Farriers have to use hefty iron nails to keep the shoes in place, of course. But do horseshoes hurt horses?
Horseshoes are a part of equestrian life and are a must-have if you like to ride your horses regularly. They work to keep your horse’s feet protected from hard surfaces such as concrete. But if you’ve sat and watched the farrier work to attach horseshoes to a horse’s foot, you may be thinking that it looks like a painful process.
The good news is that no, horseshoes don’t hurt horses. Providing they have been shod by an experienced farrier who knows what they’re doing, you can rest assured that your horse isn’t in pain when they have horseshoes put in place. In fact, horseshoes are often necessary to keep your horse’s feet protected when you’re riding them.
Horse hooves are made from keratin, just like our human nails. So there are no pain receptors in the horse’s hooves, so they won’t feel any pain at all. Hoof maintenance is a necessary part of owning a horse, as their feet will need to be properly cared for. If your horse is unshod, meaning it doesn’t wear shoes, then it will need to have its hooves trimmed regularly.
Your horse will benefit greatly from having a set of horseshoes in place. This is because the horse will benefit from the shock absorption, balance, and traction that horseshoes give them.
Do Horses Feel Pain When Getting Horseshoes?
No, horses don’t feel pain when they’re getting horseshoes. This is because the horse hoof is made from keratin. This is the same material that hair and nails are made from in humans, and it doesn’t have any pain receptors. So your horse won’t feel any pain at all when they have horseshoes put in place.
It will be important to ensure that your horse only has horseshoes put in place by an experienced farrier who knows what he’s doing. This is because they will know exactly how to measure up your horse for the right-sized shoes, and will know how to attach the shoes using nails.
Is It Cruel To Put Horseshoes On Horses?
No, it isn’t cruel to put horseshoes on horses. This is because if your horse is a working horse or tends to be ridden a lot. Then they will need horseshoes in place to protect their feet. Horseshoes work to protect and strengthen your horse’s hooves, as well as prevent the hooves from wearing down too quickly.
Horseshoes can also protect your horse from becoming lame, which could leave them on box rest for several weeks.
Wild horses tend to naturally wear down their hooves through their natural day-to-day routine, especially if they move across harder terrain. However, this isn’t the case for domesticated horses. Domesticated horses won’t be able to wear their hooves down as easily, especially if they’re used to softer beds and terrain. So your horse will need to have their hooves shod or trimmed so that they can stay comfortable.
Are Horseshoes Good For Horses?
Yes, horseshoes are good for horses. This is because they work to give your domesticated horse’s hooves added strength and durability. If your horse is ridden a lot, they will need to be shod so that their hooves don’t wear down too quickly. Horseshoes also work to protect your horse’s feet from any tough rocky ground that they may encounter.
Some horses may even suffer from certain medical conditions which means their feet are more sensitive if they aren’t shod. If horses suffer from conditions that could make the hooves weaker, such as arthritis, laminitis, or ringbone, then having horseshoes in place can give their hooves the strength they’re missing.
Why Do Horses Need Shoes But Not Wild Horses?
Domesticated horses need horseshoes for a variety of reasons. Wild horses are able to naturally wear down their hooves through their movements along harder terrain. Domesticated horses don’t experience this same level of movement unless they are ridden a lot.
If a horse is unshod, they will likely need to have their feet trimmed so that their hooves can be well maintained. If you tend to ride your horse a lot, or they are used for regular work, then they will need to be shod so that their hooves don’t wear down too quickly.
Horseshoes will also generally strengthen their feet so that they can ride over harder surfaces without too much difficulty. An unshod horse would find it difficult to keep up with the demands of riding over these harder surfaces, and could even become lame.
What Happens If Horses’ Hooves Are Not Trimmed?
Horse hooves are basically like human nails. They are constantly growing, so need to be trimmed regularly to ensure that your horse can stay comfortable. It is part of basic equine maintenance to ensure that your horse’s hooves are regularly trimmed, even if they don’t wear shoes. Your horse will need to have its hooves trimmed or need new shoes put in place every 4 to 6 weeks.
If your horse doesn’t have its hooves trimmed, this could cause them pain. It could even cause them to go lame if they aren’t cared for properly for long periods of time. This is because the hooves will keep growing and growing, and could cause the horse to stumble or trip as they walk or run along.
In Summary
So there you have it! It doesn’t actually hurt horses to be shod, because there are no pain receptors in their hooves. Horse hooves are made from keratin, which is the same substance human hair and nails are made from. So you won’t have to worry about your horse feeling pain when they have horseshoes attached.
In fact, horseshoes are often beneficial to horses. This is because they give the horse added durability and strength which is needed for working on harder surfaces. These also work to prevent your horse’s hooves from wearing down too quickly as can often happen when they are ridden or driven frequently.
