How to Help a Horse with a Thrown Shoe

Co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN

Last Updated: April 2, 2020 References

If your horse has thrown (lost) a shoe, it's important to act quickly if you want to keep the hoof in good shape. Once you’ve done everything you can to prevent further injury to the horse, your farrier will have to replace the shoe right away. Fortunately, after you’ve taken care of your horse, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the chance of the horse throwing another shoe.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Managing a Horse with a Thrown Shoe

1
Stop riding your horse as soon as you notice the thrown shoe. If the shoe is only loosely hanging on, or if the hoof still has nails embedded in it, riding your horse can cause it a great deal of pain. A missing shoe will also make your horse’s legs uneven, which means that riding your horse this way could make it sore.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Some riders may remove all of their horses’ shoes after 1 is thrown. However, you should not attempt this unless you’re an experienced professional and know how to remove horseshoes properly.
2
Evaluate your horse’s hoof and check for any damage. Look to see how loosely the shoe is still attached to your horse’s hoof (if at all) and whether any nails have been driven into the horse’s sole. Look for any missing chunks of the hoof wall, as well, to gauge if your horse has been seriously hurt or not. Also, check for cracks in the hoof. These can serve as an entry point for bacteria, which may lead to an abscess.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If the horseshoe is still attached to the horse’s hoof, but it’s missing several nails and only loosely attached, do not attempt to move the horse before a farrier can help.
Advertisement
3
Remove any nails that may still be in your horse’s hoof. Slowly walk your horse to the stable or wherever your tools are accessible. Shift your horse’s hoof so that it is positioned between your knees and you’re able to see the bottom of it. Then, use crease nail pullers to grab hold of any protruding nail heads and pull them out of the hoof.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Look at one of your horse's other shoes to determine how many nails were used. This will make it easier for you to locate all of the missing nails.
- If you don’t have crease nail pullers, you can also use a strong pair of pliers to remove the protruding nails.
- Be sure to pick up all the nails you pull out to prevent your horse or other horses from accidentally stepping on them.
4
Contact your farrier at once to get your horse reshod. Your horse will need to be evaluated and fitted for a new shoe as soon as possible, since it may pull a muscle riding with only 3 shoes. Do not try attaching a new shoe yourself, unless you’re an experienced professional.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Put a hoof boot on the unshod hoof until the farrier gets there. Loosen the straps on the boot and slide your horse’s hoof into it, making sure the boot is centered on the hoof. Then, pull the heel captivator up onto the heel bulbs and tighten the straps to secure the boot to the hoof. For maximum safety, have somebody hold the horse for you while you do this.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- This is especially important if the farrier can’t get there right away, since you’ll need to protect your horse’s hoof in the meantime.
- Your vet may also advise you to pack the boot with cotton to protect the hoof from bruising and abscesses until it can be reshod.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- If you don’t have a hoof boot, you can also wrap your horse’s hoof with a size 5 baby diaper and duct tape until it can be treated by a professional.
6
Talk to the horse and gently stroke it to keep it calm. If your horse seems agitated or anxious by having thrown its shoe, stand in front of it and talk to it in a calm, soothing voice. If the horse responds positively to your presence, gently stroke it behind its ears and around its neck.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Preventing a Thrown Shoe

1
Avoid areas and fixtures where losing a horse shoe typically occurs. Walking around in deep mud or in a very arid environment can make your horse more likely to lose 1 of its shoes. Some horses also end up throwing their shoes by sticking their feet through fences and pulling their shoes off that way.
- If your horse puts its feet through fences, refrain from allowing it near these fixtures to avoid it accidentally throwing its shoes.
- Some horses also throw their shoes from kicking their stalls. As frustrating as it may be in the short term, the best way to discourage this type of behavior is to simply ignore the horse’s kicking to avoid reinforcing that behavior.
2
Pick your horse’s hooves before and after each ride. Pick up your horse’s foot so that you can clearly see the bottom of it and use a hoof pick to scrape out any dirt, manure, or other detritus that may be caught in your horse’s hoof. If you don’t ride your horse that often, you should pick its hooves at least once daily to maintain proper hoof health.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- You can buy a hoof pick at any store that sells horse supplies.
3
Have your horse shod at least every 4 to 6 weeks. If you ride your horse long distances (e.g., more than 10 miles (16 km)) every day, you may need to have it shod on a more frequent basis. Talk to your farrier about your horse’s regular routine to find out what sort of schedule you should use to replace the shoes on your horse’s hooves.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Avoid letting your horse go more than 8 weeks without having its shoes replaced.
- The rate at which your horse's hooves grow and the kind of work your horse does will also affect how often it will need to be shod.
4
Talk to your vet about changing your horse’s diet. If your horse’s hooves are brittle and dry, they are more likely to crack, fall apart, and throw their shoe. Although the nature of your horse’s hooves is partially determined by its genetics, adjusting and adding supplements to its diet may give your horse stronger hooves.
- This is especially important if your horse’s diet consists primarily of grass or starchy carbohydrates.

Warnings

When a shoe is thrown, sometimes a piece of hoof comes away as well. If there is any bleeding, administer first aid to the wound and call the vet. The horse will probably need antibiotics, as any infection in the hoof is very dangerous and painful.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Remember to search for the lost shoe, as there may be sharp nails sticking out. If it is in the pasture, you or your horse may end up stepping on it.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0