Why don't horses get cold because their feet are cold?

[almrc]

In the snow, horse feet are really cold, the shoes are even colder! So as their feet are so cold, how don't their bodies get really cold too?

 

[touchstone]

A horses lower limb is mainly tendon and bone and requires much less blood circulation than muscle and also avoids heat loss because of this. A horse is also able to shunt blood directly from the arteries into the veins in the foot to avoid the smaller capillaries when it gets really cold without damaging the foot.

 

[almrc]

Ahhh thats interesting, thank you for that! Is it bad for them to shut of areas for certain amounts of time or not?

 

[touchstone]

Hi, I wouldn't have thought it would be bad for them as such, many horses cope perfectly well in sub zero temperatures for months at a time. I do think it might have some effect on some laminitic types though and snow/cold can trigger attacks, but presumably this is because their feet are already compromised with suffering from laminitis anyway. My laminitic is out in the snow with no problems luckily!

 

[marinitagsd]

As an ex racerider, if I feel my horses feet and legs and they are cold then I can rest happy, no probs! If their bodies are warm then no worries for me
x

 

[Andalucian]

For the same reason that horses don't get burnt when a hot shoe is applied by the farrier. The sole/hoofwall is a great insulator.

 

[almrc]

Oh yes, that makes a lot of sense thank you. I am glad I asked, I did wonder about it. Annies shod and her feet were a lot colder then the bare foot ones due to her shoes. But their bodies are just fine and warm.