Q: My farrier says my pony needs ‘hot shoeing’. What does this mean?

A: ‘Hot shoeing’ is something farriers often recommend. After the foot has been trimmed and rasped and is ready for the new shoe, the farrier heats the shoe up in the forge and places it on the foot quickly to burn the path where the shoe will go. Provided the farrier doing this is experienced, and places the shoe in the correct place this won’t cause any damage or pain for your pony!

The aim of this hot shoeing is to make a smooth surface for the shoe to attach to on the hoof. It also helps to seal the hoof tubules which make up the wall of the hoof. This makes the wall less likely to dry out (in a dry environment) or get very wet and soft (in a wet environment). The intense heat also tends to kill any infection that may cause problems in the hoof.

Hot shoeing takes a bit more time than cold shoeing, but lots of farriers swear by it as the best way to get the best shoe fit for your pony!