> If your horses were shod with winter shoes they would be fine - a bit > like the difference between driving a car in summer tyres or with > studded winter tyres. I don't think there's any problem with riding in > icy conditions providing you are well prepared for them.
I think that winter shoes with borium or studs can be okay for horses if they *have* to go out and walk in icey conditions, altho it has been said that barefoot feet are not necessarily slippery (it's the metal shoes). The problem is horses running and / or performing at speed on ice. It's not a *have* to situation, it's a choice, by the owners to chance their horses' (or potential sales horses') soundness. Who would want to buy a horse that has been run on ice? With the borium or studs (ice nails) on the shoes, the legs are unable to slide into place as they normally do. The hoof is grabbed by the ground, and torque goes up the leg. This is not the best thing for a breed that has spavin and cow hock problems. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
