Shoeing
The fitting and application of hoof protection ( horses , mules , donkeys or cattle ) along with the necessary preparatory work (so-called trimming of the hoof ) is called hoof shoeing . The aim is to protect the hoof from excessive abrasion , as occurs when riding or driving frequently on paved paths and roads. Furthermore, the horseshoe can be used to correct an incorrect hoof position in order to be able to guarantee the most fluid possible movement.
For shoeing can horseshoes (iron or aluminum alloys), plastic fitting and gluing shoes are used. If necessary, hoof boots that can be buckled on must also be adjusted, but do not count as shoeing, but are referred to as hoof protection.
In recent years, the term has expanded considerably due to new techniques and materials, combined with a specialization of the professional groups. Traditionally, the term horseshoe only refers to the trimming of the hoof and the manufacture, adaptation and nailing of horseshoes by the farrier .
History of shoeing
A horse living in the wild does not need hoof protection, as the wear and regrowth of the horn are usually in balance. However, if the horse is used to a greater extent by humans, the hoof can no longer grow back quickly enough. This problem was particularly pronounced in the military use of the horse.
The first indications of hoof protection devices with leather, straw and bast shoes are from the 1st millennium BC. Known. It is reported that Alexander the Great was on his march through Asia in the 4th century BC. BC lost many horses to hoof problems as the Persians did not know about hoof protection. There is no reference to hoof protection in Greek literature either.
Around the year 1, the Romans introduced a type of horse sandal. However, these were only suitable for slow movement. At the same time, the Celts were already using nailed irons. This method was then adopted by the Romans.
Vocational training and legal aspects
Until the early 1970s, farrier was a recognized apprenticeship with a four-year training period. Today it is considered a special qualification in the metalworking trade. In addition, there are now Huftechniker, Huforthopäden , hoof and Hufheilpraktiker with different training paths. However, these training courses are not regulated by law - so anyone can call themselves that without ever having completed training in the field.
The shoeing law of April 19, 2006, which has been in force since January 1, 2007, defines shoeing as the totality of all operations on the hoof that go beyond mere cleaning. In the course of this, this also means limiting the activities to state-approved farriers. This in turn means that any hoof care activity - even on one's own horse - by anyone other than an authorized farrier is prohibited. The only exception, according to the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court, are hoof nurses (of the various forms; see above) who had already registered and exercised their trade before 2007. The recognition as a farrier is regulated in detail in the new farrier ordinance of December 15, 2006.
With regard to a pending constitutional complaint, the Federal Constitutional Court initially suspended the entry into force of the law by decision of December 5, 2006 (1 BvR 2186/06) to a certain extent until the final decision on the constitutional complaint and by decision of July 3, 2007 partially suspended the law declared unconstitutional. Recognition as a farrier is regulated in the new Farrier Ordinance of December 15, 2006.
application
When the horse is used through tension ( draft animal , driving ) and riding , especially on hard ground , the hoof is worn out faster than it can grow back. Such horses need shoeing. Since the hoof also grows back under the horseshoe, horseshoes should be removed and the hooves cut out every six to eight weeks.
If horses are not ridden or ridden only a little, or if they mostly run on soft and non- abrasive ground, horseshoes can be left out or only attached to the front legs. But even with them, the hoof must be regularly cut out by a specialist (farrier, hoof care provider).
Horses living in the wild do not need shoeing, as their hoof horn usually grows back to the same extent as it wears out or breaks out.
Special applications
In horse racing , special horseshoes are used in a wide variety of shapes and weights in order to achieve certain effects in the process from footing through rolling to footing. Because of their lower weight, racehorses almost exclusively wear aluminum fittings.
In the case of therapeutic shoes that are supposed to help heal or correct the hoof or the joint position, a shortened shoeing period of approx. Four weeks is quite normal.
Application
After extensive preparation, horseshoes are attached to the outer edge of the horn part of the hooves with nails.
Preparation of the hoof
After the old horseshoe and all the nails were removed, the hoof by means of a trimming pliers zurechtgezwickt and cut the sole of the hoof with a Hufrinnmesser. Small bumps on the underside of the hoof are smoothed out with a rasp .
Shorten the supporting edge with the hoof cutting pliers (Nipper)
Hoof knife, pinnacle knife
The main skill: caring for the hoof with rasp and hoof knife, and preparing the shoe
Well-groomed hoof, smoothed for re-shoeing
Preparation of the horseshoe
The horseshoe is placed on the underside of the hoof and, if necessary, trimmed (forged) with a hammer on the anvil in order to adapt it exactly to the width and shape of the hoof. The shaping of the horseshoe can be done in a warm or cold state.
Cold fitting
Cold shoeing requires a particularly precise handling of the hoof rasp, because only then can a precise and flat fit of the horseshoe be achieved.
Hot fogging
Before processing, the horseshoe is strongly heated, shaped, forged flat and then attached to the hoof while still hot. The so-called burn-on removes the smallest bumps that still exist on the support edge. In addition, when the nail holes are burned, small impressions are formed where the nail holes lie on the hoof, which enable the blacksmith to check very precisely whether the nail holes are really on the white line of the hoof. You can also see the footprint of the hoof on the support surface of the iron and use it to judge whether the iron is too narrow or too wide. Then the iron may be readjusted and, after checking the accuracy of fit on the hoof again, it is cooled down and nailed on.
When used correctly, the horse does not experience any pain through the burning. Therefore, depending on the sole thickness, it should not be burned too hot, too long or too often. The burning noise and the rising smoke can lead to defensive reactions in the horse.
A drying out of the hoof has not yet been proven if the hoof is properly burned, as the heat of the hot iron has been proven to radiate only 5.4 mm into the depth of the horn and the hoof horn, even with a theoretical loss of moisture in this almost 6 mm, absorbs moisture again as soon as it is comes into contact with water.
Nail up
With a shoeing hammer you nail through the hoof's carrying edge in the white line so that the nail tip emerges from the hoof wall about 2-3 cm above the hoof's carrying edge. The horseshoe nail is then clipped off with shoeing pliers. A trough-shaped hoof horn is removed from under the nail stump with an undercutter; alternatively, a small groove can be made in the hoof with the edge of the hoof rasp so that the nail stump can then be sunk into this groove with a rivet. Finally, a file is used to file over all the nails in order to completely remove all protruding sharp edges and corners.
Fogging of cattle
In the past, draft cattle were also shod. Since the sole of the cattle's foot consists of two claws that can move against each other , a different fitting is necessary here, which essentially consists of an elliptical plate that is nailed under one claw half. Usually only the outer claw of the forefoot, and under heavy loads, the inner claw of the rear foot, too, was fogged up, as these wear out the most. The claw plate ( claw iron ) is only nailed on the outside of the claw; on the inside the plate is held by a metal tongue which is passed between the two claws and bent over.
Alternatives to metal fittings
Barefoot
Nowadays the average recreational horse is exposed to so little stress that shoeing is often not necessary. The fact that most horses are still shod is due to tradition rather than the actual need to protect the hooves from excessive wear.
Plastic fitting
In particular, the low weight and a certain damping effect compared to iron are among the advantages of plastic fittings. Another benefit is the unrestricted blood supply in the hoof. The plastic fitting should also preserve the horse's ability to feel the ground, i.e. its sense of touch .
Composite fitting (combination hoof protection)
The composite fitting combines two different materials (metal and plastic) and their advantages: Thanks to its solid metal core, the composite fitting is extremely torsion-resistant and relatively long-lasting. The relatively soft plastic sheath reduces shocks when the feet are raised.
Adhesive shoes
There are quite a number of manufacturers of adhesive shoes with different functions. The advantage lies in the painless attachment z. B. on the deer hoof , where nailing can be painful and the shock can even be harmful. For sticky shoes, however, the horse has to endure long intervals on three legs. Likewise, it must usually not move the hoof at the moment of gluing. However, the use of sticky shoes on deer hooves also involves risks. The risk of developing hoof abscesses is increased.
Artificial horn
With artificial horn products, both hoof wall reconstructions and large parts of the horn capsule can be replaced.
Buckle-on hoof boots
There are two groups of hoof boots:
- Hospital shoes that are used in the acute phase.
- Hoof boots designed as temporary hoof protection when riding.
If the deer horse can be moved easily again in the following period, the hoof shoe does a good job here. It protects the lamella from pebbles that could trigger a sole ulcer and makes it easier for the still sensitive horse to walk.
Insoles made of sturdy foam rubber (e.g. from camping equipment) under suitably cut PE plastic sheets (accessories from some hoof shoe manufacturers or sealing membranes from dam construction) have also proven themselves, which significantly increase the dampening effect again. Hoof boots that are held by straps around the heel wall are not very suitable for this purpose.
Web links
- Ordinance on shoeing of December 31, 1940 (pdf; 37 kB)
- Farriery Act of April 19, 2006 - text from juris
- Farriery Ordinance of December 15, 2006 - text from juris
- A life for the farrier Prof. Dr. Hans Jöchle (1892 - 1968) (pdf) Sources and materials on the history of the veterinary faculty of the University of Munich by Stefanie Albrecht (1.58 MB)
- History of shoeing
- Horse Shoeing on YouTube - video of a farrier's view of shoeing
- Video of shoeing a cow in France
swell
- ↑ The horse shoeing. Retrieved March 6, 2019 .
- ↑ 1 Senate Federal Constitutional Court: Federal Constitutional Court - decisions - parts of the new farriery law temporarily stopped. December 5, 2006, accessed March 6, 2019 .
- ^ 1 Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court: Federal Constitutional Court - decisions - parts of the new farriery law void. July 3, 2007, accessed March 6, 2019 .