In general, deciding whether or not to shoe your horse depends on the specific needs of the animal. Some horses don't need to be shod, while others need to be shod to live healthy. Factors to consider before deciding whether or not to shoe a horse include: hoof discomfort and wear on the hooves, choice of necessary shoes and hoof anatomy.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Identify Any Signs of Discomfort
Step 1. See if the horse has bruises on the sole
The irons, thanks to their thickness, lift the hooves from the ground, reducing the impact between the stones and the sensitive part of the hoof. When a horse is not shod, it is more likely that rough terrain will hurt its sole and hoof fork. If you find any lesions on the sole, the horse is very likely to be shod. Here are a number of symptoms resulting from an injured sole:
- Slight lameness when the horse works on rocky ground (assigning a value of 10 to the hoof lift and 0 to the hoof sound when resting on the ground, the lameness is about 2-5 out of 10). In this case the horse feels pain because the injured part of the hoof comes into contact with the stones.
- When standing, the horse distributes the weight of the body on the legs evenly, so the sole does not touch the ground and the discomfort is relieved.
Step 2. Check if the horse has a damaged hoof sole
Lift the hoof and use special pincers to probe its softness. The pincers use a scissor movement to press on a particular area of the hoof. Position the tongs so that one end is in contact with the sole and the other is in contact with the outer wall of the hoof, in order to compress the sole by applying pressure.
If the horse expresses its annoyance by pulling its hoof off or neighing, it means that it must be shod
Step 3. Check for pain in the legs
A horse without shoes can feel pain in all four legs at the same time, which makes it difficult to assess lameness (if it limps with all legs it may seem healthy). Here are any signs of paw pain:
- At rest, the animal continues to shift the weight of the body from one limb to the other.
- It does not rest its weight on the same leg for more than a few minutes.
Step 4. Check the hooves to find out what is causing the pain
If a hoof is sore, it should probably be shod to protect the sole. To check:
Lift each hoof and inspect the sole, fork, and buttocks for any red, inflamed, or bruised areas
Method 2 of 5: Evaluate Hoof Wear
Step 1. Find out about the possible causes of wear on the hoof and how the irons can solve the problem
The external part of the hoof is composed of keratin, as is the case with our nails; just as a broken nail does not cause pain, so a broken or cracked hoof does not hurt the horse. However, a broken hoof can become a problem if the fracture extends to the crown (the area where the hoof grows, the equivalent of our nail bed). If the hoof breaks, sensitive nerves, blood vessels and bone can remain exposed, causing pain.
Shoes can both protect the base of the hoof from fractures and chipping, or hold a broken hoof together. The hooves of an unshod horse should be checked frequently for any signs of wear that may require shoeing
Step 2. Be aware that slight wear is completely normal
Just like our nails, hooves grow all the time. Ideally, the growth rate should be exactly balanced with the wear rate. This occurs infrequently and nature causes small parts of the hoof to detach over time to prevent overgrowth.
Step 3. Look for signs of wear
The owner of a horse without shoes must be careful that the animal's hooves do not wear out excessively, paying attention to the formation of chips or fractures at the base of the hoof. Signs of excessive wear include:
- The chips cover more than 50% of the hoof circumference.
- The presence of a fracture that goes upwards starting from the level of the sole.
Step 4. Pay attention to any cracks due to wear on the hooves
If you notice a crack, evaluate its length, depth and width daily. If it becomes a crack or develops upwards starting from the sole, contact a farrier experienced in horse shoeing.
While waiting for the farrier, leave the animal to rest and lead it on soft ground
Step 5. See if the hoof is disintegrating
The keratin of some hooves is not strong enough to withstand the wear resulting from direct contact of the hoof with the ground. In these cases, the hoof begins to disintegrate, which is a clear sign of the need for shoeing.
In the early stages, the hoof peels off and begins to crumble; if the problem is ignored, it deteriorates to such an extent that it looks like the exploded barrel of an old shotgun. This is a clear sign that the hoof is not strong enough and needs the support of an iron
Method 3 of 5: The Benefits of Irons
Step 1. The irons can help the animal
In certain situations, for example when working on uneven ground, an unshod horse can have problems.
Step 2. On rocky ground, an unshod horse can get injured
Uneven ground is more likely to damage his sole if he doesn't have shoes. The iron slightly raises the hoof and decreases the impact between the uneven ground and the part below the hoof.
Step 3. If the horse does not have shoes, the road surface can wear down its hooves
The pavement is very abrasive and wears the clogs faster than they grow. The result is that the horse walks on the sole and the buttocks, which is particularly painful. If your horse frequently works on the road, it should probably be shod.
Step 4. If you find that your horse's hooves have little grip on the ground, shoe it
In the wild, horses are well equipped to move on certain types of terrain, but often artificial surfaces do not guarantee them a good grip and in this the irons help a lot.
Frozen ground and paved ground are examples of problematic surfaces for horses
Step 5. Know that a shod horse can move more easily
When agile movements are required of the horse, such as turning, turning or jumping, the shoes can be very useful. Studs can also be applied to the irons to provide the animal with more hold and prevent it from slipping.
Method 4 of 5: Shoe the Horse to Correct Any Anatomical Imperfections of the Hoof
Step 1. See if the toe of the hoof grows faster than the heel
Certain parts of the hoof grow faster than others. If the toe grows faster than the heel, the angle of the hoof changes and the animal's weight falls back. This causes the glomes to land on the ground with each step, causing pain. A horse with this tendency has a long and unstable hoof, not straight and compact.
By placing the shoes on this type of horse, the glomes are lifted from the ground and, when the animal walks, this delicate area does not touch the ground, which offers relief to the animal
Step 2. Horses with small hooves often need to be shod
Some horses have rather small hooves for their size. In these cases, the weight of the animal exerts considerable pressure on a small area and the hoof wears out faster. These horses absolutely need irons.
Step 3. Consider using orthopedic irons
A horse with bone or joint problems can be helped with orthopedic shoes. When applied by an experienced farrier, these bespoke irons change the weight distribution of the horse's body. This decreases the pressure on the joint, relieving pain.
For example, if your horse has long toes and short heels, these shoes can help him walk more comfortably. Applying an iron to lift the heel can relieve pressure on the navicular bone, favoring the distribution of weight on the toe
Method 5 of 5: Irons Maintenance
Step 1. Leaving a horse without shoes requires more hoof care by the owner
Not shoeing a horse does not lead to any economic savings; an unshod horse needs to receive the same amount of care (if not more) that a shod horse needs. The hoof must be filed regularly to prevent cracks crossing it from becoming actual fractures. The buffing is necessary to equalize the wear of the hoof keeping it healthy.
Step 2. Contact an experienced farrier on a regular basis
In order for the hooves to be in perfect condition, an unshod horse should be checked by an expert every 4-8 weeks. Just like our nails, hooves grow continuously and need to be trimmed regularly to prevent them from breaking.
Step 3. Do not underestimate the importance of filing
File and rasp work serves two purposes: it keeps the hoof healthy and gives it a better shape. The way in which the animal rests its paws on the ground also changes and reduces the pressure on the limbs; think of the posture of a woman who wears shoes with or without heels: the angle of the ankle changes considerably!
Step 4. Learn how to file
The farrier uses wire cutters to remove excess bone, then files the surface of the hoof to make it uniform and remove any fractures. The aim is to make the wall thickness uniform and keep the fetlock at the right angle.
