Hooves are like fingernails and need to be trimmed fairly often to stay healthy. When hooves are injured, by a stone or nail or simply by force, the farrier is called to tend to the wounds and set things straight. Most farmponies learn how to cut hooves properly since working ponies are at the greatest risk of hurting their hooves. Plus, it’s a lot easier to just know how to cut hooves than have to travel into town every time you need them cut.
The process is painless if done properly, but some ponies are still squeamish about their hooves, Ashmeade included. Poor Burnt Oak here didn’t realize he had a “kicker” for a client that day, and just got a little too careless with the nippers.
Pony pedicures are a routine beauty practice, and this usually includes trimming, though with beauty instead of functionality being the goal. Temporary horseshoes are also often glued to the bottom of their hooves (Working horses typically nail their horseshoes in place for longterm use.) to add extra flare to their hooves.
Applejack suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth to Ash and so couldn’t always be available to take care of him. Rarity picked up the slack, but of course, hanging around an energetic, tiny, crying foal for days on end is exhausting (although Rarity was happy to do whatever she could to help her despondent wife). Hence, AJ paid for a very special spa day for her wife in gratitude. Seeing the refreshed and beautiful Rarity definitely put a smile on AJ’s face, and gave her a little hope that the dark cloud hanging around her head would move on soon enough. Rarity has offered to get Applejack her own “pretty hooves” but AJ prefers her hardy farming shoes.
Canterlot is the trend-setting standard of fashion. It’s a place of experimentation, and what better way to advertise your new ideas than to get supreme magnates Fancy Pants and Fluer de Lis on board? This pair were never really a couple, but one can hardly think of one without the other. Here they are advertising hipposandals; a fabulous new way to show off your status as a Canterlot pony. Inspired by the Princess’ regalia, these are often custom, monogrammed and unique to each who purchases them. These are meant to be more permanent than glue-on horseshoes but the types of ponies that buy these hardly ever stop at one pair.