| Farriers, Hooves and Shoes © Carolyn Miller Taking care of your horse’s feet is vital for his health and comfort. Part of taking care of them is to have them trimmed, and/or shod by a farrier. Here are some answers to questions I had before I got my first horse. What is a farrier? A farrier is someone who trims and shoes a horse. Usually he comes to the home of the horse to do it. A good farrier can correct some problems and catch others before they become too big. Having a knowledgeable farrier is important. How do you get one? Ask horse owners around where you live who they use and for how long they’ve used the farrier. That’ll tell you if they are happy with the person’s work and if it is “tried and true”. How often do hooves need to be trimmed? Anywhere from 8-10 weeks. Sometimes you can get away with going longer, like at times when your horse’s hooves aren’t growing fast, i.e. winter time. The hooves tend to grow faster when new grass comes in, like in the spring and fall time. I usually let them go barefoot in the winter because I don’t do a whole lot of riding. How often does a horse need shoes? This depends purely on what you want. Sometimes, however, a horse might need to be shod all year round for some reason; like horses that have a problem with really soft feet. Because of costs, I only have my horses shod around the time the weather will be decent enough to ride. That way I will be sure to get my moneys worth from it. If you do a lot of riding, then when it is time to have the farrier out (around 8-10 weeks), he will most likely have to replace the shoes. I have only had one time where the farrier reused the shoes that were on my horse. They are usually pretty much worn down by the time it’s time to change. Last summer, to cut down on costs, I only had the front feet shod on my horses. It worked fine, but I didn’t really do any rough trail riding. For rough riding, having all four feet done might be better for the horse. How much does it cost to trim or shoe? For just a trim it is around $25. For shoeing, which includes a trim, it is around $60. The prices have varied depending on who is used, but currently that is how much we pay to have our horses done. The more experience you get just having horses and/or being around them, the more you will be able to tell when the hooves need to be done and figure out what is best for your horse. If you have any questions, feel free to write to: onthefarm@thefamilyhomestead.com Happy horsemanship! |
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