Is there a way to take my horse's shoe off myself?

Question

She had her two front shoes on and somehow, once again, the right shoe came off. It might be a while until a farrier can come out, so if anyone has a website instructing how to take it out and the tools to use that'd be great!

Or if you know from personal experience...... Thank you so much!

Actually, Tay, I have one coming on the 7th, and I don't want to make my horse wait in PAIN for that long. Don't assume the unknown.

Answer 1

Is it the left shoe that you are wanting to take off? Don't take it off! There is no need for your horse to have both front shoes of. You should also never try to remove a horse's shoe yourself unless you know what you are doing because you could damage their hoof wall. One of my horses back shoes used to come of about 3 weeks after he was shod and I go t really annoyed with having to call the farrier back out. The nails that farriers use to keep the shoes in are acutally quite pliable and my horse twisted his foot when he walked so the nails would bend and come loose. My farrier put clip shoes on him and he hasn't lost a shoe since. If you can afford the upgrade to clip shoes, I would try it out.
As to helping you horse not be in pain, not riding her obviously. There are also these hoof boots that you can buy that go around the hoof in case of emergency shoe loss to help protect the sensitive unshod foot. You can find one, I think they are called Barrier Boots, at www.statelinetack.com under the health section probably for about $20.
Also, I would try to get another farrier out there before the 7th. If you can't find another farrier, call your local vet because vets normally have a list of farriers, chircpractors, etc, that they can recommend to their clients. I hope your horse feels better!

Answer 2

Amber...didn't you say that he threw one shoe? So that means he is barefoot on three and still has one shoe on? You should really try to get that other shoe off. What about the "trainers" you've spoken about recently?? Don't any of them have a pair of nippers or would be able to help you in this situation? Have you asked?? What about the people at the feed store? Also, are your issues money related or grandma related? You were looking at buying that English starter set for $159.00... why buy that if Tango can't be ridden or if Tangos' basic needs aren't taken care of. Did he really need splint boots or did he need his feet done? You have A LOT of animals in your household...is it an issue with all of them? Is she as unreasonable with the parakeets, goats, dogs, cats, etc.? Maybe she is overwhelmed with everything. Anyhow, I hope you get things worked out. Whatever happened to the money your mother was going to put towards training and/or lessons....based on your posts it's difficult to tell if you ever did have a trainer or really take lessons. That was barrel racing...but now you want to do English and jumping again. Please...make a decision and follow through with one or another rather than all these loose strings and everything partially accomplished. Do you really think he is leasable? He still has some behavioral issues as well as really not being trained in anything per se. I would think about that...

Answer 3

I wouldn't try to do this on your own unless you have a set of farrier tools. If done improperly, you could damage the wall of the horse's hoof.

But if you feel you must, why don't you call your farrier for advice. He may know an efficient way to pry the shoe loose with no damage to the hoof (other than using a farrier tool I mean).

Answer 4

There are a couple of main points to know. A shoe is very hard to pull with out the right tools. If it's the left shoe and it's not loose it shouldn't be causing her any problem unless she's wearing thick or wedge pads that make her uneven with one off.
If You are riding and want to pull the it. A screw driver may work to loosen the heels but you must be very careful not to slip. You could stab yourself or her.

Starting at the heel, work on lifting one side then the other. Once it loosens you'll be able to pull the nails out one by one with plyers. As you pull up on the shoe pull towards the center of the toe in a downward motion, if you pull out to the sides it is possible to peel away any hoof wall still held by the nails. That wouldn't hurt her at all but it would make it more difficult to put her shoe on again. Once it's loose it'll need to come all the way off so she doesn't pull it her self.
If you happen to have a rasp you can lightly file the nail clinches on her hoof wall to help the nails pull out easier.

Answer 5

I would call another farrier. The truth is if your regular farrier valued your business he would fit you in on an emergancy. I could understand if he was out of town or had a family emergancy, but telling you to wait 7 days.
You should never try and remove your horses shoes yourself unless you are experienced in doing so.

And a rule of thumb I give all my clients- HAVE A BACK UP- have a back up vet, have a back up feed store, and have a back up farrier. You never know when either of the two will not be able to assist you.

Answer 6

i don't know how to take it off but there are other things to do if your horse looses a shoe.
i think i read in a magazine to wrap the hoof with a diaper and then duck tape it so it has cushioning. make sure to redo this often. if the pasture is wet its best to keep in for most of the time
also make sure you have found the missing shoe so no other horse gets hurt by it
and i see you have already contacted the farrier so you would be good for now
but sry i don't know how to take it off

Answer 7

Call your farrier and ask him what to do. Also keep your horse in a stall (if possible) until he can come.

One thing I don't understand why is your horse in pain?

Every horse I've known has thrown a shoe and it has never hurt them.

Answer 8

avoid riding her I'm sure you know this, my horse did that alot with his back shoe there is a tool that you can pull them off with i for got the name of it. it looks like huge plyers but its good you have the farrier coming out if she is in pain from this give her a Little butte

Answer 9

It is very simple. If you have a file, you have to rasp off the clinches (nail heads) then use pliers or in cases where the shoe is lose a screwdriver to pry it off. It is simple once you get the hang of it. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Like WiseBonza... said. Take a flathead screwdriver and pry it off. Personally, I don't like metal shoes on horses. The Polyurethane ones are much much better on the horse than those metal bar shoes.