A horse that goes barefoot in the snow is less likely to get a buildup of snow in his feet but with our winters not all horses can go barefoot. A really good solution to this problem is to put snow pads on him. They are the same as normal pads except that they have round convex shape in the center. This helps keep the snow from building up in the shoe and assists to push it out again when it does start to get built up. Speak to your blacksmith as he can provide your horse with these pads.
Most people seem to feel that the horse is very insensitive to having their manes pulled.
I don't agree. I had a mare that would bleed when her mane was pulled. There are products on the market that allow you to get that pulled look without the pulling. There are some very good books on the market about grooming and braiding. I would suggest that you check in your local tack shop or your local library for a copy of one of them.