Advise on ridding horses of Ice stilts

3 of our 5 horses have developed "horse stilts" or ice balls on their feet. I have tried with no avail to rid them with the hoof pick. Cannot get under them to dislodge them. Any advice for you horsey people on how to get it off.

I would use a chisel and hammer.. or anything to get the balls out... then put some kind of oil on the soles...something that would make it impossible for the snow to stick.. Thats what I used to do.

Ok can try that, just worried about hurting their soles if I were to slip.
Good idea about the oil, is that a daily thing I would apply or how often?

Vaseline or cooking spray works good too.
We winter shoe ours with snow pads. The ranch horses get it all the way around and the show horses just get winters on the fronts.

Blow torch? (Kidding of course! However, I do have a very strong visual image.)

Sue

Schipperkesue wrote:Blow torch? (Kidding of course! However, I do have a very strong visual image.)

Sue

HaHa Sue, I was actually thinking of how I could melt it off there...But a blow torch didn't cross my mind.

usually don't do anything and they break up on their own, of course if you were to ride them it might be a problem.

you wont hurt them, I used to use old flat screwdrivers... the bigger the better, once they crack up they will fall right out.

Schipperkesue wrote:Blow torch? (Kidding of course! However, I do have a very strong visual image.)

Sue

don't laugh, we just used a small torch to melt some out of a pony mare that we had someone come to look at to buy. We were not sure if they were going to want to ride her and the hammer on her feet was driving her crazy so hubby ran to the shop and got the little torch and we melted them out! Worked great, just had to be careful of the long fuzzy hairs!!

can of spray on cooking oil. Every couple days. Works wonders to keep it from building up. Or if we go for a ride, a good layer of vaseline or hooflex.

I have found that the pointed end of the fencing pliers works great. Never had any luck with hoof picks on the ice.

Years ago when I rode my mare in the Winter time I never had problems getting the ice off and then used Pam spray cooking oil on the hoofs before I went off on my ride.
My gelding is now at the stables for the Winter time now and so never have that problem, but what I do have problems with and this may help with out useing tools on your horses feet other than a hoof pick is. I fill old socks with uncooked rice and tie the end up in a knot. I microwave the rice intil real hot 2 mins maybe longer. I use mine on the bitt for my horse so it warms up the bitt before I ride, you maybe able to hold it on your horse hoof to help melt it off with out the blow torch that Sue wanted to do.
If you do use it on a horses bitt just be carefull not to leave it too long as it can get too hot for the horse. Rice can be used over and over only problem is when useing an old clean sock you do get a smelly sock