On cold days, it’s not just the roads that turn into shiny ice rinks, but also the turnouts and paths at the stables.
An urgent remedy should be found here!
While barefoot horses can still cope relatively well with difficult surfaces, shod horses literally skate! Even if frozen patches thaw during the day, they should always be gritted. The water freezes again the next night at the latest because it cannot seep away during the day on frozen ground.
And just like that, the next sheet of ice forms in a flash.
Sand or fine grit is best for use. Although the latter makes barehoof horses and their owners unhappy again because the grit tends to press into the white line, it is the safest option for icy days. Sand is more pleasant to walk on, but often freezes over with just a little water that has thawed during the day, creating the next ice rink overnight. If necessary, you can also scatter a handful of sawdust, but even this often freezes over again overnight.
It is essential to avoid the use of salt.
It affects the hooves and, later, when the ground becomes muddy again after the thaw, also the skin around the fetlocks. If you want to use salt for gritting, you should limit this to the access routes to the stables and the parking area, provided these routes are not constantly used by the horses.
Read more: 5 expert tips to set up the ideal winter turnout or Top 5 winter feeding mistakes
