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Trimming the Hoof
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Horses hooves grow about a quarter-inch a month and can crack and lead to infection. So the first step in shoeing a horse is trimming the hooves back to the proper length with a knife or file, depending on how thick the hoof has become. This should be done carefully so that you don't cut the horse or yourself and you don't take away too much of the hoof so the sensitive tissue is not exposed or brought too close to the surface.
Different Types of Shoes
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The shoes on the forefeet are more rounded at the toe, making them wider and shorter then those on the hind feet. If a horse has cracked hooves or hooves with thin soles, a bar shoe should be used. A bar shoe is a normal horseshoe with a metal bar attached to the open end, giving the hoof more support when it is worn. A three-quarter shoe is frequently used after the removal of corns. Make sure you choose the right shoes for your horse's hooves before fitting and attaching them.
Attaching the Shoes
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Once you have trimmed and made the proper shoe for your horse, fitting the shoes is important to make sure it has been sized correctly. The amount the hoof is going to grow in the four to five weeks it will be attached to the horse's hoof is important to take into account because if it isn't sized properly, it will become painful or uncomfortable for the horse to wear. Once the shoe has been properly sized, drive in small nails through the holes in the horseshoe into the hoof itself. This should be done with care, as driving a nail into the wrong place on the hoof can seriously injure the horse's foot and cause infection. It is most important that the shoe is fit to the horse's hoof and not vice versa.
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Simple Steps to Shoeing a Horse
Adding horse shoes to your horse is an important way of keeping your horse healthy, as many domesticated horses don't travel widely and can get bacteria within their hooves, infecting their feet and making it painful for them to walk or run. There are simple, basic ways in which to shoe your horse.