Horses used less often or are always on softer ground can go 8 to 10 wks before needing new shoes. Your horse should have its feet done at least every 8 weeks. Now that you are aware of them, you may be better equipped to know what is right for your own horse. However, there is a lot of variation in what horses need to maintain their feet optimally, and … What are dropped soles and can they be fixed …, How do I help my horse's dry, cracked feet …. Conversely, sliding and reining horses can perform their jobs better with less traction. Six weeks is a general guideline for good hoof health. Hooves continuously grow (like human fingernails), so it’s important to keep your horse on a regular farrier schedule so their feet remain in top condition. Often times the shoes are worn thin after a single race! The hooves grow continuously and when shod the hoof cannot wear down as it can (in the correct conditions) with an unshod horse. Domestic horses usually grow weaker hooves because of intermittent exercise, often over softer, damper ground, and sometimes exacerbated by an unbalanced diet. Traditionally, draft horses naturally have strong hooves and don’t need shoes. More often is better, and for some horses necessary. As the hoof grows, the nails that keep the shoe on become loose and the horse can lose a shoe. Horse owners typically have both their shod and barefooted horses seen by farriers every four to six weeks for maintenance. Finally, shoes can be useful in cases of horses that have diseased or injured feet. Farriers can help horses improve gait to the horse’s full potential. Some people suffer from fallen arches and need a special type of shoe to feel comfortable. When the shoes are reset, the farrier will pull the shoes off, trim the hoof growth off, shape the hoof, and nail the same shoes back on. Six weeks is a general guideline for good hoof health. My reiners get new shoes about every 4-5 weeks as they wear them out quite fast. Properly applied shoes do not hurt horses’ feet. Relevance. © 2018 by Jacob Butler. Slippery pavement, hard rock surfaces and snow pose a danger to working horses. Some of you might bother asking how often should horses be shod or re-shod and on this article, that will be answered. In places like the Sandhills of Nebraska, it is very rare to see a horse with shoes. In some cases, like founder, the shoes may only be necessary until the horse recovers from its ailment (like a cast for a person who has broken a bone). Think of where horses would live if they were ‘wild' herds… yes, on grassland. The condition of your horse’s hooves should not deteriorate because they have shoes on. Keeping shoes on your horse’s hooves requires a bit more maintenance and attention than letting your horse remain barefoot. Instead, most of these signs indicate that the shoes have been on too long—although nails can loosen and shoes can twist or wear prematurely. if the shoes are not worn out and your horses feet are not growing they do not need doing every 8 weeks. Horses DON'T need shoes. However, some horses become more useful with shoes, and they even make themselves more versatile when it comes to riding. Your farrier is the best person to consult in order to determine just when a reset is due. 1 decade ago. Now it’s every six to eight weeks. In other cases, like navicular and severe club foot cases, the horse will probably need therapeutic shoes for life (like a person with fallen arches). After about 6 … By fitting lateral support shoes to the outside of this toed in horse, pressure is more evenly distributed over the limb, making the horse more comfortable. The wild horse moved 15-20 miles a day MINIMUM, often 30 miles or more. © 2017 by Smerikal. 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