Basics of Horse Shoeing: Recognizing Your Horse's Needs for Hoof Care

A horse's hooves are its basis. Adhering to the proverb "no foot, no horse" is a wise move. Numerous elements, such as your horse's upbringing, genetics, and discipline, might impact the condition of your hooves. Nonetheless, there are a few universal laws that influence hoof growth all year round. These consist of giving the proper diet, decreasing stall time, and introducing exercise.

The Fundamentals of Shoeing

There is a wide range of ideas regarding horses' feet. However, the majority of farriers concur that regular hoof care is necessary to keep horses sound and avoid various problems like splits, flares, and overgrown shoes. The intricate web of interconnected components in a horse's hoof allows it to sustain its weight. On contact, the hoof wall swells, and the frog cushions the foot's supporting joints. This promotes the foot's normal function and aids in the horse's overall balance. The most crucial aspect of shoeing a horse is observing its gait and accounting for any unique characteristics. A good break over on the front shoes and balanced trimming are also essential. Use nails that are just a little bit broader than the hoof for optimal results; you can use nippers or a hammer to bend the nail tips. This will lessen the likelihood of an uncontrollably ripped nail.

Cutting

Make sure the nails are firmly clasped when you nail a horse's foot. They won't be able to pull out when the horse walks because of this. To remove the nail tip and clinch, lay your hammer's claw end over the nail head and twist it to bend it. If not, you or your horse could get cut by the sharp edge. Several fragile structures inside the foot are primarily shielded by the hoof. It is the body's method of guarding against bruising or damage to the bones, tendons, ligaments, and inner hoof capsule. A correctly trimmed hoof is one that is even on the outside (medial) and inside (lateral) walls and is centred beneath the leg's bony column when viewed from the front. It is important to trim the frog, which is a blood-pumping organ inside the hoof, carefully to prevent overtrimming and issues in the quarters and heels. The length of the sole should be sufficient to cushion the foot, but not so lengthy as to make it unduly soft and wet.

Methods for Shoeing

Some horses, whether or not they are ridden, might benefit from shoes to provide them with extra protection and traction. It's crucial to utilise the proper shoeing technique, especially if you're not accustomed to working with horses' feet. The trimmed hoof is the foundation of the basic shoeing procedure. When a farrier examines the front of the foot, they will check at the front surface of the pastern and the front surface of the hoof wall to make sure that the cannon bone lines up straight with the heel when viewed from the side. With the front of the toe exactly above the breakover point and the heels extending down towards the bars and frog, a horse's foot should be well-formed, balanced, and robust. Various forms, studs, clips, and therapeutic devices are available for shoeing in order to address problems such as lameness resulting from injuries or poor conformation. Corrective shoe use is an additional alternative for treating a variety of issues, such as navicular disease and inadequate ground contact.

Choose Your Shoes

Horses with certain disciplines might benefit from a number of shoe options that assist their hooves, as well as those with veterinarian conditions and conformation issues. Horses who are ridden on hard surfaces can also perform better when fitted with these speciality shoes. To prevent the heels from stepping on or pulling off the curved hoof wall, the shoe must fit the hoof properly and extend around it. A horse's front shoes are fitted by a farrier who places them together and eyes the animal to ensure even alignment. He can use a hammer and anvil to hot shape the horse shoes by heating them until they can be bent, or he can use a farrier's file to grind them down to the right size. The procedure will be finished after the shoes are nailed into position at the proper size.