Icy fields and paddocks risky for horses and cattle

Some horses at a farm in Cornwall are sporting some fancyfootwear to keep them from slipping on P.E.I.'s icy terrain.

Adam Merner said he knew it was time to take action when a horse slipped on some ice after morning exercise at Dusty Lane Farms.

The horse didn't fall down, and wasn't hurt after the slip on the ice. But as a precaution, Merner nailed shoes with studs which horse ownerscall "corks" to its hoofs. It's a common practice for many in the horse industry.

About 35 of the 90 horses at Dusty Lane Farms are wearing them this winter, to deal with treacherous ice. Days of frigid temperatures have turnedmany fields and paddockson P.E.I. into skating rinks.

Spreading sand

Farmersare also spreading sand for traction.At Dusty LaneFarms, they're spreading straw and manure over the ice to give horses better footing.

Owner Ron Gasshas been keeping some of his horses outdoors, in a paddock well-lined with straw.The horses know when it's icy underfoot, according to Gass.

"You'll see themnot doing anything," he said. "And the weather changes, next thing, they're running and playing again. They know the difference."

• Severe cold snap a danger for both people and animals

Theice is also a challenge forbeef and dairy cattle. A fall could seriously injure valuable livestock, and result in financial loss. Some farmers are keeping herds out of icy fields, and some are usingtrucks and trailers to move cows across even small icy areas in farm yards.

Exercising less

Staff at Dusty Lane Farms areexercising the horses less frequently while the icy conditions persist. The standardbred race horsesrun two or three days a week, instead of five.

Horse owners, like many Islanders,are looking forward to anend to the slippery weather.

"I'll be glad to see 30-degree weather and the starting-gate back on the race track," Merner said.

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