In honor of National Day of the Horse, let’s learn some farrier facts!
- Horses’ hoofs are constantly growing, like our fingernails, and need to be trimmed by a farrier every 6-8 weeks.
- Farriers take into account hoof shape and health, along with the specific use of the horse, to determine how they care for each horse’s feet.
- Foot care is one of the most important aspects of routine horse care as horses’ feet carry a lot of weight.
- Some horses are barefoot (no shoes), while others may need 2 or 4 shoes to provide the needed support.
- In the winter, many horses wear special shoes with studs to provide additional traction on the ice, and special pads to reduce the buildup of snow/ice on the bottom of their feet.
