To a horse owner, the farrier is their best friend. Keeping a horse properly shod is a specialist job that has a direct impact on the horse’s health.

The farrier’s job has changed and evolved over the years. At one time, every town would have a farrier and blacksmith. You would have to take your horse to the farrier’s forge to have him shod. These days the farrier comes to you in a van. The mobility of the farrier is not the only change.

It is likely that today’s farrier knows as much about your horses feet as your veterinary surgeon. Corrective shoeing plays an important part in the horses well being.

It is essential that you are never tempted to save money by delaying shoeing. It should be done every 4-6 weeks even if the shoes do not appear to be worn. The foot will still require trimming and the shoe may have become tight which can cause corns and discomfort. Never try to replace a shoe yourself or even just replace a lost nail. One mistake could cause severe damage to the foot. The farrier is a highly skilled specialist and your horse will benefit from the correct trimming and shoeing that will make sure that the horses feet and legs are balanced and under no undue strain.

There are two types of shoeing, hot and cold. Cold shoeing is the least effective as it is difficult to shape the shoe properly to fit the foot. Hot shoeing is much better and with the advent of the portable forge, the one that is most used. The hot shoe can be shaped to fit the horse’s foot exactly with no overhang that may cause injury. Because the shoe is burned onto the foot any imperfections become apparent. The farrier can make adjustments to make sure the shoe is a perfect fit. Badly fitting shoes can cause injuries.

There are different styles of shoes for different horses and the work that is expected of them. The most commonly used is the fullered shoe. Tell your farrier the type of work your horse normally does and if you ride on the roads a lot, he will fit the best shoes for the job. Sometimes, your veterinary surgeon may ask the farrier to put on corrective shoes if your horse has a problem. These are usually egg-bar or straight-bar shoes.

In an emergency, you may have to remove a shoe yourself if it has become loose and the horse may injure itself, for instance. Get your farrier to show you how to do this. If it can wait it is better to call in the farrier.