About Horseshoe Equipment

A horse's hoof grows continually, just like human fingernails do. But hooves are too weak to withstand the constant pounding against hard surfaces. A blacksmith or farrier is needed to trim the hooves and replace the shoes about every 6 weeks. Many tools are needed to help get the job done.

  1. Horseshoes

    • Steel horseshoes and their nails (clenches) are factory-made in several basic sizes and shapes. These are then altered by the farrier to fit the horse's hooves.

    Forge and Anvil

    • Portable forges are most often used by modern farriers. They only need to get hot enough so the metal shoes can bend. Anvils are now very small, too.

    Drawing Knife

    • This is a hoof pick-like tool used to clean and trim the hooves. They are also called hoof knives. A larger version is called a hoof cutter.

    Apron

    • Also called a skirt, this is made of leather or a stiff plastic, and acts as both a shield and a cushion for hooves. They tie on around the waist.

    Hammer and Stamp

    • A small, double-headed hammer can help shape the shoe, lever off a stubborn old shoe and pound nail holes into a new shoe. The stamp is the metal tool that makes the holes.

    Pulloffs

    • These are long-handled clamps used to pull off old shoes. They work much in the same way tongs do.

    Rasps

    • These are used to smooth out the hoof finish and make sure the bottom of the hoof is even.