Horse Cold Weather Hoof Care | Animal Welfare Hub

Winter hoof care is an important component of equine welfare that requires attention to snowball formation, ice traction, frozen ground injury, and the continued hoof growth during cold months.

Key Facts

Horses without snow-packing management can develop dangerously compacted snowballs in the underside of their hooves.
Hard frozen ground causes significant concussive trauma to unshod hooves and can cause bruising and laminitis in susceptible horses.
Hoof growth slows but does not stop in winter, meaning farriery intervals should be maintained rather than extended.
Hoof oil or petroleum jelly applied to the sole can reduce snowball formation in working horses.
Ice studs or roughened shoes provide traction for horses worked on icy surfaces and prevent falls and injury.

Welfare Considerations

Winter hoof care is a welfare responsibility that is sometimes neglected due to the difficulty and cost of farriery in cold weather. Snowball formation can rapidly become a welfare emergency — horses balancing on packed ice balls suffer significant joint and soft tissue stress. Frozen ground trauma causes bruising and laminitis in susceptible animals. Maintaining regular farriery schedules through winter and implementing appropriate anti-snowball and traction measures protects hoof welfare throughout the cold months.

What You Can Do

Maintain regular farriery appointments throughout winter rather than extending intervals due to seasonal inconvenience.
Apply snowball prevention products to hooves when turnout includes snow, and check feet after every turnout period.
Discuss ice stud options with your farrier for any horse required to work on icy surfaces.
Monitor hard frozen ground conditions and restrict or modify turnout to prevent repeated concussive injury to susceptible horses.