Horseshoeing is an art form. Just as some artists prefer to use watercolors and others oils, some prefer to hot shoe, while others prefer cold shoeing. Cold shoeing is both faster and cheaper, so why would anyone want their horse hot shod?
- Once the farrier has finished the trim, the hot shoeing burns the shoe into perfect place making the hoof wall a mirror image of the shoe. It unites the shoe and hoof together for a tighter fit.
- Occasionally, a horse needs a corrective or therapeutic shoe that can't be bought off the assembly line. Even though cold horse shoes come in different sizes, not all horse hooves have the same shape or same needs. For example, most farriers are in agreement that hot-fitting clipped shoes is preferred because a burned-in clip is superior to a cut-in clip in terms of stability, and a clip formed from the steel tends to be stronger and wear slower than one added on.
- A horse who is hot shod will see fewer incidents of white line disease (a bacterial infection that creeps between the hoof wall and sensitive laminae) than one who is cold shod. This is due to the tighter seal and better fit.
- In a wet climate hot shoeing helps prevent the hoof wall from becoming water logged, by sealing the surface under the shoe. This is because the hoof is made of hair-like fibers that are seared and sealed in the process of hot fitting.
- Thin, shelly, and cracked hooves can also benefit from hot shoeing, as it allows the farrier to use lighter weight shoes and finer nails which put far less stress on that type of hoof.
Overall - the benefits of hot shoeing have to be weighed with the cost and efficiency. Most horses are just fine with a trim or cold shoeing, so going the extra step and paying the additional money may be unnecessary. If you want to know what's best for your horse, talk to your farrier or veterinarian.