Mani & Pedis

A Farrier is a skilled tradesman that make horse shoes and apply them to horses hooves. Acting as veterinarians, farriers care for hooves by watching for signs of disease or other ill-health. They also watch for potential lameness issues, intervening before a problem occurs.

Farriers maintain hooves by keeping them trimmed. Using tools such as rasps and nippers they cut away the hoof material. It’s an important part of hoof care because it helps maintain foot balance by keeping the feet at the proper shape and length.

Farriers apply horseshoes to horses for some of the above reasons, but they also apply hooves as a corrective measure to improve a horse’s gait and to help an animal gain traction when walking in slippery conditions such as ice. Horseshoes are also used for race horses and performance horses.

Shoes must be regularly removed, replaced, and inspected in order to keep the feet healthy. Horses typically require re-shoeing every six to eight weeks.