Winter in most parts of Canada can seriously hamper the joy of having horses. In addition to the obvious discomforts of the cold, many of us also have to contend with snowballs and ice continually packing into our horses’ feet. Snow-packed feet can result in bruised soles and abscesses, and they also make horses dangerously prone to slipping. Shod horses may have the most trouble, as retention of snow and ice is more of a problem for shod horses than barefoot horses for two reasons:
1. When water interacts with the freezing metal of a shoe, it causes ice crystals to form on the inside edge of the shoe. These crystals then provide a base upon which other crystals can form, and they build on each other, creating an ice ball in the bottom of the foot.
2. A bare foot flexes quite a bit with each step, helping to pop out anything that builds up in the bottom of the foot. A rigid metal shoe prevents much of that flexion, so snow and ice are more likely to stay put within the rim of the shoe.