Do horses need winter shoes? Like most equestrian questions, the answer is, “it depends.”
Certainly horse owners need to come up with a strategy that allows for adequate traction, that prevents snow from balling up in the hoof, and which provides enough protection for the amount and type of riding you want to do.
This is some great info. I have never had to deal with special winter shoeing, but it makes perfect sense. I would have no idea where to begin with choosing winter footwear!
A great winter shoeing package is combining snow pads with borium shoes. Being a professional farrier, I use this combination on many riding horses that are ridden in the snow/ice as well as on rocky terrain. The traction allows the horse to be ridden with more confidence with a “sure footed” gait. I have had great results with borium shoes purchased from The Blacksmith Shop in VA (www.theblacksmithshop.net). These borium shoes are guaranteed and will last muck longer than flat shoes. Good Luck!