Question 1

What are horseshoes?

Accepted Answer

Horseshoes are man made, u-shaped plates fastened to the bottom or ground side (also called the palmer) of a horse's hoof and secured with nails or glue. These plates are most commonly made of steel or aluminum but can also be made of plastic, rubber, and copper. Horseshoes are made and applied by farriers, a person who shoes horses and ensures that the fit is right for your horse. Temporary shoes are often fastened with glue, while shoes worn more regularly are fastened with nails that are painlessly secured by the horse's hoof. A horse with shoes is called a shod horse, and one without shoes is called unshod or barefoot.

Question 2

Why do horses need shoes?

Accepted Answer

Horseshoes have been used for centuries to allow horses to participate in work or activities requiring additional hoof and foot support. Horseshoes' primary purpose is to provide protection to a horse's foot and to slow the wearing-down process of the hoof. Horses wear shoes for horse hooves' safety, protection, and longevity. Reasons include slowing wear-down, protection against various surfaces, support during high impact activities, gaining traction, and for correction, balance, and health.

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of horse shoes?

Accepted Answer

Pros of horse shoes include added protection on hard surfaces, support for high-impact activities, protection from damp or wet conditions, capability to correct hooves, feet, stance, legs, or balance, slower rate of wear, and better overall performance. Cons include potential for serious injury if not correctly shod and increased cost.

Question 4

How often does a horse need to be shoed?

Accepted Answer

If your horse does get shoes, how often they need to be replaced or reset will vary depending on your horse's activities. A horse's shoes should be checked every six weeks as a general rule, though it may have to be more often for some individuals. For a general reset, a farrier will remove the shoes, trim and shape the hoof, and replace the shoe. If the shoe has worn too thin, they will replace the old shoe and make a new one.

Question 5

Do racehorses wear shoes?

Accepted Answer

Most racehorses wear shoes, with aluminum plates being the most popular choice. However, this also depends on the type of racetrack turf and race restriction.

Horses

Why Do Horses Need Shoes