Have you ever pondered the rationale behind horseshoeing? Probably not. What are the benefits of using horseshoes? We're glad you asked, because we've got some fast answers for you!
As common as horseshoes are, very few people are unfamiliar with their appearance. But why are these things even a thing in the first place? And why are they worn by virtually all horses (except from wild ones)?
Working horses' hooves benefit from the usage of horseshoes because they are more durable. Keratin, the protein found in your fingernails and hooves, makes up the hoof's structure. In contrast, the hoof possesses a delicate and soft inner portion known as the frog (seen in the illustration above in a circle) that can be damaged. When horses move, the hoof naturally wears away, therefore putting a shoe to the hoof helps to reduce that wear and maintain the frog's good health.
Most horseshoes are constructed of steel using anvils for sale, although this isn't always the case. Due to their low weight, aluminium horseshoes are commonly used on racehorses. This helps them run faster. In the event of a hoof or foot damage, horses can also wear "boots." Rubber "boots" with a built-in rubber horseshoe give a considerably softer walking surface and more considerable support than traditional leather boots.
Farriers are individuals who work with horses to put horseshoes on them (also spelled Ferrier). For the purpose of attaching the horseshoe to the hoof, farriers use nails (such as the ones seen above). Because horse hooves are made of the same material as your nail, affixing a horseshoe to the hoof has no influence on the horse's ability to feel. As soon as the nails have been driven into the hoof's outer edge, the farrier twists them around so that they form a hook. The hoof will be filed down to remove any sharp edges or residual portions of the hoof in order to ensure a proper fit. When the hoof has fully developed, it will eventually overhang the shoe, signalling that it is time to re-shoe the horse and remove the old shoes.
Horses who do not have horseshoes are extremely unusual, yet there can be. Wild horses, on the other hand, are devoid of hooves and have no feet. Horses that do not wear shoes in the working world are more likely to have problems with their feet than other horses. It is impossible to connect a shoe to their feet when their hooves are extremely fragile or when a part of their hoof has broken off completely. Even while these horses will still be able to be utilized for trail rides and agricultural labour, the amount of time they will be able to devote to these activities will be limited.
For starters, wild horses do not "work" as hard or as regularly as a horse under the ownership of a human being. Consequently, their hooves deteriorate at a slower pace than their growth. Another reason is that they have no one looking out for their best interests, so they are on their own whenever something goes wrong, such as when a frog is injured or when an animal needs a new shoe.