Horse Shoeing Tools

No matter what type of horse you own, proper hoof care is absolutely essential. The old saying "no hoof, no horse" is very true, and owners neglect their horse's feet at their peril. When you do call the farrier to come tend to your horses, you will notice that he uses a number of different tools to get the job done. Becoming familiar with the function of each tool is a good idea, even if you have no intention of trimming your own animal's feet.

  1. Rasp

    • The rasp is a large metal bar with raised edges throughout, similar in form and function to a giant nail file. Farriers use the rasp to shape the horse's hoof by grinding down rough edges, small cracks and other imperfections that could interfere with the normal movement of the animal and the proper mechanics of his footfalls. The rasp can be used as part of normal horse shoeing or as a way to keep the hoof properly shaped and trimmed between shoeings.

    Leather Apron

    • Farriers wear leather aprons to protect themselves while they work and to provide protection to their clothing. Shoeing horses is a physically demanding job, and it can cause a lot of wear and tear on jeans, shirts and other clothing. The leather apron also provides important protection against an unruly horse that bites or kicks while being shod.

    Ball Pein Hammer

    • Farriers use a small ball pein hammer to apply the nails that hold the shoes in place. The small size and light weight of the hammers used in horse shoeing make it easier for farriers to direct the horseshoe nails exactly where they need to go. This is important, since getting the nail in the wrong place could be very painful for the horse and damaging to the integrity of the hoof wall.

    Hoof Pick

    • To work on the bottom of the horse's foot, the farrier must have a clear look at the structures found in that part of the hoof. A hoof pick is used to remove dirt, manure and other debris from the underside of the hoof. Once all that debris is removed, the farrier work s more easily to shape the foot and examine any problem areas.

    Nail Puller

    • The nail puller is an important piece of equipment in the farrier's toolbox. Before putting on the new shoes, the farrier must first remove the old ones, and a good nail puller makes that job a lot easier. Removing the old nails cleanly and in one piece is critical, since a broken nail left inside the hoof could cause an abscess or an infection.