HOW’S THE GROUND in your neck of the woods?
Is it frozen, muddy or dry?
Ground is always a concern for those of us with horses, especially if we enjoy riding outdoors year-round.
The last week of November, the ground at my home in the hills above Sequim was topped with a light sprinkling of snow that covered a sheet of solid ice.
Ice makes it difficult for both humans and horses to walk, and it’s certainly caused more than a few falls, sprains and pulled muscles — for me and my horses.
Thus, I’ve decided to share a couple of products I use to help with traction.
Gain some traction
The first is a product called Tyre-Grip. It’s designed to aid tire traction on black ice.
I spray it on all four of my truck tires and the bottom of my shoes whenever it’s icy outside, and it truly does provide a better grip.
On my truck, it’s only good for a few miles per application, but that’s enough to get me down to a plowed or sanded road.
The second is for my horses.
They have a steep hill where they walk back and forth to my pasture below and their shelters/feed area by my house.
The ground can be quite slippery and treacherous.
I have sprayed Tyre-Grip on the bottom of their hooves, hoof boots and even their metal shoes. It does help.
Now, I have my farrier apply a little borium (fine tungsten particles encased in a steel tube) to their horse shoes for better traction.
After a winter a couple years ago in which a barefoot Indy kept slipping and coming up lame, I asked my farrier at the time, Brad Erickson from Forks, about using it on shoes for Indy.
He agreed it would help but to be cautious, as too much traction can create torque to the limbs and too little allows the horse to slip or fall.
He also wouldn’t apply it on rear shoes to horses pastured with other horses, as it could do a lot more damage to a horse kicked by a shoe with borium applied.
On his next visit, Brad applied Drill Tek (coarser grit tungsten particles encased in a brass/silver solder matrix).
It’s a little less expensive and easier to apply, as it’s brazed onto the shoe either by using an oxy/acetylene welding torch or in a gas forge.
Since my horses are in a pasture together, he only applied it to the front shoes on Indy and Lacy, and I noticed both had better traction.
Recently, I brought the subject up with my farrier, Preston Pherson.
He told me they make horseshoe nails with borium heads.
To that I say, “Bingo!” It’s faster and easier to apply.
The farrier can choose to use between four and eight nails per shoe.
The more nails, the greater the traction.
Since the ground this time of year usually fluctuates between frozen or muddy, Preston only applied two nails per shoe.
Thus far, it’s working very well.
Also available are borium-tipped caulks and drive-in studs. Each type of traction device requires special skills and knowledge for proper application.
Pay special attention
Care should always be taken when deciding how much traction is needed.
Borium or Drill-Tek works only as an aid on icy surfaces.
It’s best not to use it on horses ridden in indoor areas or in riding disciplines such as barrel racing or reining, as it will hinder the horses’ movement.
Rescue
I’ve written many times about Olympic Peninsula Equine Network, or OPEN.
Founded by Valerie Jackson and Diane Royall, it’s Clallam County’s only horse rescue, rehabilitating and rehoming organization — and boy, do we need their help, as too many horses are abandoned, starving, neglected or all three, especially during the winter months when grass is dormant and lacks nutritional value.
The results can be heartbreaking.
Horses are magnificent and loving creatures, each with their own personality.
Thankfully, we have organizations such as OPEN to help take them in.
For those who can help, all donations are tax-deductible.
OPEN uses PayPal for donations using a debit or credit card. Or mail a check to P.O. Box 252, Sequim, WA 98382.
Some choose to donate once a year. Others choose to help by committing to a recurring gift each month, such as $10.
Several people donating just $10 a month can do a lot of good for these horses.
For more information, call Valerie at 360-207-1688 or visit the website www.olypenequinenet.org.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears every other Sunday.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also write Griffiths at PDN, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.