About Horseshoeing

Function

• Natural terrain gives wild horses hard, dry ground that scuffs hooves into a level, calloused surface while trimming excess hoof growth as they graze. The soft, moist terrain of farms, horse corrals and stalls creates a need for hoof care and protection. Horseshoes provide a solid surface under each hoof to protect domestic horses on trails and roads. Hooves must be trimmed and leveled to give a horse healthy footing. The shoes are U-shaped with holes for nails that drive through the underside of the shoe and the hoof. The nails turn outward and pierce the front of the hoof where they are bent to grip firmly, then filed smooth against the outer surface.

Types

• Horseshoes are made from different materials and are given specific shapes to accommodate the needs of horses for various tasks. Racehorses and dressage competitors are shod with aluminum horseshoes for support with less weight. Riding, jumping and other equine sports call for the solid protection of steel shoes worn by most farm and ranch horses. Studs, caulks, rims and tungsten carbide crystals are often added to the bottoms of horseshoes for traction on ice, mud or competition surfaces. The U-shape opening of a shoe is sometimes closed by a connective bar for corrective support.

History

• Although it is likely horses were outfitted with some type of shoe by every culture who used them for transportation and hauling, there is little evidence that this occurred. No one is certain who originally shod horses with nails and iron. Remains of hipposandals, a type of hoof boots used by the Roman empire, are the first artifacts showing use of protective horseshoes. There are sketchy, documented references in historical writings that suggest horses may have had metal under their hooves. A description of the metal horseshoe being nailed to a hoof did not appear until nearly 1,000 AD when it became a widespread practice throughout civilized Europe.

Theories and Speculation

• There is some debate over whether domesticated horses need shoes or not. Many horse owners insist on shoes for their horses. Several farriers, or professional horseshoe tradesmen, advocate horses being shod at all times. Conversely, many others believe the negative effects of improper horseshoeing are so damaging that it's a risk to ever use nailed-on shoes. Several hoof complications are caused by incorrect shoe fitting. The cost of shoeing a horse is also eliminated by keeping the animals barefoot. The movement away from shoes has gained enough popularity for competitions to allow barefoot entries.

Certification

• Many nations consider the trade of horseshoeing important enough to require licensing for farriers. The United States is not among them. Although several individual states have considered proposals to regulate farriers, none have passed into law. A professional US horseshoer is able to receive certification from the American Farrier's Association (AFA) on a volunteer basis. The association recognizes five levels of certification and awards teaching certificates only to those with the highest degree: the certified journeyman farrier. Most US horse owners ask for AFA certificates before hiring farriers.