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Horses are ouchy footed on frozen ground.

16K views 91 replies 10 participants last post by  rambo99 
#1 ·
Is it normal for horses to get ouchy footed on frozen ground? ? Have never had this happen before. Been really wet lots of rain, then 19 inches of snow then rained all the snow off. Now bare ground frozen lumpy mud and very unhappy horses. I noticed them being ouchy this morning.

They have a shelter with rubber mats and shaving on top. But they choose to stay out on frozen lumpy ground. tryed to get them to go in shelter but they wont stay even with hay to eat. What can i do to help them with the sore feet??? Makes me sad to see them hurting.
 
#2 ·
Sounds like your horses likely have had wet feet for some time, which, like yourself fresh out of a long bath, will make your soles softer, more sensitive. And they may have thin soles &/or thrushy weak frogs, which typically causes horses to be more 'ouchy'. Diet/nutrition, as well as management is a big factor in healthy, strong hooves too. Can't tell about your horse's specifics of course, without more info. If you want to post hoof pics, see the link below in my signature for what's needed.

Providing your horses with as much dry footing as possible, and yielding footing to be comfortable on is important. While movement is really important, if they're really uncomfortable in their paddock, locking them in dry stalls for the moment, to start the feet improving could be the 'lesser evil'. You don't say how many horses, whether they're shod, bare, etc, but booting or padding feet for home is probably the best option if you can manage that.
 
#3 ·
There is nothing worse than rain, mud, then deep, frozen hoof prints (which is very common here with our clay soil). If yours are like our horses, they don't have any lasting soreness, it's just VERY difficult walking, hard on the soles and the joints (for me, too), and they will walk very slowly and carefully (it does look painful). It's always worse in the high traffic areas...gates and hay ring. Unless you can keep them off the area, I really don't think there is anything to do. We just let our horses pick the path they want to take and don't force them to walk where they don't want to. None of ours has ever come up lame because of it.
 
#4 ·
I think their feet are indeed sensitive because it has been so wet and then extreme changes in temperature. It can be hard for their feet, but they will adjust - assuming they're barefoot and the feet are let alone. I still think that if they would be really uncomfortable, they would stay in the shelter. After all, you are providing them with an option.
 
#5 ·
I still think that if they would be really uncomfortable, they would stay in the shelter. After all, you are providing them with an option.
If it is raining or icing, ours will go into their shelter. Otherwise, they will just stand around the hay all day eating with an occasional trip to the water. They wind up making about a 3' packed down path around their hay rings where it is comfortable to stand/walk.

 
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#8 ·
My mare looks almost exactly the same as your black-and-white horse! I thought for a second it was her. The only difference is that mine has a slightly narrower strip on her back. Amazing.

Mine also slows down over frozen ground. I had the same thought process as you, that she is sore but than I tried walking on it myself and did the same, I slowed down and walked gingerly because it's difficult to walk on it.
 
#9 ·
We have had times when it's wet and muddy then freezes and this makes it hard for the horses to maneuver in the barnyard and gateways. I hate to see this so what I have done is take some manure or bedding from the stalls when I clean and lay down some manure pathways for them to follow out to the pasture. They follow these pathways as it is easier walking and I'm sure they appreciate all the slugging I have to do. If I can't get enough from cleaning stalls I take wheelbarrow fulls from the manure pile. We bed with straw so I pick out mainly straw for this job.
Once out on pasture they can move around without the frozen mud.
 
#10 ·
Have 4 horses 2 horses are very ouchy even on ground that's not lumpy but frozen. All 4 horses are barefoot all on round bale hay alfalfa/grass mix. Feet trimmed every 6 weeks. They will get trimmed here this month like around the 15th.

They are fed alfa pellets for feed with a vit/min they get 2 lbs twice a day. Two horses are kinda fat 2 are on thin side. One fat horse is ouchy one thin horse is ouchy.

Yes their feet have been wet for a while. They do stand in shelter when it rains. No stalls only 3 sided shelter.

Don't think feet have thrush haven't looked at them though. Farrier has never said anything about horses having thrush. Think there feet look good.. will look at loosies link for taking pics. Will try get pics here some time today or tomorrow.

Thanks for all the replys.
 
#11 ·
Only Horse that gets sore on frozen ground, is Smilie, who I then have to boot.
Charlie walks over those frozen lumps of mud and poop, confidently
Winter always sets her back some. She was doing great, barefoot out during the day, when the ground was still un frozen.
Then, it got cold, but without any snow, so ground very un even and hard
Was just wondering if I had to try and get some sort of shoes back on her,, with gluing in winter here, being very difficult, when we got snow.
Ilike to keep her barefoot, as I am still working at getting her toes back, doing touch ups often, getting that tight white line to
the ground
So, she is okay for now, but when a Chinook moves it, melts the snow, then leaves,with everything freezing into lumps again, i;ll be back with the same quandry
Also why those Megasus Runners have appeal
 
#12 ·
Just wanted to add. Last thing I want my horses to do, is park in front of around bale, as I think movement is very important, and they need an incentive to forage in between feedings
I thus fork off a round bale and use a work sled to take the hay out to them
 
#13 ·
Smilie; said:
Just wanted to add. Last thing I want my horses to do, is park in front of around bale, as I think movement is very important, and they need an incentive to forage in between feedings
I thus fork off a round bale and use a work sled to take the hay out to them
I have done the forking hay off bale and hauling it out to them they were running out between feedings. Then going out with hay and hungry horses can be interesting or life risking.

Two horses are fine walking on the lumpy frozen ground. .Other two are gimpy. They have never been this way. Even lame at trot.
 
#22 ·
Two horses are fine walking on the lumpy frozen ground. .Other two are gimpy. They have never been this way. Even lame at trot.
Agree with Smilie, if they have healthy feet, they wouldn't be significantly gimpy. Especially as you say they never have been before, & that 2 are fine, this sounds like a problem, not just seriously terrible footing.

I'd be looking into possibility of laminitis.
 
#14 ·
Did they have forage in between hay feedings, or completely dry lotted|
Regardless, when we were actively raisng horses, there were some 15 or so horses in the main herd, sometimes more
All knew that they were never allowed to act aggressive towards other horses, while I was out there, otherwise you are right, can be very dangerous
Far as those horses being sore, have their feet changed, far as sole depth or concavity?
Any chance of winter laminitis ?
What type of hay do they have free choice?
 
#15 ·
They were running out of hay so had nothing to eat when I go out to feed. They would get to fighting among each other.

Hay is mostly alfalfa and some grass, was supposed to be grass hay. No I don't think feet have changed, two that are sore have flat sole. That's what farrier has said. But they have never had soreness issues before.

Have no idea if its laminitis horses are 6 & 8 years old no history of metabolic issues. They were fine till ground froze. I will get pics of the one horses feet tomorrow. Other horse is a snot to deal with feet strikes & kicks. He get tranquilized and twitched for trimming. Working on his issues only owned him for 2 months.
 
#24 ·
Hay is mostly alfalfa and some grass, was supposed to be grass hay. No I don't think feet have changed, two that are sore have flat sole. That's what farrier has said. But they have never had soreness issues before.
If too much alfalfa, maybe about sudden too rich diet, maybe nutritional imbalance... They are likely to be getting more potassium & more calcium on this diet for eg, which can both cause issues, esp as horses are commonly lacking in Magnesium which is very important for hoof and metabolic health, along with other functions. If one horse has been fat long term, that could mean there are metabolic changes there that also mean extra Mg is needed. If one has been a 'hard keeper' long term, then it's quite possible it has gut problems, which can impact on hoof health. Well worth learning about diet & nutrition & how it impacts on health in various ways. Dr Elanor Kellon is a great online resource for that. You can also learn a lot just from safergrass.org & ecirhorse.com

If the horses have 'flat feet' then they likely have very thin soles & flared, disconnected walls. Which could possibly be called mild founder, or 'sinking'. Trouble with horses is they can go for a long time with 'mild' or 'subclinical' problems, without showing obvious 'problems' or lameness, until it reaches a certain point, or difficult conditions 'suddenly' bring things out in the open. And sometimes even vets fail to see the 'build up' and when the horse is finally lame & vet is called, may think it 'came on suddenly' for no significant reason.

Other horse is a snot to deal with feet strikes & kicks. He get tranquilized and twitched for trimming. Working on his issues only owned him for 2 months.
May be telling you what you know here, but... As a trainer & hoofcare specialist, unless this horse has issues or overgrown feet so bad that they will cause him further issues if left at all, I think it's best that hoof care is put on the backburner, in favour of first training him to be good with his feet. Forcing the issue may get things done in the short term, but will likely cause further distrust and make him worse about his feet in future.
 
#17 ·
Are you picking their feet clean? Is it possible there is ice lodged under there? Mine also very much dislike their paddock right now. We have a few inches of snow that went through freeze/thaw to the point where it all froze hard. Hoof prints and all. It's a real mess right now and they only follow a few paths. The rest of the time, they stand on the little hill outside their stalls or inside the stalls themselves (I leave the dutch doors open). Not much movement I'm afraid, but between walking through crust and walking on ice, it's a rock and a hard place. Literally.
 
#18 ·
The three horses i can pick out feet on,there is one i can't pick out feet on. The 2 that are so sore stand near the hay bale. Only walk to get water which is a good distance away. They aren't moving much the last day or so,the 2 sore horses. Other horses are doing plenty of moving. It's not just not liking the footing it's they are sore gimpy.
 
#19 ·
Horses can founder on hay, so that is the first thing I would rule out, esp on the horse that is sore footed and a bit over weight, and who has free choice hay
While horses can walk a bit careful on lumpy frozen ground, just like on gravel, being so sore that they are gimpy, not moving much, is not normal
 
#20 ·
It's the thin horse thats more sore the fat one is but not to same degree. So take them off free fed hay?? Not sure how I will do that being bales are opened and well all over the place. Bales got put out and nets weren't put over them.

Other two move but tend to park in front of hay a good percent of time. Thats what they do best this time of year. I'll get pics of the one horses feet tomorrow. Seems one foot more effected them the other.
 
#25 ·
Just looked at pics... Yeah, the stocking up is likely due to lack of movement. Yeah, sole very thin looking & 'stretched'. Looks like hoof has been thrushy, but wouldn't worry about that much for now - at least in sub zero temps, infections like that don't grow well. Probably a regular spray of iodine would be all that's needed to deal with it now.

If you don't have hoof boots to put on them so they can be comfortable, using styrofoam or foam rubber, duct taped to their feet is an effective 'first aid' measure. Obviously that won't last long, if ground is abrasive, but you need to do what it takes to get them comfortable. Otherwise locking them up in dry stables with good bedding may be the better evil. Although of course they will still need exercise.
 
#27 ·
The horse that's stocked up isn't one of the ones who is ouchy on his feet. He was moving around. Now he's so stocked up he is having a hard time moving. He's stocked up past his hocks.

Sheath is swollen also. So got more going on then just hoof issues.

Tell me more about the diet and too much calcium, an lack of magnesium. What can these imbalances cause health wise. Horse have been on this diet for a few years now.
 
#29 ·
Yes first pic of the one hoof is from unhandled horse. I ducktaped Styrofoam on the other gelding feet tonight. Seems to help.

I'll get more pics between 2 young kids and working 3 days a week. I don't get much time to get everything done....that I want. 2 and 3 year old girls keeps me quite busy. When girls go down for their afternoon nap I will get pics full set on black horse.

So feet have issues that are farrier is not doing a good job?? Thrush has been an on going issues I treat them it goes away only to come back. Unhandled horse hasn't been treated.

He needed feet trimmed very badly, they were very long. Farrier is very careful not to scare horse or force horse to do things. Takes him over an hour just to trim him. Can't get rough or hurry horse it doesn't work.

I do work with him daily he's getting better but it's slow progress. Has good days then has day's he acts like I never worked with him. Still can't trust him on back legs, so haven't tryed to pickup back feet. He's lightning fast with kicking. Dont want to be kicked by him.

Until now I had never noticed any lameness or either horse being sore/ouchy on any kind of surface. So kinda came on fast one day fine next day ouchy. Or I'm not noticing very subtile offness. I do think though that I'm in tune to my horses and their gaits. At least I hope so.

Ok more pic tomorrow.
 
#30 ·
Going back tot he hrose that is so badly stocked up, have you taken a temp on him> What about kidney function (chem blood work ) ?
While mild stocking up can be caused by lack of movement, it does not cause lameness, and resolves with movement.
Stocking up to the degree you indicate, ( past his hocks ), is a sign that more is going on then lack of movement
 
#32 ·
Took his temp this AM it's 105 and he is sick,have vet is coming this afternoon. Probably tick born dease we live in a hot spot for this. He had plenty of deer ticks on him over the spring & summer,i picked ticks off them daily but sure i missed some too.
 
#34 ·
The vet came did snap test for Lyme disease & anaplasmosis. He tested positive for both, was given a shot of excede will need to give another in 2 days. Then a shot once a week for a month.

Fever was 106.5 when vet finally showed up. He was given I'V banamine. Within 10 minutes his fever broke.....leaving him drenched in sweat. Not good on a zero degree day. Had to towel dry him and put a cooler on him. As of last check he's still very stocked up.

Hopefully in the next few days I can get the hoof pictures done. Every time I think I have time that time is taken up on some thing else.....that's my 2 kids. Only mom can do whatever needs done. By the time I have some free time it's dark out. Kids in bed means computer time.

Hopefully next post will be with new pictures.
 
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