traction than plain shoes. Aluminum shoes have a slightly better grab on frozen ground because the metal is softer. Rubber and plastic shoes tend to provide less traction than either the bare hoof or steel shoes and are hard and slippery in cold temperatures, and I do not recommend using these is any area of Montana with our winter weather.
Steel keg shoes with permanent calks forged at the toe and/or heels sink into semi-frozen ground or “soft” ice and give good traction. However, on hard ice such shoes are dangerously slippery. Removable studs or Ice Nails allow for adaptation to the constantly changing winter footing conditions. Ice nail height can be an added danger however, for both horses and humans in the event of a kick or a misstep if too long. And although they do provide good traction in snow or soft ice, when the horse is moving on uneven frozen ground, commercial ice nails can provide too much stick and torque which may lead to wrenched joints and other leg problems.
When snowballing occurs, cleaning the snow and ice out of the sole and applying various substances such as grease to the sole of the barefoot or shod horse or spraying it with a non-stick cooking coating may prevent snow build-up during certain temperatures, but only temporarily. Full pads with a convex bubble or “popper” at the sole seem to be only marginally better than full flat pads at popping out accumulated snow. Remember though that traction is decreased with full pads.
Tube-type rim pads or “snow rim pads,” which fit between the shoe and the hoof wall leaving the sole open are the best anti-snowballing option. The sole retains its cupped traction feature but less snow and ice accumulation. As the horse’s weight descends on the hoof the pads flex and dislodge the snow that accumulates at the junction of the shoe and sole. Tube pads with open shoes work well in most weather conditions. Bar shoes (egg bar shoes, full support shoes, etc.) will trap snow and not allow the tube pads to do their job as effectively.
The barefoot horse with a naturally balanced hoof, dense hoof horn, and a well-cupped sole is often able to grip many winter footings without hoof damage. And a naturally concave sole sheds snow, mud, and slush well. However, a hoof with a long toe and low heel, brittle or flaky hoof wall, and a flat sole has poor traction and the sole is vulnerable to bruising from frozen ground.
It is generally a good idea to remove the shoes from horses that are turned out in paddocks or pastures during the winter while maintaining normal hoof wall length and angle through regular trimming. Going barefoot allows natural physiological movement. This results in good circulation, which means good nutrition for the hoof, which produces strong, healthy hoof walls
Certain hoof conformation issues might require that your horse have the support or protection of shoes year-round. If your horse is flat-footed and/or prone to sole bruising, you might need to keep his footwear on. Hard, frozen ground increases concussion, and farriers and veterinarians often notice an increase in abscesses during winter and spring for this reason. Also if your horse is undergoing corrective shoeing you should consult with your veterinarian before making changes to the shoeing program for the winter.
Don’t Forget the Basics: Proper winter hoof care also requires some tweaks to your horse’s diet. Winter, of course, means no fresh pasture. Hay might be deficient in protein and some minerals, particularly as winter progresses and the forage have been stored for an extended period. This means your horse might be missing some key nutrients that affect hoof health.
Talk to your veterinarian about your horse’s current diet and whether adding supplements, such as those below, might benefit your horse’s hoof health:
- Biotin, a B-complex vitamin that supports hoof growth;
- Methionine and lysine, essential amino acids;
- Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an anti-inflammatory agent that might contribute to hoof health;
- Zinc, a mineral that assists with keratin formation and hoof growth.
Even with proper nutrition, don’t be surprised if your horse’s hooves don’t grow as fast as they do during the warmer months.
But don’t take it for granted that your horse can go a few extra weeks. As in any season, overgrown hooves are prone to cracks and chips. Winter’s hard and icy surfaces present much more risk of those ragged edges developing if you wait too long for a trim.
Similarly, keep up on your routine care and cleaning, even if you don’t ride as much. Your horse will likely appreciate the attention, and you’ll be able to spot little problems before they become real trouble.
Take home message
Ice and snow accumulation, and freezing/thawing ground can cause feet and leg unsoundness in horses. Even though horses’ hooves do tend to grow slower during the winter months, the growth does not stop altogether, and continued farrier appointments should be kept every eight weeks or so. Hoof injuries from hard, frozen uneven ground or from excess pressure on the sole from accumulated ice balls in the feet can be debilitating. Bruising of the sole from frozen ground that was made rough from high horse traffic such as occurs in many paddocks and turn-outs can lead to foot abscesses that require veterinary treatment. Nutrition can play a major role in keeping your horse’s feet healthy year round. Remember that if you are currently in a shoeing program with your veterinarian, it is always a good idea to consult with them before making any changes on your own.
For further information about this topic or other questions you may have about your horse and life on the road with the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Team contact Dr. Mandi Holland at mandi@csrequine.com or call 406-522-4044.
An update of where we have been and where we are going: The team had a wonderful reception at the World Series Team Roping Championship held at the South Point Casino Equestrian Center in Las Vegas during the opening weekend of the National Finals Rodeo. We successfully treated and got many horses back into the arena for the high money event. Following this was the National Finals Rodeo where Ellis and I had the privilege of working with the Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, and Calf Roping horses. Those ten days are grueling not only for the fans, sponsors, and contestants but most importantly the equine athlete. It was an amazing experience and we are honored to have been able to assist the best in the world.
Following the holidays we have been hard at it down here in Arizona, kicking off 2008 with the Arizona National Horse Show at West World in Scottsdale, AZ. We followed this with an NCHA cutting horse show and the Gregg Olson Memorial Pro Equine Barrel Race with $50,000 at Empty Acres Arena in Buckeye, AZ. We congratulate the winners from the Montana ProRodeo Circuit Finals and wish the best of luck to those contestants at the NRA/NWRA finals.
If you are interested in having the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Team at your event, please call for current booking schedule: 602-531-7588.