Woods Hovslageri

04/08/2026

Hard ground can be hard work for hooves

Summer often means firmer ground, which can bring new challenges for our horses’ feet

Hard surfaces can increase concussion through the limb and may highlight existing weaknesses within the hoof.

Things horse owners can consider:�
Avoid sudden changes in workload�
Allow horses time to adjust to harder conditions�
Monitor any changes in movement or comfort
Discuss concerns early with your farrier

Your horse’s feet carry them through everything they do — from grazing in the field to competing at the highest level.

Do you find your horse’s feet are better in wet weather or dry weather?
We’d love to hear your experiences.

09/07/2026

Yes, 70.
That's not meant to alarm you - it's to show just how directly your horse's welfare rests on good hoof care. With a structure this complex, prevention is everything. And it's well worth looking after properly.

The foot is one of the most complex parts of the entire horse. Bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, the laminae, the digital cushion - all packed into a small space, designed to work together and carry half a tonne with every step.

When pain is localised to the foot, one veterinary reference lists around 70 possible causes (Moyer, IHCS 2003).

That means three things:
🔨 Use the professionals.
A skilled farrier has an expert eye for the foot — reading its balance, spotting the subtle changes, knowing what they can address and when to bring your vet in. That's years of training working for your horse.

👂 Listen to them.
When your farrier flags something, recommends a change, suggests management changes or asks for other professionals input, that advice is built on experience and it's worth taking seriously.

💷 See it as an investment, not a cost.
Regular, skilled hoof care helps keeps your horse sound, comfortable and working. Prevention is almost always cheaper, quicker and kinder than fixing a problem that's been left to develop. A routine visit is a small price against a serious injury.

No foot no horse - it's one of the best investments you'll make in your horse's health.

Can you list all 70 possible problems?

08/07/2026

Why Do We Shoe Horses?
It's one of the most common questions we get asked. And whilst plenty of horses thrive barefoot with good, regular hoofcare, some horses benefit with shoes, here's why:

🛡️ Protection
Horses ridden on hard, abrasive surfaces or over long distances can wear their hooves down faster than they grow. Shoes take that wear instead of the hoof. The extra depth a shoe gives can also give clearance for the sole over stony ground and allow the addition of pads or pour-ins to give extra protection for the sole.

🏇 Grip & traction
Shoes can help prevent slipping on a variety of surfaces whether it's a simple groove in the shoe or extras like studs, road pins, heels or toe grips. Adequate grip for the terrain and work is essential to the safety of horse and rider.

🩺 Support & correction
Therapeutic shoeing forms a significant part of the treatment for lameness. Shoeing can stabilise, realign and protect hooves as they recover. Less than ideal conformation can be managed with support to compensate for uneven loading and extend horses' working lives.

💼 The job they do
A horse carrying a rider or working long hours puts far more load through the hoof than nature intended.

So shod or barefoot? Which is right? It depends on the horse. Workload, terrain, hoof quality and health all play a part. Not all horses are not created equal, and neither are their feet. Speak to your farrier about what's right for yours.

🔨 Whether your horse is shod or barefoot, regular hoof care helps keeps them sound.

08/07/2026

No, it didn't just ‘fall off’. And no, the mud didn't suck it off either 😅
If you've ever tried removing a shoe, you know it's not that easy (even if your farrier makes it look simple)
A shoe doesn't simply drop off a hoof. Something pulls it off. And once you know what, it's a lot easier to prevent.

So what actually pulls a shoe off?
🦶 Overreaching
the hind foot striking the back of the front hoof and catching the shoe. Deep going, fast work, jumping, hills, downhill ground and fitness levels all make it more likely.
💧 Waterlogged hooves
constant wet softens the horn, so has less strength to hold the shoe.
🪰 Fly aggrivation
Unsettled horses, pulling shapes to get away from flies and itching and stamping in dry weather loosens shoes too.
🐎 Movement and balance
Soreness, slipping, scrambling, a horse on the forehand, even a horse or its herd mate standing on its own shoe in the field. All made worse by uneven or slippy ground.
🧠 Unsettled horses
Spooks and startles, playfulness or fighting

How you can help keep them on:
✅ Correctly fitted overreach boots for turnout and fast work
✅ Manage turnout - protect from flies, roll field and avoid too much mud.
✅ Pick out and check feet daily to catch a loose shoe early
✅ Keep to your farrier's recommended interval, before the shoe loosens

A loose or thrown shoe can damage the hoof wall, so the sooner you call, the better but more often than not, it's the management, the weather or the horse, not the work.

Lost a shoe? Find it if you can (a buried, nail-up shoe is a hazard)

22/06/2026

How to keep horses cool in a heatwave with helpful tips for instant results. Read more below

18/06/2026

Dog treats. Glad midsommar 🔨

17/06/2026

10/06/2026

Expert advice for feeding horses with or prone to laminitis – what owners need to know. Read more below

07/06/2026

Becoming a farrier isn’t just a job — it’s a skilled trade that sits right at the heart of equine welfare. It demands craftsmanship, physical resilience, and a deep understanding of horses.