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Pick up a metal horseshoe and hold it in your palm. The first thing you notice is that the horseshoe is heavy! It’s hard to believe that these metal things on the hooves of horses, but it’s true. Many types of horses clap in horseshoes all year round. This raises a simple question: why do horses need horseshoes?
Read on to find out why horses need horseshoes. Also learn what horseshoes are made of and who puts them on a horse’s hooves, and much more!
What are horseshoes?
Horseshoes are U-shaped pieces of metal that are attached to the underside of a horse’s hooves. The U-shape mimics the appearance of a horse’s hoof. Normally, a horseshoe is attached to a horse’s hoof with nails. Sometimes, however, a special glue is used to temporarily attach the shoe to a hoof.
Who puts horseshoes on a horse?
A professional named a farrier is trained to put horseshoes on horses. A farrier is sometimes referred to as a blacksmith. This person is responsible for trimming a horse’s hooves, filing and cleaning. In addition, a farrier adjusts a horseshoe to the size of a horse’s hoof. When it’s time to take off the horseshoes, so does a farrier.
A farrier must be physically strong. This person has to grip a horse’s hoof to prepare it for the shoe, and then put on the hoof. Not all horses are keen on keeping their hoof in place! Also, a farrier must be able to recognize health problems related to a horse’s hooves. These professionals work in all weather conditions and in different environments. Farriers usually travel to visit horses rather than the other way around.
Why do horses need horseshoes?
The truth is that not all horses need horseshoes. A horse can go barefoot or barefoot. But there are some valid reasons for horses to wear them.
The main purpose of horseshoes is to protect a horse’s hooves. Horse hooves are a bit like a person’s toenails. Hoofs and toenails are both made of keratin. They grow and need to be trimmed and filed as shown human toenails.
When looking at why horses need horseshoes, it helps to look at the life of wild horses compared to domestic horses. Wild horses roam around different types of terrain. This helps wear down their hooves, keeping them short and healthy. In addition, a feral horse that lives in arid climates will spend most of the time walking on hard surfaces. This makes their hooves stronger and thicker. A horse with thick hooves is unlikely to be injured if it steps on a sharp stick or rock.
Alternatively, a horse living on a farm or ranch does not roam as much as a wild horse. The terrain is probably the same everywhere. So a farrier has to trim and file a domestic horse’s hooves to keep them from getting too long.
Consider where most domesticated horses live. They live on ranches, ranches and in sheds in backyards. The ground they walk on is soft and maybe even muddy. The relatively soft ground on which a domestic horse walks does not strengthen its hooves. The hooves of domestic horses become less firm over time due to the type of soil on which they move. This may prompt some horse owners to put shoes on their horses.
Another factor why a domestic horse needs shoes has to do with weight. A domestic horse carries more weight than a wild horse. For example, some domestic horses are ridden by people of all shapes and sizes. At one time, domestic horses were used to pull wagons, plows and carts. Some horses still pull carts and wagons. All this extra weight carried by a domestic horse contributes to weakening its hooves. It can even cause their hooves to break and crack.
A horse that is often stabled is standing on moist ground. The straw or bedding used to cover the stable floor can become damp when the horse urinates. Urine contains ammonia, a substance that can break down the softer parts of a horse’s hooves.
Can a horse benefit from wearing horseshoes?
Yes. We already know that horseshoes protect a horse’s hooves. But there are other specific benefits to consider.
Horseshoes can provide traction for a horse that regularly walks on slippery ground. If a horse falls, it can be seriously injured. A horse that falls can break its leg. So having horseshoes can protect against injury. Specific horseshoe designs have been created for walking on smooth surfaces.
A horse with an awkward or unbalanced step may benefit from horseshoes. The horseshoes can be made in a certain thickness or a special shape to solve a horse’s specific gait problems.
In the racing world, horseshoes can provide support to a horse’s feet or legs. In addition, horse racing on mud or wet ground can enjoy more stability while wearing horseshoes.
What types of horses need horseshoes?
Many different types of horses wear horseshoes. A horse’s activities determine whether it wears shoes or goes barefoot.
A horse in a dressage competition will likely wear horseshoes. Dressage is all about the horse’s controlled movements and how smoothly it transitions between these specialized steps. Horseshoes can help a dressage horse walk. Domestic horses competing in show jumping can benefit from wearing horseshoes. The shoes help a horse to move quickly and evenly while maintaining good traction over a series of jumps.
How often should horseshoes be replaced?
In general, horseshoes should be serviced or replaced by a farrier every eight weeks. But it’s best to ask your farrier how long you should wait before re-shoeing your horse. Some horses have certain conditions that affect the amount of time between farrier visits.
There are some common symptoms that indicate that it is time to replace the horseshoes. For example, if a horse loses a shoe or you notice that one or more of its shoes are loose, it’s time to reshuffle the horse.
Take the time to lift your horse’s hooves and examine all of your horse’s horseshoes. Are all nails still firmly in place or do some nails seem to be coming out? Either way, a farrier can fix the problem. In addition, worn or uneven horseshoes should be checked by a farrier as soon as possible.
Are horseshoes painful for a horse to wear?
New. It seems like it would hurt a horse’s hoof if nails were put into it. But you have to look at the details of the process. The nails go into the wall of a horse’s hoof. There are no nerves in this area. Of course, a farrier must be knowledgeable and experienced in putting shoes on a horse, as there is always a chance of injuring the horse’s hoof.
Traditional horseshoes are made of metal. Think about it: horseshoes need to be made of durable material to support the entire weight of a horse.
Many horseshoes are made of steel. Polo ponies and horses in show jumping are likely to wear steel horseshoes so that they have firm support for their feet. These horses have to move quickly over large areas.
Horses in the racing world usually wear aluminum horseshoes. Aluminum is a lightweight material that provides support without weighing down a racehorse’s feet and legs.
Some horseshoes are made of copper or magnesium. Some are even made of plastic!
When a horse has no horseshoes, it is sometimes described as walking barefoot. We know that wild horses are always barefoot! But what other types of horses can live without shoes?
A domestic horse living in arid climates may go barefoot. If the horse can roam in many dry fields and pastures, it does not need shoes to keep its hooves in good condition. A young horse, also called a foal, has very small hooves that are still growing. Foals and young horses can walk around barefoot until their hooves are fully grown.
Of course, an owner can choose to leave their horse barefoot indefinitely. It all depends on what activities an owner has planned for a horse or pony.
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