www.hoofchat.com

Shoes are not just for people. Horses rely on having them to maintain overall hoof health. They provide a vital function because horses must stand up a majority of their lives. These shoes prevent moisture from reaching into spaces of the hoof as well as giving stability when walking on both hard and soft surfaces. Footwear for horses does not resemble what humans wear. Instead, these shoes are made in a u shape to follow the hoof’s curve. A popular trend with horse owners is to attempt shoeing themselves or go with just filing the horse’s nails. It is not recommended for anyone other than a trained farrier to install the set of shoes. Improper shoeing can be detrimental to the health of horses and an inexperienced farrier could cause serious damage to hooves. Trained farriers’ work has not changed much in the course of shoeing horses. Many practices done today were also done over a hundred years ago. They attach the shoe with nails placed into slots to ensure it stays on properly at all times. Farriers’ concerns about selecting the right shoes have led to studies about changing shoes for different events as a way of preventing injuries.