How Does a Horseshoe Work?
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Purpose of Horseshoes
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The main purpose of the horseshoe is to reinforce the hooves of a horse in order to help it adapt to the lifestyle of a workhorse or a domesticated horse. There is a lot of debate over whether or not domesticated horses really need horseshoes to enjoy good health, including whether they would be healthier without the horseshoes. No true consensus exists on this issue, but the majority of people still use horseshoes on their horses today to help protect their horses' hooves from damage.
The Shoeing Process
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When a horseshoe is being placed onto a horse's hoof, the first step is that the person doing the job needs to trim the hoof to its proper length. The hoof is then measured, allowing for a horseshoe of proper dimensions to be produced. Lastly, the horseshoe is applied to the hoof using short nails to attach the shoe to the underside of the hoof. When done properly this process is not painful to the horse. Improper shoeing, however, can have disastrous results.
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How it Works
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The horseshoe works in a very similar fashion to how normal shoes help human feet. Essentially, the horseshoe helps to insulate the horse's hooves from damaging substances, particularly very hard substances like concrete or metal that the horse wouldn't naturally encounter. The horseshoe can also help to encourage better traction for the animal depending on its design.
Different Types of Horseshoes
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There are many different types of horseshoes to choose from. Standard horseshoes are generally made of steel and are both tough and relatively inexpensive. Horseshoes are also made of many other substances, for varying purposes, including other metals, rubber and plastics.
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- Photo Credit Pearson Scott Foresman, Wikimedia Commons
