• Some horses need shoes just to stay sound.two horse shoes image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
  
  To shoe a horse is a very basic job, but to do it well is very difficult job. Most farriers are specialized to certain disciplines of the equine world. This is because each style is very particular to that breed of horse's gait. Most farriers also do not use cheap tools. A set of cheap tools are a good start for an amateur farrier or just to have around the farm for emergencies.
  
  

Nippers

• The first thing to have are a set of nippers. These are what you cut the horse's hoof with to trim back the toe. You can get a set of these for around $100, and they are essential to shoeing a horse.
  
  

Rasp

• A rasp would be the next thing you should purchase. A rasp will even out your horse's hoof after it has been trimmed and can also sand down nails to help remove a shoe. Rasps cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
  
  

Hoof Knife

• A hoof knife is a very sharp tool that will cut back the dead part of the sole of the hoof. It is also essential when digging out hoof abscesses, and trimming back frogs. A hoof knife will cost around $30; it can be sharpened for more use.
  
  

Shoes

• Steel shoes are not very expensive, and it is good to always have a basic full-swedge pair around. With these you will need nails. Purchase thinner, shorter nails for tacking on shoes, because most horse's feet cannot handle larger nails. Shoes cost about $10 per pair and the nails are around $10 per box.
  
  

Hammer

• To tack the shoes on you will need a hammer. Hammers vary depending on what you personally want for size. You can purchase a driving hammer for around $20. Sometimes people use nail clenchers, and other times a farrier will use the back part of the hammer to remove the remaining nail.