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My Join-Up® Experience

Removing Ice From Feet

By:

kathymw

Date:

2020-Dec-26 at 07:09PM

Hello,
Please answer this question if you live in bitter, snowy weather during the winter.
What do you do to remove ice chunks that are so hard and don't come off with the regular pick? My trainer said she uses a screwdriver and hammer in the winter. That scares me.
Kathy

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Dec-27 at 02:23AM

Hi Kathy & welcome to the Uni. I live in Scotland, famous for skiiing so, yeah, we have cold weather. I have two bits of advice for you - both work with feet clogged with ice but they aren't dependent on each other. I assume this horse has shoes as bare foot horses don't get this problem. Grease your horses feet, with dripping or lard. This also causes hoof growth & unlike products like for hooves the treatment is cheap & isn't a blister so each grease can be freely applied all over the foot. Secondly, DO NOT USE A SCREWDRIVER! A hammer or rock is better. Hit the side of the hoof so it changes shape & the ice will be ejected. Cheers, Jo.

kathymw 2020-Dec-27 at 03:50PM

Thanks, Jo. The two quarter horses do not have shoes. What do you mean by "isn't a blister". Are you talking about using Crisco or grease like a bacon grease? Sorry, I just want to understand completely. Thank you!

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Dec-28 at 03:23AM

Hi Kathy. Some products made to increase hoof growth should not be applied to tender /soft parts of the foot as they are an irritant ( a blister ). Dripping, the fat that comes from roast beef or lard - the equivalent from pork, do not irritate & so can be freely applied. I've found melting the dripping or lard & adding vegetable oil effectively makes the cooled result the consistency of spreadable butter & much easier to apply - with a 1 inch paint brush. I can vouch for its effectiveness as when I get it on my fingers my nails grow quicker & stronger. This is useful in dry hot weather & for horses with cracked or damaged hooves too. Cheers, Jo.

Kicki -- Sweden 2021-Jan-06 at 05:17PM

Hi Kathy from wintry (finally!) Sweden.
Animal grease works great. Do NOT use petroleum grease!

If you still have to beat the hoof I recommend getting a wooden club or the modern kind of heavy rubber club that absorbs the energy so it doesn't bounce/create shock waves. Hit the sides of the hoof or the ice from the sides to chip away at it. We keep a club like that outside the stable doors in winter so we take it out before they step in on the concrete floor and slip.

If you use a rock; mind your fingers and use gloves! I can't count the times my grip on the rock was bad and had a finger or two caught between the rock and the ice. Ouch!