How often does a horse need the farrier?

Most horses need regular farrier attention throughout the year.

As a general UK guide:

These are starting points rather than fixed rules.

Some horses will need shorter intervals, while others can comfortably go a little longer. Your farrier should set the schedule based on the individual horse.

Why do horses need regular farrier visits?

A horse's hooves continue to grow throughout its life.

As the hoof grows, its shape and balance can gradually change. Shoes also wear, loosen and move as the hoof grows underneath them.

Regular farrier visits help to:

• keep the hoof correctly trimmed and balanced
• prevent excessive hoof growth
• replace worn or loose shoes
• reduce the risk of cracks and splits
• maintain appropriate support for the horse's workload
• spot developing hoof problems early

Waiting until a hoof looks obviously overgrown or a shoe falls off is not a good farrier schedule.

How often does a shod horse need the farrier?

For most shod horses, every 4 to 6 weeks is a common interval.

During the appointment, the farrier will normally remove the old shoes, trim and balance the feet and then refit or replace the shoes as appropriate.

The exact interval depends on how quickly the hoof grows and how the horse wears its shoes.

A horse working regularly on harder surfaces may wear shoes differently from a horse doing light work on a soft arena.

Likewise, a horse with hoof balance problems or specialist shoeing requirements may need more frequent appointments.

How often does a barefoot horse need trimming?

Barefoot does not mean maintenance free.

Most unshod horses still need regular trimming to keep the hoof balanced.

Around 6 to 8 weeks is a useful starting point for many barefoot horses, although some will need attention sooner.

Natural wear can remove some hoof growth, particularly in horses working over firm or abrasive surfaces, but it is still important to have the feet checked regularly.

Your farrier may recommend a different interval depending on:

• hoof growth
• workload
• terrain
• hoof quality
• conformation
• previous hoof problems

Do horses need the farrier less often in winter?

Hoof growth often slows during winter, but that does not mean farrier care should stop.

The British Horse Society advises maintaining a regular farrier routine through winter so that hoof balance is not allowed to deteriorate.

Wet ground can also soften the hoof, while repeated changes between wet and dry conditions may contribute to cracking and other problems.

Your farrier may adjust the interval slightly through the year, but this should be based on your horse rather than simply stretching appointments because it is winter.

What can make a horse need the farrier more often?

A shorter interval may be recommended where a horse has:

• fast hoof growth
• poor hoof balance
• weak or damaged hoof walls
• repeated shoe loss
• significant cracks
• conformational problems
• a heavy workload
• specialist or remedial shoes
• a veterinary condition affecting the feet or limbs

Young, older or recovering horses may also have different farriery needs.

If your horse is under veterinary treatment involving the feet, your vet and farrier may need to work together.

What about remedial or corrective shoeing?

Some horses need shoeing specifically to manage a hoof, limb or movement problem.

This may involve:

• different shoe designs
• additional support
• changes to breakover
• pads or other materials
• closer monitoring of hoof balance

There is no useful standard interval for remedial farriery.

Your farrier, and where appropriate your vet, should decide how often the horse needs to be seen.

Signs you should call the farrier sooner

Do not automatically wait for the next booked appointment if something has changed.

Contact your farrier if you notice:

• a loose or twisted shoe
• a shoe that has partly come off
• badly worn shoes
• a significant crack or split
• a hoof becoming noticeably long or unbalanced
• repeated chipping around the hoof wall
• a sudden change in hoof shape
• unusual wear

If your horse is lame, in obvious pain, has heat or swelling around the foot or leg, or you suspect an injury or infection, contact your vet as well.

What if a horse loses a shoe?

A lost shoe is not always an emergency, but it should be dealt with promptly.

Check the foot for:

• torn hoof wall
• remaining nails
• bleeding
• obvious injury
• lameness

Avoid riding the horse until you know the foot is comfortable and your farrier has advised you, particularly if the horse normally relies on shoes for support or protection.

If the horse is significantly lame or the hoof has been injured, contact your vet.

Check your horse's feet every day

Farrier visits are only part of good hoof care.

The British Horse Society recommends picking out your horse's feet at least once a day.

While doing so, check for:

• stones and debris
• cracks or splits
• thrush
• damage to the frog
• loose or worn shoes
• unusual heat
• anything that looks different from normal

Regular checks make it much easier to spot a problem before it develops into something more serious.

Does every horse need shoes?

No.

Some horses work perfectly well barefoot, while others benefit from shoes for protection, traction, support or management of a particular problem.

Whether a horse should be barefoot or shod depends on factors such as:

• workload
• surfaces
• hoof quality
• conformation
• comfort
• previous injuries or conditions

It should be decided according to the horse rather than assuming that one approach is always better.

Do I need to use a registered farrier?

In England, Scotland and Wales, the practice of farriery is regulated under the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975.

Shoeing and other work falling within the legal definition of farriery must only be carried out by people legally permitted to practise, including registered farriers and certain supervised trainees.

You can check whether someone is registered using the Farriers Registration Council's public register.

Northern Ireland is different. The Farriers (Registration) Act does not extend to Northern Ireland and there is currently no equivalent statutory farrier registration system there.

Wherever you are in the UK, use a suitably qualified and competent hoof-care professional and involve your vet where a medical problem is suspected.

How much does a farrier cost?

Prices vary by area, farrier and the work required.

Current British Horse Society planning figures are roughly:

Specialist shoes, pads, remedial work and additional materials can cost more.

These figures are useful for budgeting rather than fixed prices.

The simple answer

A shod horse will commonly need the farrier every 4 to 6 weeks.

A barefoot horse will often be trimmed around every 6 to 8 weeks.

The correct interval depends on the individual horse, so follow the schedule recommended by your farrier rather than trying to stretch every horse to a particular number of weeks.

And between visits, check and pick out your horse's feet every day.