Your horse has a loose shoe! Now what? While it is best to have your farrier teach you this skill, sometimes a horse owner faces a time when he/she has to remove a shoe for the health and safety of the horse.

In this short video, Sina Parsaye, DVM, of Parsaye Veterinary Services in Colorado, gives us a step-by-step visual of how to re-clinch or remove a loose shoe.

(Editor’s note: The content of this video is the expert’s approach to the topic. Please consult with your practitioner if you have questions.)

Click on the above image to watch the video.

Steps to Take

The first step is recognizing that a shoe is loose. This might happen when you are cleaning a hoof, riding, or leading your horse.

If the shoe is loose, check the clinches on the nails. If the clinches are loose—but the shoe is not moving much and is still in proper position on the hoof—then you can re-tighten the clinches.

You can do this with a hammer or a set of hoof nail clinchers.

With a hammer, place a firm object under the head of the nail you are re-securing. (The head of the nail is on the underside of the hoof.) This ensures you don’t pound then nail out of the shoe.

With the clincher, Parsaye says be sure to not pull down on the clinch head

Removing the Loose Shoe

If the shoe has moved and is not in the correct position, it is best to remove the shoe.

When removing a shoe with shoe pullers, make sure to begin at the heels and work toward the toe. Pull down and toward the center of the toe to make sure and preserve as much hoof wall as possible.

Final Words

Tightening or removing a loose shoe is just a temporary fix until you can get your farrier there to attend to your horse.