From the monthly archives:

October 2009

FAQ 4: What main problems do horses have with their feet?

October 30, 2009

What are the main problems horses have with their feet and how do you solve them?
The most common problems with horses that are ridden relate to conformation issues that cause a predisposition to lameness. Conformation is highly heritable. Horses with comparatively straight legs, in addition to being rougher to ride, will develop concussion-related conditions with [...]

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FAQ 3: What is the most common lameness cause?

October 28, 2009

What is the most common lameness cause you have seen in horses and how could it have been prevented?
Lameness in trail horses is caused by:

lack of attention to foot care (neglect)
unbalanced and/or too short trimming of the foot
shoes poorly applied by inexperienced and untrained farriers or by unknowledgeable horse owners
genetically produced conformation defects
riding an unconditioned [...]

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FAQ 2: Are there horses or times when one kind of foot care wouldn’t be right?

October 26, 2009

Are there types of horses or situations where one style of foot care would not be the right choice?
Shoeing would not be a practical choice for a horse with feet that are steep angled, with strong walls, thick soles, and large frogs. However, even horses like this have limits. We have a number of mustangs [...]

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FAQ 1: Should horses wear shoes, boots or go barefoot?

October 23, 2009

Which do you recommend: metal shoes, strap-on boots, or barefoot?
Before recommending a specific plan for hoof care, I need to know something about the horse’s feet, the rider and the intended use of the horse.  Of course, it would be ideal if all horses could be ridden barefoot, as it would be the most inexpensive [...]

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Horses Are Important – Feet First

October 6, 2009

Welcome to our new blog dedicated to horse owners and professional farriers who want to forge firm foundations with horses, in business and for life. We will feature articles and tips for horse owners along with strategies for professional farriers who want to strengthen skills and broaden their business. Please bookmark this site, subscribe to [...]

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