Snowballs in unshod horses

[sannabelle]

Hello there!!!

Here in the Midwest it has been quite cold (-6) and icy/snowy for us the past few days- this morning I noticed our mini pony, horse, and donkey all had snowballs on their hooves. The big horse wasn’t too bad but the mini and the donkey had a good amount packed in their hooves and (of course) were walking funny. We cleaned their hooves out and put Crisco on them (internet idea). When I went out to check them a bit ago the snowballs were returning.

I know they’re common in horses with shoes, but these three are always barefoot.

Anything I can do to prevent them from coming back?

Thanks so much!

 

[KentuckyRooster]

I've heard of spraying PAM spray on them. Otherwise pick them clear every day and pray it thaws soon..

I've been lucky my horses don't seem to have problems with snowballs but winter can leave please!

 

[perchie.girl]

Yep Pam... or lard.... or Crisco.... you got the idea... all will have to be reapplied.

dont have issues with that here... but I have Many friends in cold climates

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

another thought on the subject... do your horses need trims... It seems the shod ones keep ice in because there is that metal wall...

deb

 

[Ruralhideaway]

You could try armor all. Automotive interior protector. Silicone I think, very slippery stuff. Likely a bad idea if you're going to be hauling them though. Should work better than the grease type things. Good luck!

 

[sannabelle]

another thought on the subject... do your horses need trims... It seems the shod ones keep ice in because there is that metal wall...

deb

Yes! They’re all due and actually have an appointment on the 1st thankfully. Hoping that will help some. The mini we just got a couple weeks ago, his hooves need trimmed the most and his snowballs are certainly the worst.

I’ll plan on picking and criscoing them a few times a day then!!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

If you are suspicious of the Armor all you can use some much more expensive straightening/smoothing hair serum instead. The silicone products will last days unlike the grease.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Hope the trim helps. Tell your farrier what has been going on and see if he has ideas too. My farrier is a wealth of knowledge. Did you know a tiny bit of bleach and water in a spray bottle can be used to treat thrush? I didn't. But my farrier did. And it worked, too.

 

[perchie.girl]

learned alot from my Farriers over the years....
This horse I have now has never been shod. Her hoof walls are one inch thick and she can go as long as four months without a trim... If need be..

But she sheds out her sole at eight weeks almost like clock work so that's when we scheduled her trims... Farrier loved her because of that... Less work... not that he didn't neaten up stuff. But draft horses can be labor intensive to trim because of that heavy hoof.

I hear Mules have diamond hard hooves as well...

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

If you are suspicious of the Armor all you can use some much more expensive straightening/smoothing hair serum instead. The silicone products will last days unlike the grease.

Armor all, hair serum, even show sheen.... Problem I have with them is the inorganic elements...

The hoof is a surprisingly delicate mechanism the less you mess around with it the better. Any possibility of the materials passing through the hoof wall has to be considered... I have seen old timers use motor oil... I wouldn't...

Same goes with good trims and the bio-mechanics involved. Proper angle and sole contact with the ground is important for pumping blood up and out of the hoof. Mess with that and you get a lame horse.

deb