How to Make Horseshoes
Horseshoes serve many purposes: they protect hooves from hard surfaces, improve gait, prevent collision of the hooves and legs while the horse is running or walking, and improve stance. There are approximately 15 types of horseshoes that are made for different horses to correct problems in a horse's gait.
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Things You'll Need
- Bar of steel
- Steel file
- Horseshoe design die
- Forging hammer
- Anvil
- Fire pit
- Forging gloves and attire
- Safety goggles
- Bucket of cold water
- Nails
- Strong wire cutters
Instructions
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1
Determine and purchase the type of design die you need for your horse. The die dealer should be able to help identify the right die based on any problems your horse is having. For instance, if your horse has a problem in which her feet cut inside her natural stride, placing a square-toed shoe on her rather than a U-shaped shoe may make a difference.
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2
Melt the bar of steel until it is malleable and resembles modeling clay. Once melted, wrap the melted steel bar around a pole or another steel bar in the shape of the horseshoe you want to create. Once shaped, you may press the curved bar into the design die by hammering it in with the forging hammer.
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3
Remove the bar from the horseshoe design die before it has a chance to completely cool. Hammer nails through the shoe to create the holes in which the shoes will later be hammered to your horse's hoof. On average, eight holes are placed on each horseshoe, evenly spaced.
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4
Cut off excess pieces with your wire cutters while the steel is still warm. File down rough edges, then drop the shoe into a bucket of cold water.
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5
Repeat the above steps until you have all the shoes you need. Bear in mind that some horses require different-shaped horseshoes on their front feet and their back feet.
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6
Attach the horseshoes to the horse's hooves with the help of an assistant. The horse should not feel any pain as the shoes are placed because her hooves do not have nerves.
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Tips & Warnings
Horseshoes can be made from various types of steel, plastic-coated steel and even plastic alone. The bar of steel may need to be cut to length before the bar is bent, after it has been heated to the malleable form. Remember to wear safety goggles and forging gloves and attire while working with the fire pit and hot steel.
