Pet Talk – When Does a Horse Need a Farrier?
We all know what it feels like to break a fingernail or toenail, and it is certainly not comfortable. Luckily for humans, we do not have to walk or stand on that nail after it has been cracked or split. Horses do not have that same luxury. When a horse cracks or splits his nail, the results can be especially painful since the horse must continue to stand and walk on the broken nail. A horse cannot just clip his own toenail off; that must be done through the services of a professional farrier. A farrier’s job is to provide shoes for horses, and to administer care to hoof problems. The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences does a great deal of work on lame horses, and a big part of treatment for horses’ hooves often requires therapeutic shoeing, and a specialist who knows what to do. “Hoof growth is a constant occurrence, though the rate of growth is affected by several variables” said Jason Wilson-Maki, professional farrier for the Texas A&M College of Veterinar
