Introducing the ponies to the extreme conditions of the Antarctic brought all sorts of difficulties. The ponies found it hard to walk through the snow, and they would sometimes sink in up to their bellies. This was a serious issue, as it would slow down the progress of any march. In an attempt to solve this, Evans began trialling snowshoes on his pony Snatcher, although both the form of the shoe and the method of its attachment proved to be problematic.