OklahomaHorses Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

November/December 2020 • OklahomaHorses 27 nutrients and cushioning to the foot. If the individual trimming the feet will allow there to be more depth to the sole heading into winter, then this will give the horse as much comfort as possible. However, keep in mind it is not always just as simple as leaving more depth in a foot. In years like the two previous, where we had significant rainfall and extremely heavy morning dews, some feet won’t hold any extra depth, and this length just breaks off or splits, and requires trimming to prevent other issues. If more protection is needed, horse owners need to look into other options, including shoes or boots among others. As previously mentioned, the horse’s activities are pivotal in making the decision of what additional protection is needed. If just an occasional outing is required, a boot that is placed and removed by the horse owner may be the best option. If the horse is going to be in steady use, then shoes applied by the farrier may be required—on occasion the addition of a pad between the foot and shoe is required to give prosthetic sole depth. Snow pads are an option, although in Oklahoma we rarely see enough snow to justify them, while states to the north where there is significant and constant snow on the ground will use them throughout the winter. Some at-home remedies for snow pack have circulated for years, such as spraying the bottom of the horse’s hooves with cooking spray, WD- 40 or similar products. While these seem like a quality idea on the surface, the reality is that the sole of the horse is constantly exfoliating to some degree. It should also be noted that with each step of the horse, any substance will be quickly rubbed off on the ground. Muddy turnouts or any area that your horse has to pass through to get into the barn, to the hay or paddock that becomes deep with muddy foot prints, end up being one of the worst things on your horse’s feet once the ground freezes. A lot of good-footed horses that are not usually tender-footed will exhibit pain and discomfort when having to transverse these areas. Frozen ground can easily result in sole bruises and even, potentially, abscesses in some situations. In all reality, a horse’s environment has the biggest impact on hooves, and controlling the environment to the best of your abilities is paramount to controlling a lot of hoof issues year-round. It’s not always possible, but if we can recognize these hazards ahead of time, we can take precautions to help our animals stay as comfortable as possible. Give alternate travel paths when possible or drag the ground smooth in the areas that are prone to be minefields of undulating frozen hoof prints. Also, be cognizant of hazards as horses themselves look for these alternate paths to avoid discomfort. We are so very blessed to live in a country where we are allowed to have the companionship of such majestic creatures, and it is our responsibility to care for them to the best of our abilities. While I did not cover every possibility for every situation, these are some of the more common issues and solutions that I have dealt with. I wish everyone the best and hope we all have a safe and wonderful winter season. In al l real i ty, a hor se’ s envi ronment has the bigges t impact on hooves , and cont rol l ing the env i ronment to the bes t of your abi l i t ies i s paramount to cont rol l ing a lot of hoof i ssues year - round.