When do you have to shoe a horse?

Answer 1

Most horses need shoeing, which protects the walls of their hooves and their toes. Depending on the work the horse does, the shoes can protect the muscles, bones and tendons of the legs from injury. Improper shoeing or remaining unshod when shoes are needed can make your horse permanently lame.

The daily care of the hoof falls to the owner, who should pick out each hoof every day, removing rocks, dirt and other foreign matter that will otherwise collect and create foot problems. Every six week, whether he wears shoes or not, your horse will need to have his hooves trimmed. If your horse is unshod and sweet natured about it, you may learn to trim each hoof yourself; otherwise, you'll be hiring a farrier to take care of hooves, including the removal and replacement of shoes. Horseshoes come in a variety of materials; steel, aluminum and rubber are some of the choices. Shoes are usually nailed into the hoof or the farrier may decide to use a specialized glue instead.

because it hurts there feet when they walk on rough ground.

Answer 2

There are conflicting opinions about whether a horse should have shoes at all. Those who shoe their horses have them shod at about 4 to six week intervals, a bit more often in the summer and less in the winter as the hoof growth varies with the seasonal conditions. Shoes are normally recommended to keep a horses hooves from excessive wearing between shoeing or for showing. Those who do not shoe their horses still need the foot trimmed every 4 to six weeks, a bit more often in the summer and less in the winter as the hoof growth varies with the seasonal conditions.

Answer 3

Yes they do, but many owners dont know that shoes are the worst thing you could do for your horse. It is best to keep them barefoot. Shoes cause alot of damage. If you care to read just how many ways a shoe is bad, read on, but ita a lengthy list.

A.Walls cannot wear & maintain normal shape/length

- unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get

too long

- incorrect trim cannot be worn away

B.Vibration (800 Hz)

- destroys hoof wall and tissue

- causes structural abnormalities in laminar corium, leading to compromised coffin bone suspension

- causes irritation of ligament & tendon attachments to periosteum of bones & joint cartilage

C.Hoof mechanism is impaired

- reduced shock absorption with fixation of the wall

- impact travels up leg & stresses joints, etc.

- ossifications

- coffin bone impacts sole which cannot draw flat

- circulation in the hoof is reduced

- heart is overstressed (without support from hooves)

- poor cell nutrition & reduced temperature

- reduced cell metabolism

- reduced horn quality and quantity

- excessive waste metabolic protein unused in hoof production remains in bloodstream

- overstressing of kidneys, liver, skin

D. Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues

E.Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects

F. Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground

G. Deformation & contraction of the hoof

- heel pain or "navicular syndrome"

- thrush

- skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes

H. Negative effects of nails

- physical damage to wall (holes)

- dehydration of white line horn

- vibrations affecting horn & corium

- insulation breached (metal conducts cold into foot, decreasing corium temperature and cell metabolism)

I. Danger & severity of injury increased

- to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)

- to people

- to other horses

J.Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically

K.Prevents proper development of young horse's foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes)

L. Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation)

M."Incorrect" shoeing increases rate & severity of damage

Answer 4

Also if you are riding your horse on hard ground like a road or something it is really very neccessary. If you aren't riding it on hard surfaces like a trail or sand then you really don't need to. I would recommmend shoeing your horse if you are riding it on hard surfaces.

Answer 5

it depends on if they have good feet. If they limp alot their feet are sore and they need trimed or shoed.it also depends on if you ride them ad where you ride them.

Answer 6

not unless you are entering it in a race, competition,ect. As far as ive seen, all thoroughbreds need shoes.