A horse relies constantly on its feet, so it's important that you know how to keep them in top condition. Your first step will be finding a good farrier to deal with the shoeing and trimming of your horse's hooves. It is adamant that you hire a farrier who knows his trade, so you'll probably want to ask your vet for recommendations. You'll want someone with lots of experience working around horses and preferably a person who has attended a school for farrier science. The information below should help you obtain a better understanding of shoeing and caring for your horse's hooves on a daily basis.

How does shoeing work?

Many horse lovers worry that shoeing will hurt their horses. On the contrary, shoeing protects your horse's hooves, keeping them from painfully cracking or splitting. Most riding horses are shoed, but if your horse will be ridden only on soft surfaces, it may not be necessary. It is, however, highly recommended. Whether your horse needs shoes or not, trimming the hooves every 6-8 weeks is essential.

There are two ways of shoeing a horse, hot or cold. Farriers generally specialize in one or the other. When hot shoeing a horse, the farrier will first heat the shoe, then carefully mold it and beat it on the anvil until it has conformed to the shape of the hoof. After holes for the nails have been made in the shoe, it is cooled before placed on the hoof. When cold shoeing, the farrier will set regular shoes against the hoof, place them on an anvil, and then use a very heavy hammer to shape the shoe to the horse's hoof. The process is finished when the shoe is nailed to the hoof. Both methods are supposedly equally effective, but you may find that hot shoeing takes longer and costs more money.

What kind of shoe will my horse need?

Most often, a regular shoe will work fine, but there are many shoe varieties. These are mainly to be used on horses competing in special events or those with foot problems. Talk to your farrier about the kind of shoe that will work best on your horse.

How should I care for my horse's hooves?

Every horse owner should own a hoof pick and pick out their horse's hooves daily. Iron picks are more durable and generally do a better job than plastic picks, which are easier to break. You'll probably want to buy a couple to keep around the barn, tack room, or in the trailer. Depending on the condition of your horse's hooves, you may need to purchase certain hoof moisturizers or supplements. If your horse's feet are dry, cracked, or flaky, daily application of hoof moisturizers can improve the situation. The same goes for hoof supplements. These increase the hardness of the hoof and are good for a horse with poor feet who is prone to losing shoes.

— AE