Farrier Tools

Horse Farrier Tools

We’ve all heard the old saying “no foot, no horse”, and we all know how imperative it is to ensure our horses’ hooves are properly cared for. At Discount Equestrian, we advise you have a fully qualified farrier manage your horse’s shoeing and hoof trimming needs on a regular basis.

Although the time between trimming hooves and shoeing may vary depending on your horse’s individual needs and the time of year, the average length between hoof trimming appointments tends to be around six to ten weeks, whereas the general length of time between shoeing appointments is usually about six to eight weeks.

However, being horse owners ourselves, we completely understand that there are occasions when horses throw a shoe or end up with a twisted shoe that if left will cause significant damage to a horse’s hoof. In such situations, it’s useful to have farrier tools available in the tack room in case of emergencies.

Whether you are a professional farrier, or only want to keep farrier tools in case of emergencies, you can have confidence that we stock the best quality products from trusted brands for our fantastic Farrier Tools range!

In case you aren’t entirely sure about the purpose of specific farrier tools, here’s some information courtesy of The Farrier Guide:

Shoe Puller – “These tools look like giant pliers, and pretty much do what the name suggests—the shoe puller will let the farrier get the shoe off of the hoof without damaging the foot. These tools are great for farm owners to have around, as well, for those times when a horse comes in with a badly sprung shoe and the farrier can’t make it out right away. If you’re going to have one around the farm, make sure you have a farrier show you how to use it so you can take that sprung shoe off safely.”

Hammers – “[Farriers] use a number of different hammers [to] create horseshoes from raw metal. Two of the most common are straight pein and cross pein. One end of the hammer head is flat, with the other forming a wedge. If the wedge is parallel to the handle, it’s a straight pein. If it faces the other way, it’s called a cross pein. Rounding hammers draw out metal and are often used to make clips for horseshoes (although there are lots of techniques for this that can be used with other types of hammers). A driving/nailing hammer gets the nails through the horse’s feet, so the shoes stay on. This hammer is small and light, which gives farriers more control when nailing into the horse’s foot. It’s shaped like a claw hammer, and the claws are used in a twisting motion to break off the excess nail that protrudes from the hoof once the nail is driven through it.”

Nail Puller – “With little jaws on the end of it, this tool can pull nails out of a horseshoe one at a time, either to get the shoe off before a trim, or to remove a loose nail or one that’s gone wonky during the shoeing. This tool lets farriers work precisely when placing nails. They can make it easier to remove shoes if the shoes have come loose and shifted or if the horse has very delicate hoof walls that are easily damaged.”

Clinchers – “Once the shoe is nailed on, these plier-like tools bend the nail down over the hoof wall a bit to help keep the shoe in place. The clinchers press the nail lightly and flatten it against the hoof wall, so it stays secure. There are a few types of clinchers (with a curved jaw, or a gooseneck, for example), designed to work better on high or low nails, or on both.”

Should you wish to learn more about farriery and the tools associated with it, we recommend contacting your farrier for further information.

If you’re in search of a specific product that isn’t listed in our excellent Farrier Tools range, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly Discount Equestrian team – we’re always happy to help!  Also remember to take a look at our Hoof Care category.