My Fell Pony Gets New Shoes

July 25, 2022

My handsome Fell Pony, Banchunch, is enjoying his new shoes.

All my horses get new shoes every four to six weeks. Made of metal or sometimes rubber or other materials, horseshoes are designed to protect the horse’s hooves from wear. Every shoe must be fitted properly in order to prevent mobility issues from developing. The horseshoes usually remain on the animal's hooves until the farrier returns to change them, but occasionally a horse will throw a shoe during a ride or just out in the paddock. That's exactly what happened to Banchunch - he threw one of his front shoes, so we called in the farrier, Marc Hill, to come for a visit.

Enjoy these photos.

: A farrier always has his or her box of important tools. When we see this in the stable, we know our farrier is not far away. Among the implements needed to change horseshoes are the pullers, a clinch cutter, a brush, and a rasp.

: Banchunch threw a shoe the night before while out in the pasture. When this happens it’s important to call in the farrier to replace it quickly. Here’s Banchunch waiting for the farrier, Marc Hill, to start the process.

: Banchunch has sensitive hooves, so he wears glue-on shoes. Here, Marc uses old tube socks to protect the feathering on his legs from getting any glue on them. The hoof on left is missing a shoe.

: Next, Marc uses a rasp, or a horse-sized file, to flatten and level the hoof and remove any uneven spots. Hooves grow continuously, so filing the surface when re-shoeing is important for maintaining the horse’s foot balance and gait.

: This is a hoof buffer attachment for a drill. It quickly removes any marks, rings, or gouges on the hoof wall and helps to prep the hoof for the glue-on shoe.

: Rubber glue-on horseshoes absorb shock and vibration. They are applied with a two-part epoxy adhesive that is made specifically for the equine foot.

: A well-fitted horseshoe should align well with the edge of the hoof. Marc pulls one out to try on Banchunch.

: Marc places the new shoe under Banchunch’s foot and assesses where adjustments are needed.

: These shoes are pretty flexible and easy to shape for a proper fit.

: The hoof must be perfectly smooth for the adhesive to work, so Marc goes over the hoof again with a sanding block to create a clean gluing surface.

: My donkeys are so curious. Clive and Truman “TJ” Junior turn their heads to see what all the commotion is about. Most donkeys do not wear shoes, but they do need their hooves trimmed and filed regularly.

: Once the shoe is put on, Marc picks the hoof up and wraps it with plastic stretch wrap so the new shoe is tight against the hoof wall.

: The wrap holds the shoe in place while the glue is curing. It doesn’t take long for the adhesive to start setting – the wrap is removed after about 10 to 15 minutes.

: Meanwhile, Banchunch’s other front hoof is lifted onto a hoof jack, so Marc can remove the other shoe.

: Then he cleans the bottom of the hoof and removes any debris. Downward strokes from heel to toe are always recommended. Marc is careful around the frog, the triangular portion in the middle of the hoof, which is very sensitive.