Many domestic horses are shod to ensure their hooves are protected. The process of applying the horseshoes will be done by a professional called a farrier and they will have a lot of experience in this field. The hoof of the horse has to be prepared before the shoeing can be done. This includes trimming and making sure the hoof is well balanced.
There are many horseshoe types that are available and there are different materials that are used for this as well. They were traditionally made from steel which still happens today but there are new materials that have been added such as aluminium, rubber, plastic etc. The type of shoe will depend on the nature of work the horse does and the type of terrain they work on. The horseshoe can be applied by using horseshoe nails or glue. The horseshoe ensures the horse has a balanced foot and any foot issues can be corrected with this. The horse will have better traction when working on soft ground. There are methods of shoeing a horse such as hot shoe and cold shoe. In hot shoeing, the old shoe of the horse will be removed. The hoof will then be trimmed and balanced. The farrier will then choose a new shoe and see whether it suits the hoof or not. The shoe will be worked into the correct shape according to the shape of the horse’s hoof. This process will occur when the shoe is placed in a forge and then worked into the right shape.
To ensure that the shoe is in the right shape, the hot shoe will be kept against the hoof for several seconds and it will be reshaped again according to the findings. The hoof doesn’t have any nerve endings and it is similar to our nails so the horse will not have any discomfort. The farrier will use a hammer and anvil to shape the shoe to make sure that the final shape is precisely what is required for the horse. Once the desired shape is achieved, the horseshoe is cooled after placing in cold water and it will be nailed to the hoof. In cold shoeing, a forge will not be used. When the old shoe of the hose is removed and the relevant trimming and balancing are done, the alterations to the new shoe will begin. There is a lot more skill required for this method as opposed to the former. When the correct shape and size has been achieved, it is nailed to the hoof.
Removal of the shoe will be done by the use of pincers. The pincers will be used by the farrier to remove the shoe. The hoof wall of the horse is trimmed to the appropriate length. If the hoof wall is too long, then there is a lot of stress on the heels and lower leg causing discomfort and exhaustion to the horse. The frog and the sole of the foot will be trimmed as well. This will be done by a hoof knife. The farrier will assess the foot for any infections and make sure that the foot is balanced. A rasp will be used to trim the foot.
