The questions that you see on this page are some of the more common questions that are asked of farriers. If you have a question that is not shown here, go to our contacts page and use the link to email the question. Your question may be added to this list, but if it isn't we'll certainly have one of our farriers respond to your email with an answer.

A panel of experienced Minnesota farriers who serve our association met and agreed on the best answer for each question. Of course, there is plenty of room for the opinions of others. We believe that the answers given here would likely represent the majority of farriers both in Minnesota and elsewhere.

Simply click on the question for which you would like an answer.

Question List

1.How do I know if my horse needs shoes?
2.How often should I have my horse's feet done?
3.How do I know if my horse has thrush?
4.What should I do if my vet and farrier disagree about a shoeing prescription?
5.How can I help my horse be better behaved for the farrier?
6.What is the best way to find a new farrier?
7.Should farriers know how to test hoofs for problems?
8.Do farriers go through a certification process?
9.What is the value of "Hot Shoeing"?
10.Is it "normal" for my horse to sore for a while after a trim?

How do I know if my horse needs shoes?

There are three good reasons for a horse to have shoes
1. Therapeutic- The horse may need shoes to help heal a wound or strain. It may also need to have shoes to manage an ongoing condition caused by disease or injury.
2. To do their job- The reigning horse must have "sliders" on his hind feet to do well at the sliding stop. Arabian show horses use weighted shoes to enhance their natural animated gait. And Jumpers need shoes that are drilled and tapped for studs, so they won't slip and injure themselves either starting or landing a jump.
3. Sensitive feet- If a horse has flat feet and thin soles, it may need shoes to protect its feet on rocky terrain.
If your horse does not have any special requirements (therapeutic or job-related), let the horse tell you if it needs shoes. If it's short-strided, constantly tries to move toward softer ground, or actually shows signs of tenderness after a ride, then that's a good reason to give it some protection. Aside from these very specific reasons, a barefoot horse is a good thing.
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How often should I have my horse's feet done?.

This should be worked out between you and your farrier. There are a couple of factors that influence how fast a horse's foot grows and several more confirmational factors that could affect the time between trimmings.
A working horse with good nutrition will grow more foot than a sendentary horse with poor nutrition. If the horse grows a fairly balanced foot heel-to-toe and medial/laterally, 3/16 to 1/4 inch is a reasonable amount of growth to expect between trims. Reaching that length could take from 4-8 weeks. Planning a trim interval of 6 weeks at first is a good place to start until you determine how fast your horse typically grows its feet.
Horses that grow more toe than heel and vice versa or become quickly out of balance medial/laterally may need smaller intervals. Horses with weak hoof walls that tend to flare will need shorter intervals. Discuss the variables with the farrier and agree on a starting interval and be willing to adjust as you become familiar with your horse's needs.
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How do I know if my horse has thrush?

Thrush is a bacterial disease that attacks the frog. Don't go by odor alone - horses have some pretty rank smelling feet sometimes because of what they walk in. Thrush takes residence in the sulci of the frog. That would be the central sulcus (a diamond-shaped divot at the back of the frog) also known as the cleft of the frog and the lateral sulcus on each side of the frog, also known as the commissures. The frog will begin to disintegrate and look stringy. It will also have a black, nasty smelling wetness all around the area. The frog may also have a deep cleft in the center of the central sulcus. As the disease progresses, the horse will become sensitive to hoof cleaning and even to thumb pressure on the frog, especially if the thrush has reached the sensitive structures of the foot.
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What should I do if my vet and farrier disagree about a shoeing prescription?

The best way to minimize the possibility of a disagreement is to not be the go-between in the transfer of information. It's too easy to mis-quote the vet or the farrier. It would be best to tell your farrier to call the vet and give him/her the vet's telephone number. Two professionals should be able to come to a consensus about the best method of treating the problem. Many times the farrier is an experienced veteran who may have seen similar problems resolved in a specific way and you may have a young vet who has been recently taught a different method. Either one of them could be right. If there is a clash of wills, you could get a second opinion from another vet to see if he or she supports your farrier's point of view. If both vets agree on the same prescription and the farrier still refuses to follow their requests, you have a decision to make. Either trust the vet or your farrier. Your past experience with both should be your guide.
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How can I help my horse be better behaved for the farrier?

The farrier doesn't require anything more than what you should expect from your horse already. Your horse should stand motionless for you any time and for as long as you want it to. Make your horse respect you as the alpha in the relationship and help him/her learn that the farrier holds the same position as you do in the horse/human herd by correcting misbehavior consistently and immediately. Harsh discipline should not be done while the farrier is under the horse - your work with the horse should be done before the farrier starts working. Horses that don't understand their boundaries are dangerous for both the farrier and the owner.
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What is the best way to find a new farrier?

First of all, you have to determine what it is that you value in a farrier before you can know if you've found it. There are three basic areas to be considered:
1. Business Practices - Is it important to you that the farrier return phone calls promptly, show up for scheduled appointments, and show up on time?
2. Horse Etiquette - Is it important how the farrier treats your horse? Are you looking for a no-nonsense farrier, a real animal lover, or is something inbetween O.K.?
3. Workmanship - Is it important to you that your farrier is knowledgeable about horse anatomy, the bio-mechanics of the foot, and trims and shoes horses with balance and conformation in mind or are you just looking for someone who can take a little hoof off without making the horse lame?
Once you know what you want in a farrier, check out horse barns or private homes with horses in your area. Check their horse's feet and if you like what you see, asked the horse owners if they like their farrier and, if so, why. If their answers fit your criteria for a good farrier, ask them for his number.
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Should farriers know how to test hoofs for problems?

Yes, it's wise for a farrier to have a hoof tester and know how to use it, if for no other reason than to find out if the horse has become lame due to a close nail. The hoof tester is a tool for determining sensitivity to pressure in the foot. Many farriers will do a hoof test as a courtesy or they may charge a small fee. It's up to the farrier to decide whether or not he/she wants to do anything beyond the test itself in the way of diagnosis and/or suggesting a remedy.
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Do farriers go through a certification process?

There is a certification process available in all the major horseshoeing organizations. Not all farriers have a desire to become certified and no organization or government agency requires that a farrier be certified. The Minnesota Farriers Association subscribes to the American Farriers Association's standards for trimming and shoeing horses. Certification is strongly encouraged and the Minnesota Farriers Association tries to accomodate every person who is attempting to become certified by holding pre-certification clinics, educational clinics, and annual AFA certification examinations.
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What is the value of "Hot Shoeing"?

Hot Shoeing a horse provides potential benefits in three ways:
1. Hot Shoeing will guarantee 100% contact between the hoof and the shoe, because the shoe is melted into the hoof. Perfect contact will help keep the shoe on in between resets. The shoe will not rock and loosen nails which could lead to lost shoes.
2. Hot Shoeing can help regulate moisture content in the foot. Water is constantly evaporating from the foot and the capillary action of the hoof tubules will wick moisture into and out of the foot, depending on the horse's environment at the time. Burning the shoe in place will sear the hoof tubules shut which will eliminate the transfer of moisture in or out the bottom of the hoof wall.
3. Hot Shoeing will kill any bacteria that happens to be in place at the point where the hot steel and the foot meet.
If you have concerns about any of these possible situations, you may want to choose a farrier who Hot Shoes horses.
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Is it "normal" for my horse to be sore for a while after a trim?

NO! If the horse has conformational shortcomings - thin soles, flat feet, etc. - the farrier can make adjustments in his typical trimming routine to accomodate the horse.
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