Archive for It's About The Horse The Free Forum for those Doing Parelli - and a whole lot More! "Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." Xenophon (430-355 B.C.),
|
Pyrgirl
|
Trimming in really cold weatherMy question isn't about my own comfort - it's about the horse.
I know that in the really cold temperatures, the horse's body stops some of the blood from flowing into the hoof to send it to the body core. Periodically the body releases blood to the hoof. I've read this in several places over the years. It's a pretty neat survival mechanism.
So here's my question. My horses need a bit of trim done. Not too much, but I'm trying to stay on top of this and keep things growing out correctly. Is it safe to trim when the temps don't even leave the 'teens at the highest point of the day? Does it hurt them when it's that cold? They aren't growing fast, so I could wait till next week when it will reach 32 at some point.
Those of you who live in really cold areas, do you trim? When? Do the hoofs just stop growing completely where you are?
|
Newfman
|
Up heah in Maine, we trim yeah 'round.
I find that in the late fall, there seems to be an acceleration of sole and bar growth. Ultimately, the hoof growth seems to slow down a bit. The ground getw frozen, the horses move around less, they wear their feet less so the rate of growth decreases. It still grows though and they still need to be trimmed. Maybe every 6 to 8 weeks instead of 4. Excess hoof wall can get away from you a lot easier in snow and ice covered grounds. They flare much easier. If it is going to be 15 below, I may wait for a warmer day, or trim in the sun in the non-windy side of the barn if it is available.
I want to attach leather knee and thigh pads to my insulated carhart bib-overalls so I don't have to use an apron. Rasps go right through the canvas knee pads.
|
appellativo
|
I hope I'm not missing something really important, but how would the cold temp affect the horse negatively as long as he actually needs the trim? Wouldnt it actually help the snow and ice from building up?
|
Autumn
|
I have much less snow balling if the hoof is trimmed. I am spoiled and trim inside a heated shop. I always trim year round.
|
learningthedance
|
Re: Trimming in really cold weather | Pyrgirl wrote: | Is it safe to trim when the temps don't even leave the 'teens at the highest point of the day? Does it hurt them when it's that cold?
Those of you who live in really cold areas, do you trim? When? Do the hoofs just stop growing completely where you are? |
-20 windchill here, and I still trimmed. LOL Mind you, it took a while for my hands to stop stinging, but I would rather deal with the cold, then the pesky flies, and foot stomping, tail swishing because of them. The horse seem so much more content for winter trimming then summer trimming. Well, here anyways.
|
Pyrgirl
|
Well, it wasn't -20 here, just 18, but we did trim. Cold enough for me.
I'm hoping it will help keep the snow/ice balls from forming tonight. Getting down to 2 degrees again.
|
|