This challenge carries over to farriery. Proper hoof care, during the winter months, is different, from the hazy days of summer. This allows the hoof to grow out the old nail holes during the horses' frosty hiatus. When spring comes, the farrier has fresh hoof wall in which to nail. T his is essentially a good practice.
Horses require regular trimming and balancing of the hoof.
Scheduled trimming on a regular basis keeps the hoof balanced and promotes healthy hoof growth. There is nothing more frustrating than spending the summer season restoring proper balance and gait to a client's horse and then having it deteriorate over the following winter due to neglect. N ot all horses have their shoes removed for the winter. Horses with pathological shoes, horses with poor quality hoof wall, and performance horses that train year round should not have their shoes pulled for the winter. Horses with pathological treatments must be shod until they have recovered fully.