Horse hooves are 25 to 50 percent water. Water freezes. Frozen hooves may split when nails are driven into them, and pounding upon the feet may be painful.

The coriums or sensitive structures under the hoof are often bruised when the horse stands on snow that “balls up” under the hooves. In the spring, the farrier will notice bruises in the sole horn caused during the winter months.

Snowball pads are designed to prevent snowballing. They should be used when shoes, and especially bar shoes, are applied during winter.

Horses that are worked on slippery surfaces should be shod for traction with borium, studs and/or pads to protect both the horse and rider. Removing the shoes and trimming the hooves of horses that will be idle for the winter may be the best solution. However, horses with special problems requiring therapeutic shoes should remain shod and protected with pads.

The hoof is a good insulator. It protects the sensitive structures from hot and cold conditions. It functions much the same as wood of similar thickness. This allows hot fitting of shoes and maintenance of the hoof in very cold weather without damage to underlying sensitive structures.

The blood vessels of the horse are able to divert blood flow from the surface of the skin (and hoof) to conserve heat. Have you noticed how cold the skin of an idle horse feels in winter? This diversion of blood causes hoof growth to slow down and the foot to be more sensitive to the concussion of nail driving. In extremely cold temperatures, the moisture in the hoof may freeze on the surface. This makes paring the hoof difficult and may make it more subject to surface cracking.

The most difficult problem to deal with in winter is the balling up of snow on the bottom of the foot. This causes the horse discomfort due to the tendon strain created. The pressure on the sole may also cause bruising of the sensitive sole. This will be evident when you trim the sole in late spring and pare out blood stained sole. Mud may cause skin irritation or “mud fever.” Another name for this condition is scratches or grease heel.

Balling up can be prevented most easily by removing the shoes and trimming the feet regularly during the winter. Being barefoot will also help the hoof spread out and return to its natural state for a few months.

However, if a horse has a foot problem requiring shoes or if it is to be routinely ridden during the winter months, it should be kept shod. Concave or self-cleaning shoes should be used. Home-made or commercial rubber anti-balling pads should be applied in some cases. Pads must be flexible even when very cold – most plastics crack. Temporary relief from balling up can be given by greasing the bottom of the foot or by applying Teflon plastic spray to the sole of the foot. This is a time when greasy hoof dressings may be helpful.

Taking care of a horse is a big responsibility. We hope that these ideas will help you better fulfill that responsibility during the winter and spring months. For a more complete discussion of horse care and concerns throughout the year, including how to select and evaluate your farrier, see our book – Horse Foot Care, A Horse Owners Guide to Humane Horse Foot Care. Our desire is to raise the standard of farrier practice and make life more pleasant for our equine friends and their care-takers.