Shoeing your Horse

The alignment of the hoof needs to be correct. Alignment is actually the balance of the hoof from front to back. To estimate proper alignment, view your horse from the side. Draw an imaginary straight line through the center of the long pastern bone. It should be parallel to the front of the hoof.

The mediolateral balance needs to be correct. This is the balance of the hoof from side to side. You can view mediolateral balance from the front of your horse. If you see a flare, the foot is out of balance.

When viewing the same horse from behind, most of the time on the flared side of the hoof, you will see that the heel is longer. If this condition remains long enough, the coronary band will be pushed up.

The frog is a traction device as well as a cushion and the heart of the foot. Since the frog sloughs off or exfoliates by use and growth, it should be trimmed sparingly. The trimming should be mainly at the edges or commissures to expedite removal of manure and dirt. This will reduce the incidence of thrush. The shoe should be shaped to fit the hoof, not the hoof shaped to fit the shoe. With a properly fitted shoe, only a small amount of wall at the toe should be rasped off. This amount should be less than 1/8 of an inch wide. The heels of the shoe should extend past the wall both in length and width.

Also, the last nail should be at the widest part of the hoof. Any farther back restricts the action of the hoof, which increases concussion.

If a hoof is in proper balance and alignment, it will grow in balance and alignment. However, if it is out of balance and alignment, it will grow more out of balance and alignment. So if your horse always needs the same adjustment every time he is shod, his hoof angle and balance are wrong. Keep records of the hoof angles before and after trimming, and when the angle stays the same from after a shoeing to just before the next shoeing, his angle (alignment) is correct. Below is an example of a properly shod hoof.


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