Soreness following trimming and/or shoeing is common in horses. Horses are also frequently sore when their shoes are first removed. Some horses become sore every time they are trimmed despite great care taken, while for others the problem represents a change in the way they have been being trimmed and shod in the past. This article addresses the inital evaluation and diagnosis then provides links to articles on treatment of specific problems often associated with soreness following being trimmed and shod.

The list of possible problems for shod horses is a little longer than for bare foot horses. While both groups can suffer from too close a trimming or improper hoof balance, with shod horses you can also add a nail too close or the inside edge of the shoe putting pressure on the sole. Differentiating these different problems requires a careful exam. We will start with the freshly shod horse and work backwards to the barefoot horse.