Encyclopedia of Farriery: Fixing a Loose/Thrown Shoe.

DFT3.0 (2012) Working Draft.

© 2011 Millwater

Note: Words in italic boldface have their own entries and are so marked for cross-referencing.

How To Fix a Pulled Horseshoe.

   The best shod horse can still manage to step-on or snag a horseshoe, pulling it partially or completely off.  Fortunately, it does not take the skills or tools of a competent farrier to do a serviceable job of putting the hoof back to right until a professional is available.

   The tools required are a rasp, pullers, wire brush, light driving hammer, heavier hammer, and something to use as an anvil.  A section of railroad track, piece of heavy steel plate, or a machinist's vise are adequate anvil substitutes for this task.  All that is needed is something solid with a reasonably flat top surface.  Chaps, sturdy boots, and safety glasses are recommended.  A small supply of appropriate nails (#5 City Head for most riding horses) will be needed.

   First the shoe will need to be removed, if this has not already been done by the horse.  (See horseshoe, removal.)  Any nails left behind in the foot will need to be removed as cleanly as possible.

   Pulled shoes are usually bent away from the hoof on the stepped-on or snagged branch.  The fit of the shoe is usually retained, so it only needs to be re-leveled.  After removing the nails from the shoe and wire brushing the dirt off of it, place the bent-down branch hoof-side up onto your "anvil".  The bent shoe should form an arch supported by the anvil at two points.  Strike down on the shoe between these points with the heavy hammer to drive the top of the arch down.  Move the shoe around on the anvil face, driving down high spots, until the shoe is as level as you can get it.

   Wire brush the bottom of the hoof clean and hold it in the shoeing position.  Set the shoe onto the foot and place a nail through the third hole back in one branch of the shoe, being sure to orient the nail with the trademark facing inward.  Search around until you find the hole left by the original nail with the tip of your new nail, then push it in with your thumb.  Do the same on at the third hole back on the other branch.  Use your light hammer to tap one nail home.  It should easily follow the path established by the original nail.  Bend the protruding nail tip over, then do the same with the nail on the other side.  Now the remaining nail holes in the shoe should be directly over the established nail paths in the hoof, so tapping nails through should be a simple matter.  See horseshoe, conventional application for nail seating and the block method of clinching and tightening.

{Notes: Appendix entry? Need images of tools, shoe leveling technique.}

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