Shoeing Procedure

It is important to have your horse shod regularly. On average, a visit to the farrier should be scheduled every four to six weeks, even if the shoes are not worn out because the hoof will have grown and need to be trimmed. This process may be expensive but should not be neglected in attempts to save money; badly fitting shoes can be painful and cause permanent damage. Do not be tempted to do shoeing yourself; it is a skilled craft and should be left to farriers.

Hot Shoeing Procedure

1) Once the old shoe has been removed, the farrier’s first step is to carve away all the loose flakes of horn from the sole. With this done, the length of the hoof wall can be assessed in relation to the sole.

2) The wall is trimmed with a pair of hoof nippers. In this step, the goal is to make both sides of the hoof wall equal in length or to return the sides to the length they were when the horse was last shod. More of the horn usually needs to be removed around the toe, which grows faster than the heel.

3) The uneven surfaces caused by the "bites" of the hoof nippers are leveled out with a rasp. It shouldn’t be necessary for the farrier to file away large amounts of the wall at the toe.

4) The shoe is shaped by hammering it against an anvil. Depending on the material of which the shoe is made, it may need to be heated (Hammering an iron shoe that is not hot enough will weaken the metal and result in a less effective shoe).

5) The farrier will often check the shoe against the hoof during the shaping process. Any areas of the horn that would prevent the shoe from fitting properly can then be leveled out with a rasp. A hot shoe pressed against the trimmed hoof clearly marks uneven areas.

6) Once the farrier is satisfied with the level and placement, the shoe is nailed in place. Shoes with toe clips can be used if the horse has been losing shoes between regular visits or will be doing work over rougher ground.

7) The ends of the nails are twisted off and bent over with clinching tongs; the end results are called "clinches." The horse’s foot is usually rested on a specialized tripod so that the farrier can easily use both hands when working with the tongs.

8) Sharp edges of the clinches are filed down with the rasp, and the hoof wall is rasped where it meets the shoe. This is done to reduce the risk of cracks in the hoof. Clips are tapped gently into place.

Good shoeing produces a symmetrical hoof, with the inside and outside wall at the same length. The heels of the shoe must be long enough so that the entire bottom of the hoof is protected; if the shoe is slightly larger than the hoof, the hoof will spread to fit it. The process takes time and should not be quick, or cheap, for that matter.

Some clues to correct shoeing can be visible. Clinches should be about one-third of the way up the wall; they should also be in a straight line and not through the old holes. The shoe should be flush with the hoof and the toe clips should fit neatly.