Horseshoes 101

Imagine a horse trotting down the road. Chances are, you can hear the trotting noise that goes along with it. Whether you’re an experienced horse owner or have no experience with horses at all, nearly everyone is familiar with the clop clop clop sound of a horse trotting down the road. This familiar sound doesn’t come from horse hooves themselves, but from the shoes that the horses wear. Horses can wear shoes for a variety of reasons including health, activity level, and environment. Read on to find out more information about horseshoes.

Why do horses need to wear shoes?

Horse shoes are imperative for hooves that come in regular contact with rugged flooring like concrete. Hooves can suffer damage from uneven ground or hard flooring. Shoes can prevent this damage from occurring, ensuring a healthier horse.

What are horseshoes made of?

Horseshoes are generally made of steel or aluminum. These materials are sturdy and will maintain their shape. Horseshoes are attached by nailing the shoe to the horse’s hoof. There are different styles of horseshoes. The style your hose needs largely depends on the breed of horse. Some horse breeds require different shoe styles on their front legs and hind legs. Frequently hind legs are fitted with a horseshoe known as a caulk. A caulk includes extra steel materials to prevent excessive wear and tear on the hind leg hooves.

Do horseshoes hurt?

Many people believe that applying and removing horseshoes is painful since the shoes are applied directly to the hoof using nails. Fortunately, this is just a myth! Shoeing a horse is a completely pain free process. The tough part of a horse’s hoof that the shoe is applied to doesn’t contain any nerve endings. If you have the opportunity to see a horse being shoed, you’ll notice that the horse won’t show any aggression or signs of pain.

How often do horseshoes need to be replaced?

Shoeing a horse isn’t a one time process. A horse’s natural hoof is constantly contracting, so its important to make sure that their shoes fit properly. Its imperative to regularly check your hose’s shoes to make sure they still fit well or they can become painful for your horse. A horse will grow a completely new hoof in the span of a year, so its essential to check the shoes. You may find that your horse will outgrow its shoes more quickly than you think.

Keeping up with your horse’s shoeing needs is imperative to the health and happiness of your horse. For all your horseshoeing questions and needs call Tylor James today at 706-699-8976 or schedule an appointment online.