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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| My horses are barefoot and the ground has been frozen for sometime now and they are all getting a touch sore. Especially on their fronts. What can you do to help? I don't know what to do for them but the weather doesn't look to be getting better in the near future and I'm afraid I'm going to have a bunch of cripples. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I've had my horse barefoot for the last 3 winters (shod from Mar-Nov), but for some reason he couldn't take it this year. The ground froze and unfroze, then froze again with really bad ruts. I gave in and put fronts back on, he's back to 100%. |
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 Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Posts: 2409
Location: Wisconsin | hope that it snows...it was frozen hard ground around here for about a week before the snow came. i had to leave them inside, because one night i went to bring in to stalls, and i seriously thought my good horse had broken something the way he was walking. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
 
Location: Montana | I don't do anything special, but because of our weather December through the first part of March, the horses are pretty much turned out without much riding. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| We have always been fine barefoot. A hard freeze that lasts all winter causes their feet toughen up fast, then they're fine. This year it thawed and froze like every other day! My poor barrel horse didn't even want to walk, he got so sore. We put fronts on all ours. They are good to go now! |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| my mare isn't due for feet until the first week in Feb but I don't think I can wait that long. I may call him early and have front shoes put on her. She is sooo sore. Good thing her feet grow fast... |
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 The Crazy Mom
Posts: 2132
Location: Ainsworth, NE | try these: http://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboot_trail/Easyboot_Trail.aspx
if you put shoes on the fronts and then you get snow the snow will ball up so much worse with the shoes on! But i have used these when my horses are shod and I have to turn them out. These prevented the snow from balling up!
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| RoaniePonie11 - 2015-01-08 9:35 PM
my mare isn't due for feet until the first week in Feb but I don't think I can wait that long. I may call him early and have front shoes put on her. She is sooo sore. Good thing her feet grow fast...
If she is sore she is bruised, I personally would get a pair of hoof boots
I have one mare who lives in hoof boots all winter as she bruises easily. I use old macs and gator inserts. |
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 Toy Story Fanatic
Posts: 4148
Location: Oregon | Can you spread a heavy layer of straw where they enter the barn? I know where I am when it is muddy it is only where they enter the barn from the pasture. That is where it gets ruts when it freezes. Have also heard take old carpet and throw it carpet side down on the dirt and it helps reduce the mud so that would reduce the ruts when it freezes.
Or you could use the baby diaper, vet wrap and duct tape like with an abcess but not put any medication in it. That would at least pad the front hooves. Good luck
Edited by squeek 2015-01-09 12:20 AM
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I use snow pads under the shoes, so no balling! Like these: http://www.centaurforge.com/Mustad-Blue-Anti-Snowball-Rim-Front-Pad/productinfo/07501/
Edited by linds 2015-01-09 9:07 PM
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