The Kids' Barn at The Mooreland Equestrian Center
Equine Fun For Kids and Kids at Heart
Horse Know How
To Shoe or Not to Shoe
Some horses wear metal shoes, some wear none and some use special removable shoes when they need extra protection for their feet.
Horses and ponies wear shoes for many reasons. Some need shoes because of medical conditions. Sera wears shoes to deal with a navicular problem, very common in horse of her breed and size. The picture below is of a special pad that fits between the shoe and the foot. It is designed to help absorb vibration and shock. It does seem to work very well. In the winter she will have to either be barefoot, the best option for ice and snow, or wear special pads that keep the ice and snow forming snowballs on her metal shoes. These "snowballs" are very difficult to remove and can be very dangerous for horses.
Our ponies are all barefoot. Most ponies can be barefoot. Their feet are generally the right size for their bodies and they carry less weight on their feet and legs. Ponies who work 4 or 5 hours per day sometimes need shoes because their feet wear down faster than they would in the wild.
Although most horses do not love having their feet worked on they do move better when their foot is properly shod or trimmed. Shoeing can cost anywhere from $80 to $400 depending on the needs of the horse and the experience of the farrier. Trims can cost between $40 and $100. There is an old horse saying that goes "no foor, no horse" so it is very important that you choose your farrier carefully. A horse or pony should never come up lame after it is shod or trimmed.
Some horses wear metal shoes, some wear none and some use special removable shoes when they need extra protection for their feet.
Horses and ponies wear shoes for many reasons. Some need shoes because of medical conditions. Sera wears shoes to deal with a navicular problem, very common in horse of her breed and size. The picture below is of a special pad that fits between the shoe and the foot. It is designed to help absorb vibration and shock. It does seem to work very well. In the winter she will have to either be barefoot, the best option for ice and snow, or wear special pads that keep the ice and snow forming snowballs on her metal shoes. These "snowballs" are very difficult to remove and can be very dangerous for horses.
Our ponies are all barefoot. Most ponies can be barefoot. Their feet are generally the right size for their bodies and they carry less weight on their feet and legs. Ponies who work 4 or 5 hours per day sometimes need shoes because their feet wear down faster than they would in the wild.
Although most horses do not love having their feet worked on they do move better when their foot is properly shod or trimmed. Shoeing can cost anywhere from $80 to $400 depending on the needs of the horse and the experience of the farrier. Trims can cost between $40 and $100. There is an old horse saying that goes "no foor, no horse" so it is very important that you choose your farrier carefully. A horse or pony should never come up lame after it is shod or trimmed.
Do Horses Sleep?
We get this question all the time. Yes they do and they sleep more than you think they might. Horses are prey animals, other animals eat them, so they have to be very careful when they sleep. They are able to sleep standing up because they have a special stay mechanism in their knees that allow them to keep upright when they take a nap.But they must also get off their feet for at least 15 to 20 minutes a day in order to achieve peak performance. Some horses will sleep lying down up to an hour or more a day lying down, especially younger horses and in the warmer weather. So if you see a horse in a field lying down and they look really comfortable, don't worry, they are just taking a quick nap.
We get this question all the time. Yes they do and they sleep more than you think they might. Horses are prey animals, other animals eat them, so they have to be very careful when they sleep. They are able to sleep standing up because they have a special stay mechanism in their knees that allow them to keep upright when they take a nap.But they must also get off their feet for at least 15 to 20 minutes a day in order to achieve peak performance. Some horses will sleep lying down up to an hour or more a day lying down, especially younger horses and in the warmer weather. So if you see a horse in a field lying down and they look really comfortable, don't worry, they are just taking a quick nap.
Fall Spruce Up Grooming
We will be getting the horses and ponies ready for the cooler weather ahead in the coming weeks. Each horse will get a good bath, including the maine and tail when the weather is warm enough. We will be trimming bridle paths and pulling manes. If you would like to help out, give us a call.
We will be getting the horses and ponies ready for the cooler weather ahead in the coming weeks. Each horse will get a good bath, including the maine and tail when the weather is warm enough. We will be trimming bridle paths and pulling manes. If you would like to help out, give us a call.
