Horse Shoes

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A few months ago I got the chance to see how a race horse change shoes.

First the different shoes and tools. The aluminum shoes were for actual racing, irons ones for training.

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First pry loose the nails, then pull them out.

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Right after taking out the old shoe, the hoof and the nails are dirty and over grown. The farrier would shave off the excessive nails, and file it nicely.

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Do you think the horse was enjoying the grooming?

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The new shoe was heat up and pressed against the hoof.
This was to measure whether the trimming was done properly?!

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The nails are very long.
After the shoe was nailed in, the nails would came out from the other side of the hoof/nail, and the excessive nail head cut off, and filed.

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Almost done!

[q]

The new shoe was heat up and pressed against the hoof.
This was to measure whether the trimming was done properly?!

According to what I've read and seen on TV the horse shoe is heated to allow the farrier to shape the shoe to the hoof. Although I don't know how this would work with aluminum.