Keeping Your Horse’s Hooves Healthy in Winter
Healthy hooves are the foundation of a healthy horse, as the saying goes “No Hoof, No Horse” As the temperature drops and the ground turns wet or frozen, a horse’s hooves face new challenges. As a responsible horse owner, there are steps to take to keep your horse’s hooves healthy this winter. By maintaining consistent farrier care, managing moisture, ensuring proper nutrition, you can keep your horse’s feet in excellent condition all winter long.
Proper winter hoof care is essential to prevent lameness, cracks, infections, and other problems that can interfere with your horse’s comfort and performance. To help keep hooves healthy, you may want to introduce a supplement. Hoof First unique formula contains high strength Biotin with all the essential vitamins and minerals to produce a healthy hoof. It is well known that Biotin will grow horn but at HORSE FIRST we want to give you more, a strong, healthy hoof with continuous growth. Hoof First grows hooves which are better for your farrier to work with, and fights problems such as thin soles, cracked, chipped or weak hooves, contributing to lost shoes which are costly.
It’s important to Maintain Regular Farrier Visits. Even though winter often means less riding, hooves continue to grow year-round, and skipping trims can cause imbalances, cracks, or flares. If your horse is turned out on soft or muddy ground, regular trimming helps maintain proper hoof shape and prevents mud and debris from packing in the hoof. Many owners choose to pull shoes in the winter if their horse will be ridden less. Going barefoot allows for better traction on slippery ground and can help the hoof expand and contract naturally. However, this depends on your horse’s workload, hoof condition, and the terrain.
Moisture is one of the biggest threats to hoof health in winter. Constant exposure to wet, muddy conditions can soften the hoof wall and sole, making them more vulnerable to infection or bruising. Likewise, standing in frozen, dry footing can lead to brittle, cracking hooves.
Be vigilant and watch for Thrush and Other Infections Thrush thrives in damp, dirty environments and can cause pain and lameness if left untreated. During wet winters, clean your horse’s hooves daily and inspect the frog and sulci for any foul smell or black, crumbly material.
A horse’s diet directly affects hoof quality. During the winter, when pasture is limited, make sure your horse’s diet includes the right balance of nutrients.
Supplements containing biotin, methionine, zinc, and omega fatty acids can support strong hoof growth, especially if your horse’s hooves tend to be brittle or slow growing. Horse First Omega D Oil is a cold-pressed flax seed oil with added Vitamin D, 'the sunshine vitamin'. It contains the correct balance of Omegas 3, 6 and 9, which are known as Essential Fatty Acids. These Omega Fatty Acids CANNOT be naturally produced by your horse. The two more important Essential Fatty Acids are Omega 3 and Omega 6. Each of them aids your horse in a particular way. -Omega-3 Fatty Acids promote general well-being and are associated with glossy coats. They also encourage a strong metabolism. Omega-6 Fatty Acids help to maintain your horse's immune system and healthy tissues.
In the event of snow, you will need to protect the hooves from Ice and Snow Build-Up. When snow packs into the hoof, it can form hard “ice balls,” making it difficult for your horse to walk and increasing the risk of slipping. Hoof boots, snow pads, or applying a thin layer of non-stick cooking spray or petroleum jelly to the sole before turnout can help minimize build-up.