How to Pull a Loose Shoe A simple, step-by-step method for removing a horse's shoe |
What You'll Need |
How To Do It |
Step 1. Straighten the nail ends so they'll pull through the hoof without damaging it. Place the narrow, tomahawk-like blade of the clench cutter against the bend in the clenches . Bend them open, or straight, by tapping on the cutter with the hammer. Or, cut off as shown. |
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Step 2. Pick up your horse's hoof. If you can get a grip on them, pull the nail heads out with the shoe pullers. Odds are, though, that you'll be able to get some of the nails, but not all of them. That's okay, get the ones you can. (Be sure to discard the nails in a safe place, where they won't be stepped on.  |
Step 3. Loosen the shoe heels by slipping the shoe puller's jaws between the shoe and the buttress of the hoof's heel. Push the tool's handle inward, toward the centre of the sole. (It's important that you resist the urge to pry outward - this could rip off a substantial chunk of the hoof wall.)  |
Step 4. After you've loosened both heels, pry the shoe's toe loose in the same manner, by pulling the handle of the shoe pullers inward, toward the centre of the sole.  |
Step 5. Repeat this motion wherever the shoe is still nailed, until it comes off. If any nails remain in the hoof wall, pull them out with the shoe pullers.  |
Step 6. Remove the shoe.  |
Step 7. Put on a hoof boot, or make a hoof slipper (see below): Materials to Make a Hoof Slipper 1 square foot of padding: (a single layer gamgee; 4 layers of sheet cotton; trimmed bath towel; discarded sweatshirt; or a disposable nappy) 1 yard of elastic bandage: Vetrap®, or something similar) Centre the padding over the sole, bringing the edges up around the hoof wall. Secure it there with the elastic bandage; cover the bandage with strips of duct tape to keep the hoof edges from wearing through. |
Step 8. Confine your horse and arrange an urgent farrier visit . |
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SOUTH WEST EQUINE PROTECTION |
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