Using on snow: is it protected?

We might have hoped that spring was simply across the nook, however for many people within the UK, we have now not too long ago discovered ourselves having to barter snowy climate, so H&H investigates whether or not it’s protected to experience on snow

It might look deep and crisp and even — however is that contemporary snow actually protected to experience on? It’s a dilemma going through many homeowners whose horses develop into stable-bound when temperatures plummet.

At Jeremy Scott’s yard, excessive up on the outskirts of Exmoor Nationwide Park, the pointers and racehorses maintain exercising via the white stuff — in sure circumstances.

“It relies on the kind of snow,” says coach Camilla Scott. “Some snow balls up within the horses’ ft, however the tender, powdery stuff we experience on falls again out once more, so we don’t should put something of their hooves. We experience throughout fields the place we all know the bottom is nice beneath, and we solely stroll and trot.

“A couple of horses don’t like the best way the snow flicks up and hits their bellies, however most love being out in it,” provides Camilla, who advises exercising further warning in thawing or icy circumstances or the place snow has drifted.

Pads, studs and grease

Pads to forestall snow balling are extra frequent in colder international locations. Choices embrace rubber bubble pads that “pop” the snow from the hoof, and tube-type rim pads that dislodge snowballs whereas permitting the frog and sole to breathe.

Using on exhausting frost or ice is usually to be averted, though horses in some snowbound components of the world proceed working with particular studs or sneakers that present higher traction.

Farrier Haydn Value factors out that snow hardly ever lasts lengthy sufficient within the UK to warrant using specialist merchandise or strategies.

“The old style methodology of greasing works nicely sufficient,” he says. “Coat the soles and the within of the sneakers with actually thick, high-density industrial grease. It gained’t harm the hooves, within the brief time period, and it’ll cease snow balling up inside them.”

The barefoot query

Nic Barker, who runs a rehabilitation yard for horses with long-term lameness and hoof issues, reckons that horses are higher in snow than a 4×4 automobile.

“I adore it when it snows,” says Nic. “We frequently get snowed in as we stay up on Exmoor, however with a yardful of barefoot horses, that doesn’t imply day off. In reality, it means you haven’t any excuse for avoiding exercising them, as barefoot horses enjoy snowy circumstances.

“Whereas snow may cause issues for shod horses — balling and freezing onto the metallic within the shoe and creating harmful snow ‘stilts’ — with a barefoot horse the snow merely falls out. They’ll keep on as regular, fully sure-footed.”

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