How To Change Shoes On A Horse Essay Example

When a hoofed animal walks and works on hard ground, there is a probability that the animal might have its hooves destroyed by the hard ground that the animal is working on. There are animals that have survived without their hooves being taken care of. However, these animals are either wild or ones that are not involved in demanding schedules. The horses are hoofed animals that require their hooves taken care of frequently. The hooves of these animals are very important to the overall reliability of the animal. If the hooves of a horse are not in good shape, then the animal will have troubles giving the best services that they are required of. To solve the process of the abrasion of hooves that are stained on hard grounds, there was the invention of the shoeing of the horses. This is a process in which a nailed horse shoe is fitted on the leg of a horse. This shoe protects the hoof of the horse so that it is not destroyed by hard ground. The process of shoeing the horses is a unique process that requires utmost attention. If this process is done in the wrong way, then the health of the feet of the horse might be in danger and the reliability of the horse is jeopardized. There are several steps that are explained on how to shoe the horses.
Most of the current shoes that are used by the current horses are made of synthetic horn that is fitted with forged steel to help protect the hooves of the horses. The process of changing the shoes of a horse that are already on the horse’s feet involves a few processes. In the first step, we have to remove the current shoes that are in the feet of the horse. In order to do this, we first break the nail cinches that are on the horse shoes. This is done by the use of a clinch cutter that is used together with a hammer. This process requires that the blade of the clinch cutter is placed under the clinch. You then pick a hammer and hit the clinch with the hammer and this will straighten the nail. Having straightened the nails, you close the jaws of the pull-offs that are found on the outside heel of the shoe. The shoe is then loosened and it can then be removed with ease. The next step involves preparing the horse for shoeing. You lift the horse’s leg and make sure that the horse is aware of you being next to it. Make sure that you place the leg of the horse in a position where you can effectively work on it without the horse putting its foot on the ground.
In regards to the above information, the foot of the horse needs to remain in good and healthy condition. Speaking about this, you have to clean it by removing any dirt or mud that might have been trapped. For this exercise, one will need a hoof pick and one uses it in the heel to toe motion to clean the hoof. You then use a wire brush to make sure that the hoof remains extra clean while being cautious of a triangular potion in the middle of the hoof which has a very high sensitivity. Using a hoof knife, the outer sole of the hoof of the horse is removed. This is done in a careful way so that you do not cut in very deeply. The activity is also undertaken with great care so that one does not hurt himself. Having curved the outer part of the hoof, there is need for one to trim the excess roof wall. For this exercise, one will need hoof nippers. There are different preferences that some people have over the size of the hoof that they should trim to. However, the recommended size should be between three and three and a quarter inches from the hairline. This is done in a way that leaves the edges of the hoof straight and in a uniform manner. Finally, the last step of preparation for shoeing the horse is by using a rasp to make the sole of the hoof be flat. The rasp gently files the uneven spots on the bottom of the hoof taking care not to wear the hoof.
In shoeing the horse, size the shoe of the horse to its hoof. This is done owing to the fact that there are different hoof sizes that different horses have. Consequently, you have to make sure that you have the correct size of the shoe for your horse. This requires taking note that the front and the hind shoes of the horse are not alike. If there is need, small minor adjustments can be made for the shoes if they are a little bigger. If the shoe is in its right position, secure it with the nails making sure that you ascertain that the shoe sits perfectly on the hoof. Drive the nails through the small holes in the shoe. Drive the holes in an outward manner so that the tips of the nails go through the top of the hoof wall and not on the sensitive center part of the hoof. One may also use glue if he is worried about hurting the animal to hold the shoe in place. Once all the nails have been driven, bend the nails and then remove the nail tips using the claw end of the hammer. This is done by ensuring that the nail is bent in a way that it holds the shoe in place without hurting the horse. The next step involves clinching the nail by setting a clinch block under the nail on the outer wall of the hoof. Then the nail is set in the hoof by hitting it with the hammer. Finally, last step involves filing the rough spots that may be available. This is done mainly on the hoof walls. Repeat the same process for the remaining three feet of the horse. In the end, having done the processes correctly, one will have a horse that will be eager to work.
In conclusion, the process of shoeing a horse requires extra care on several occasions so that the shoe of the horse may be replaced in the best way possible with little probability of hurting the animal. This process is a sensitive process that requires careful people who might be able to control the horse in case the horse has an uneasy feeling. The process of shoeing a horse ensures that the horse is able to work in better conditions and that the health of its feet is kept in the best way possible. This process also ensures that the owner of the horse is able to know whether the animal requires extra attention on the health status of the feet. There are some few things that are not mentioned in the processes of shoeing a horse. These things are dependent on the characteristics of a particular horse. These different things may include custom shoes and when the hooves of the horse are asymmetrical.