Tips to avoid snow balling in hooves

[RHM]

After a short time out today my shod horse was sporting some ice stilts. Is there any short term solution to this? Would only have to last 8 hours at a time. Was thinking I could do a bit of wrapping with vet wrap to stop snow packing in? All suggestions welcome!

 

[dogatemysalad]

Not sure about vet wrap, wouldn't the extreme wet make it unstick ? I've tried Vaseline and Stockholm tar, but disappointingly, it didn't work.
I do have some field paste but I'm not convinced that it would be any better than Vaseline.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I thought vaseline on the inside of the shoe was the traditional approach?

ETA: Cross posted with Dogatemysalad.

 

[milliepops]

I thought vaseline on the inside of the shoe was the traditional approach?

if the snow is really the sticky type that compacts it really doesn't work IME.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’ve not found anything that works for more than a few minutes. Fresh powdery snow is not a problem, IME once it gets slushy it balls up. I just bring the horse in once it starts happening.

 

[cobgoblin]

I have one that can make impressive ice stilts even without shoes. The other has flatter soles and it just drops out.

 

[Mustard]

We used to use engine oil back in the day.....

 

[SBJT]

I’ve heard of Vaseline or a spray type cooking oil and that works. My farrier ended up putting a rubber pad under his shoe between it and his sole and that keeps it out really well. It doesn’t cover the whole sole just a little around the inside but it works a great and I don’t have the issue now. Kinda hard to explain so let me know if you need a picture.

 

[doodle]

I have never found anything that works. Whatever you put on comes out with the first ball of snow and you are left with the problem.

 

[Griffin]

My mare is unshod, so it's less of a problem but with shod horses in the past I have yet to find anything that stops it balling.

I picked their feet out on the way to and from the field (and arena if using one), so that at least when they came in, they were not walking on ice as it were.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Vaseline or hoof oil used here.

 

[asmp]

But what do race horses use? I was wondering that when I saw a lovely photo of race horses being exercised in the snow.

Found loads of snow ‘stilts’ in my field today where they had built up and fallen out of the hooves (And we didn’t have a huge amount of snow either)

 

[vmac66]

We used axle grease years ago

 

[RHM]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I will give Vaseline a go and see if that works. Nothing sounds too positive! We don’t normally have snow for more than a couple times a year so hopefully it will piss off soon!

 

[Shysmum]

Vaseline works for my two. The skis didn't ?

 

[magicmoments]

Am I imaging it, but years ago did they use lard???

 

[Caol Ila]

In the US, we put pads called snow poppers on our horses. They're basically a rim pad that goes under the shoe and acts as an anti-balling plate. Problem solved. It's not really a thing here, though. I've asked my farrier if he can put some on. Because nothing else will do much.

 

[cobgoblin]

https://www.murdochs.com/products/e...es-pads/castle-plastics-snowball-popper-pads/

 

[Winters100]

I’ve heard of Vaseline or a spray type cooking oil and that works. My farrier ended up putting a rubber pad under his shoe between it and his sole and that keeps it out really well. It doesn’t cover the whole sole just a little around the inside but it works a great and I don’t have the issue now. Kinda hard to explain so let me know if you need a picture.

Mine does the same - works a treat.

 

[dogatemysalad]

In the US, we put pads called snow poppers on our horses. They're basically a rim pad that goes under the shoe and acts as an anti-balling plate. Problem solved. It's not really a thing here, though. I've asked my farrier if he can put some on. Because nothing else will do much.

Friends in Scandinavia use those, along with winter tyres. It's difficult for us here because our snow generally appears from nowhere and then disappears after a few days. By the time my farrier could come, the snow would have gone.
Maybe there's a market for something similar that owners could put on as needed.

 

[Pinkvboots]

The stilts generally are ok as long as they stay on the grass it's walking on concrete or hard ground that causes an issue, I just used to pick feet out just outside the gateway for the walk back, I know that's not always easy though and have tried various things in the hooves but nothing seems to stop it, both of mine are barefoot now so it doesn't really happen now.

 

[RHM]

Friends in Scandinavia use those, along with winter tyres. It's difficult for us here because our snow generally appears from nowhere and then disappears after a few days. By the time my farrier could come, the snow would have gone.
Maybe there's a market for something similar that owners could put on as needed.

There really would wouldn’t there! Someone smarter than me needs to get inventing something!

 

[racebuddy]

I put vaseline on mine and hes been out all day and was fine , worked him minus the vaseline and by the time went from the outdoor to stable had high heels ? xx

 

[SBJT]

In the US, we put pads called snow poppers on our horses. They're basically a rim pad that goes under the shoe and acts as an anti-balling plate. Problem solved. It's not really a thing here, though. I've asked my farrier if he can put some on. Because nothing else will do much.

This is what I was saying! Yup we do it in Canada.

 

[SBJT]

Mine does the same - works a treat.

Yeah it’s awesome and so easy!