Tips for Keeping Shoes on Horses’ Feet
Debra Powell, PhD, PAS
May 6, 2026
Learn how to prevent shoe loss caused by farrier error, rider issues, management style, or horseplay.
Learn how to prevent shoe loss caused by farrier error, rider issues, management style, or horseplay.
Rocker shoes might help stabilize horses’ laminitic feet by improving breakover, reducing tendon tension, and redistributing weight to support healing and hoof growth.
Read about the steps veterinarians and farriers take to identify, evaluate, and treat riding horses’ hoof problems.
Review the latest research findings on how different horseshoes affect the hoof and a horse’s gait.
Here’s how one veterinarian manages horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome to keep them comfortable in a performance career.
8 important tasks to check off your list before the colder weather arrives.
How farriers trim and shoe horses for their unique biomechanics, discipline, and riding surface.
Veterinarians and farriers emphasize individualized maintenance for preventing lameness and promoting long-term horse soundness.
Managing chronic laminitis in horses calls for a proactive approach. Read more in the Summer 2025 issue of The Horse.
Researchers now understand how 7 types of shoeing combinations affect movement in each area of the horse’s neck and back.
Proper shoeing aligns with a horse’s conformation and job, enhancing natural abilities with minimal interference.
Find out how to recognize when a horse is at risk of developing EMS-related laminitis and what you can do to either prevent or manage it so he stays sound.
Going barefoot can benefit hoof health, but consider management and physical needs before pulling shoes.
Even horses with less-than-ideal feet can lead sound and productive careers.
Driving horses, whether pulling a plow, going for a pleasure drive, or competing, face health considerations similar to and distinct from those of typical sport horses.
Detecting and managing osteoarthritis in its early stages can go a long way toward keeping your horse sound, comfortable, and happy in his job for years to come.
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