On the Buckle

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A Shoe for Every Occasion

by Whitney Weston

“No hoof, no horse” is an old equestrian adage that is relevant to this day. Horses are 1,200 or more pound creatures who balance all that weight on four small hoof surfaces. Like our human nails, they grow continuously and need to be trimmed. Imagine if you walked on your fingernails as a human: You would need strong and well-maintained nails, otherwise your nailbeds would become sore quickly! Horses’ hooves vary greatly in strength, shape and size. There are many things to consider as a horse owner in order to keep our charges happy, healthy and limp-free.

Find an experienced farrier

Not just any old nail file will do. Every four to six weeks, your professional farrier will need to assess the balance and angles of your horse’s hooves, trim and potentially put shoes on. If a horse’s hoof is trimmed or shod incorrectly, there are dire and painful consequences for your horse. Farriers with experience typically have years of schooling, training and apprenticeship before they are ready to strike out on their own.

To shoe or not to shoe?

That is the question, but we are lucky in the Sandhills to have “going barefoot” as an option. Since we don’t have the typical slick mud and rocks that other areas do, many horses with a naturally strong hoof can forgo the traditional shoeing process. They still need to be trimmed but can skip nailing shoes on the soles of the hoof. That being said, many horses have weak hoof walls (imagine if you have weak fingernails) that may crumble with the impact of the horse merely walking. In that case, shoes will be needed even if a horse is not in heavy work. Often, horses need just front shoes and can go barefoot behind. Horses' front legs support 55 to 65 percent of their bodyweight, so most of the concussion from movement is taken up by the front hooves, causing them to break down faster.

Is it painful?

The image of a strong arm with a hammer piercing nails into feet is an intense one for those new to horses. But, just like our human fingernails, the excess hoof wall can be trimmed away with no pain. There is, however, a small margin for error if the nail goes in at the wrong angle, which can certainly be painful for the horse. This is another reason why we choose skilled and experienced farriers only. If your horse is nervous, ill behaved or dancing around during this process, that can also cause nails to

go into the sensitive areas. It it important for horse owners to work with their horses to stand quietly on the ground in order to minimize danger to both the horse and farrier.

Cold vs. hot shoeing

Horse shoes come in basic shapes and sizes, which are then shaped by the farrier to fit each hoof. With cold shoeing, no heat is used in shaping the shoe. Hot shoeing is a longer and more involved process using a hot forge. Once the shoe has been heated, it is hammered into a customized shape to fit each individual horse’s hoof, which have great variation.

Types of shoes

There are many types and shapes of horse shoes that may assist a horse’s soundness and healing from an injury, or help with traction depending on the type of sport the horse competes in. A bar shoe has an added piece of metal that supports the heel of the horse. This looks like a more oval shape instead of the traditional horse shoe shape. This has traditionally been used to support the horse’s tendons that run down the back of each leg to avoid hyperextension. A horse might benefit from this type of therapeutic shoe if there is a tendon injury.

For some horses with naturally thin soles, shoes don’t provide enough support. If we were to wear thin sandals on rocks, it is likely we could still feel the rocks and that could cause bruises to form. The same goes for horses. Some have a naturally thick sole, but for those that could use support, there are a variety of options, from leather inserts to rubber pourin materials that create a cushion between the hoof and the ground with each step.

While shoes help with hoof health and comfort, they can also create a more slippery surface for the horse to walk on, especially on concrete or ice or in muddy conditions. Slipping and sliding can lead to injury. Some opt for welding borium onto the bottom of the shoe to act as a permanent “cleat” for grip to slippery surfaces. In horse sports that involve high speeds in sometimes muddy conditions, like Eventing, small holes are drilled into each horseshoe. The rider can then screw in metal “studs” that provide traction for the horse to gallop and compete, then can be unscrewed afterwards.

Shoeing is an art and a science. The takeaway should be that all horses have individual needs, and your farrier will work with you to find the right solution for your horse. Just like any other equine professional you work with, your farrier should be patient with you and your horse, and help educate you on what is best in your particular situation. Needs can change, and horses are finicky creatures.

PL

Whitney Weston is a professional horse trainer with more than 30 years of riding experience and competing at the international level of eventing for 15 years. She trains out of her Southern Pines farm through Valkyrie Sporthorses, and runs Southern Pines Riding Academy.

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