From the category archives:

FAQ’s

FAQ #8: At what age should we shoe a horse?

November 24, 2009 0 comments

A young horse does not usually have to be shod unless it’s necessary to maintain the foot in a healthy, balanced state. Soundness is the key.  If the wear of the hoof capsule is greater than its growth,  it should be shod. The average hoof growth rate is three-eighths of an inch (about one centimeter) [...]

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FAQ 6: Foot Care for Older Horses with Arthritis

November 16, 2009

Question: My mare is Twelve going on Thirteen. I have had her for two years and have always had problems with holding and trimming her rear feet. In an article I read recently on restraint training it is stated that if a horse is old or has problems with arthritis they should not have their legs [...]

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FAQ 7: Should My Farrier Clean Up After Himself?

November 11, 2009

QUESTION: Dear Sir or Madam, I am looking for feedback on the standard protocol for farriers regarding cleaning up after shoeing and running magnets for horseshoe nail tips at busy boarding stables. Is it generally the responsibility of the farrier to clean up after shoeing and run their magnets for nail scraps or does this fall on the shoulders [...]

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FAQ 5: How can horse owners help farriers?

November 1, 2009

What specific information should a horse owner know and/or record that can help a farrier better care for their horse’s feet? A regularly scheduled visit by the farrier is the most important way to care for a horse’s feet. A current, up-to-date record of ideal trimming or shoeing intervals for each horse, ideal individual hoof [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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