Question 1: I own
quarter horses and have a problem with one of my colts. He has one front hoof that is
growing faster than the other. My farrier keeps the back trimmed but doesn’t seem to
be helping. What causes this and what would you suggest I do? This starting showing up at
about 4-5 months of age.
Answer: There are numerous factors that
affect the rate of growth on horse's feet. Yearlings tend to grow about twice as fast as
older horses. Once they are over a year old, the rates of growth levels out and remains
basically the same for the rest of their lives. According to Dr. Butler, scientific
experiments have proven that age, season, irritation or injury to sensitive structures,
front or hind, neurectomy (nerving operation), and nutrition have a direct affect on hoof
growth.
When a horse presents itself that has a unilateral difference, like the one mentioned in
your question, we have to look for possible causes. It is possible that the horse has a
tendency to paw with the shorter of the front hooves, and this will increase the wear on
that particular hoof. Another explanation of the difference occurring on only the one hoof
would be an injury. If there is no evidence or history of injury, then I would suspect a
possible genetic difference that is causing the growth rate differences. Most likely would
be an increased vascular supply in the affected leg. My only suggestion in dealing with
this problem is that you have your horse trimmed twice as often with the hope that this
problem will eventually go away as the horse matures. You might also try to put aluminum
shoes on the front feet since they will wear away rather rapidly. This will tell you if
the horse is wearing out the short hoof, or has excess growth on the long hoof.
Question 2: I ride a lot on
blacktop, what kind of shoes are best?
Answer: The basic reason that a horse is
shod is to protect and enhance the performance of the horse, and allow it to traverse
different terrain. Horses are shod for the type of work that they do, and this can be very
detrimental when they end up doing something that they are not shod for. Case in point: If
a horse is shod for reining, and a pair of handmade slider plates are put on the rear
hooves, then this horse can get in a bad situation very quickly if ridden on pavement. The
converse is true. If a horse is shod with rim shoes and borium for a trail ride, and then
someone takes him in the arena for some sliding stops; well the horse is going to end up
sore in the pelvic limb.
I used to work with a man named Dave Remely. He was the farrier for the Mounted Patrol in
Denver, Colorado. These horses obviously spend a lot of time on blacktop. Dave shod most
of the horses with a wide webbed shoe, with borium placed across the toe, and both heels.
Dave is a really good shoer, and was able to keep the horses sound in an unforgiving
environment where concussion from a hard surface can really take a toll.
I think the best shoe for a horse ridden on a lot of blacktop is a wide webbed rim shoe,
or handmade concave shoe, with medium boriurn placed across the toe, and both heels. I
don't think that the boriurn has to stick up very far past the outer rim of the shoe. This
will give enough traction and wear to provide for the safety of both horses and riders.
Question 3: Why does the farrier
trim the frog? I thought that in nature it was used to cushion the hoof and help keep the
hoof moist. Is this creating a problem for my horse?
Answer: The frog in a horses foot is
supposed to be a highly elastic, wedge shaped horny structure with an approximately 50%
moisture content. In nature, the frog is sloughed, or shed several times a year as the
sensitive frog creates more and more horny tissue. Domestic horses don't have the same
lifestyle as wild horses, and therefore the care of their hooves and frogs falls to us. We
need to trim the frog to keep it in the proper proportions and to keep it healthy and free
of disease and rot. Untrimmed frogs tend to spread and cover the commisures, making them the perfect bacteria breeding
ground. Many horses do not shed their frogs easily because they are shod and live in a
different environment than their wild cousins.
I do not advocate excessive butchering of the frog, however a farrier with good judgment
and experience will generally trim a frog appropriately for the horse that they are
working on. Every hoof is different making each frog an individual judgment call.
Question 4: Hi! What is the best
way to shoe a TWH that is used for pleasure riding? What length of toe front and back?
Angle? What type and weight of shoe is best? I want to find a farrier that specializes in
gaited horses. Thank You for your time. I hope to hear from you.
Answer: I apologize, however there is no
answer for your questions. Numbers that dictate angles and length for horses are really
nonsense. Read this statement: Every male American that is between the ages of 10 and 12,
who lives West of the Mississippi river will wear a size 10 shoe and be 48 inches tall. It
sounds ridiculous. Compare to this statement: All 3 year old, sorrel Quarter Horses will
wear a size I shoe, have a toe length of 3 inches, and stand 15 hands. We just can not
make these kinds of rules to apply for every horse.
Your best bet is to find the best farrier that you possibly can, and then trust the
judgment and experience that this farrier can provide. Your horse, as well as everyone's
horse, must be evaluated as an individual and shod accordingly. There is help in finding a
farrier. I would suggest that you contact the American Farriers' Association, and ask for
some literature, as well as lists of farriers, in your area and their certification level.
There are 3 levels that a person can test for, these being Intern, Certified, and
Certified Journeyman respectively. You don't have to find a tested farrier to find a good
one, however one that has proven their ability will generally be very good. The AFA can be
written at:
American Farriers' Association
4059 Iron Works Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (606) 233-7411
Best of luck, and I am truly sorry that there is no easy answer. If there were, there
would sure be a lot more farriers.
Question 5: Please can you advise
me on the treatment for a fractured wing of the coffin bone. The horse suffered direct
trauma to the medial aspect of his hoof while galloping around the paddock and suffered a
wing fracture. We kept a bar shoe on for three months and now he is at barefoot turnout in
a restricted paddock. Have you any relevant information for me. Many thanks.
Answer: I would like a little bit more
information about this horse before launching in to a faulty response. How old is the
horse? Does the horse have sidebones, or is the lateral cartilage still resilient? What
condition is the hoof in? Does the horse suffer from pedal osteitis or other problems
resulting in a weakened coffin bone? After the three month treatment, is the horse still
lame? Do you have current X-rays?
Without more information, I don't think that I can provide too much assistance. I will try
to answer your question using the DACCT format.
Definition: The coffin bone, (P3), has sustained damage to the medial
aspect resulting in a fracture to the wing.
Anatomy Involved: P3, lateral cartilage
(medial).
Cause: Impact to the hoof in such a manner
as to cause the coffin bone wing to fracture.
Clinical Signs: Acute pain and lameness
immediately following injury. Radiographs are necessary for exact diagnosis. Horse reacts
dramatically to hoof testers when applied to medial aspect of the hoof.
Treatment: (From a farriery point of
view.) A wide webbed straight or egg bar, with a diagonal bar to cover the sole area
directly distal to the fracture. (This shoe will look somewhat like the red circle with a
line through it that you see imposed over a cigarette in a no smoking area.) Also a pad
applied between the shoe and the hoof, with rivets attaching the pad to the diagonal bar.
This is important since the diagonal bar can trap debris against the sole without the
riveted pad. The shoe should have 2 or 3 well made and well placed clips to stabilize the
hoof capsule while P3 is healing. Stall rest is recommended for a minimum of 8 weeks, and
more if any lameness is present. The shoe should be left on no more than 5 weeks and then
reset to reduce the length of the hoof. Another option would be a hospital plate which
could provide even more protection.
It sounds like you have done the right thing by this horse
with the treatment mentioned in your question. I hope this answer provides some help.
Additional Information on Question 5:
Dear Chris, Thanks for you comments on the
net. The horse is seven, his hoofs are in good to reasonable condition, it is a black
hoof..his toe angle is quite steep and we have to adjust this slightly when shoeing. He
presented on the 16th October with severe lameness and at first an abcess was suspected.
We took him to the surgery and had x-rays done which showed a very fine line on the medial
aspect of the wing of the coffin bone. After a week of bute and a bar shoe with stall
rest, he was sound except for some shortness on a circle he came off the bute and was
rested for four months with a bar shoe and given restricted turnout. He is not currently
lame I am starting to ride him in a bar shoe with clips 15 minutes three times a week He
does not have sidebones and the lateral cartilage is fairly resilient. There is no pedal
osteitis The vet surgeon who treated him has the x-rays I have recently been told to work
him lightly for two months in bar shoes and if he is sound after that I can shoe him
normally Do I have to have bar shoes on both front feet to keep the balance even or is
that not necessary? He actually had scarifications on the medial aspect of his hoof wall
when we first noticed the lameness and that is why I suspected that he may have stood on
one foot with the other when galloping around Many thanks for your help and advice I look
forward to further news.
Answer: Congratulations.
It sounds as if all has gone well with your horse. I would like to commend your farrier
and veterinarian for their work and success. You are lucky to have competent help, and I
imagine you can follow their advice without hesitating.
As for placing a bar shoe on the uninjured foot, the effects of weight differences are
debatable. It is my general practice to place bar shoes on both feet, even if only one
hoof needs it, however not doing so will probably not cause any problems in the short
term. Good luck, and thank you for your question.
Question 6: Could you explain what
pathological shoeing is. I saw this term used in an horseshoeing ad.
Answer: There are several words that we
use which could use some explaining. One is "Corrective" shoeing. Some farriers
contend that this means shoeing and trimming designed to straighten legs and limbs, as
well as change a horses gait for the better. In England, this interpretation is called
remedial shoeing. Another interpretation is corrective means correct, and every time a
horse is trimmed something is being corrected. In the case of a straight and balanced
horse, hooves that are too long are being corrected by trimming them shorter. I tend to
hold with the latter definition, and use the term remedial to refer the former definition.
Pathological shoeing, sometimes called surgical or therapeutic shoeing, is referring to
shoeing a horse with a specific injury related problem. An example of this would be
putting bar shoes on a horse that suffers from navicular syndrome, or heart bars on a
foundered horse. Most people who do this type of work will work with veterinarians on many
different types of cases where a great deal of knowledge and skill is required to make and
apply many different types of shoes.
A friend of mine once joked about farriers that claimed that they were pathological
horseshoers. Comparing the term usage when calling someone a pathological liar. A
pathological liar is someone who can't keep from lying. A pathological shoer will be
driving down the road, spot a horse in a field, come to a screeching halt in the ditch,
catch the horse, and put some shoes on the feet. Although this can provide for cheaper
shoeing rates, you may get what you're paying for.
Question 7: I have a prospective
client with a yearling Quarterhorse shown in halter. When he trots him away from the judge
he paces. Is there anything I might do to help correct this? I have not yet seen this
colt, so I don't know what angles he is currently on.
Also my son wants to be a farrier. What would you recommend as the youngest age to attend
school and test to certify? I will appreciate any insight you may have.
Answer: A pace is a lateral, 2 beat gait.
If the yearling is truly pacing, then there is probably little, if anything that a farrier
can do to prevent it. You might suggest that the owner try to change the speed in which
the horse is being led, with a slower gait possibly helping the problem. If the horse is
really out of balance, then trimming to the appropriate balance and angle will certainly
help this horse do his best. I hope his best is not pacing.
As for your second question, you will have to determine whether or not your son can stand
up to the rigors of farriery. He must first be mentally mature enough to handle the
academic aspects he will face in school and work. Then he must have the physical strength
to perform the job itself. Judging from some of the young men that I know, I would suggest
that your son be 14 or 15 years old before you send him to horseshoeing school. For the
physical repercussions, you may want to ask a doctor about the effects that this job can
have on a growing boy. Best of luck.
Question 8: When do I need to start trimming a young
horse’s hooves and how is the best way to start handling their feet so they are ready
for the farrier? Thanks
Answer: There are several factors to consider when determining the
trimming interval and starting age for the first trim. First of all, what is the
conformation that you are dealing with? If you are raising colts that do not suffer from
toed-in, toed-out, crapus varus, carpus va1gus, vertical axis rotation, or any of the
other limb deviations that can afflict a horse, then you are doing the right thing now. On
the other hand, if you have any conformational defects, you need to begin fixing them very
early. There are epiphyseal plates in the long bones of the legs and limbs, and
corrections that occur prior to the closure of these plates are certainly the most
successful. After the closure of these plates, corrective shoeing and trimming procedures
is usually detrimental, and rarely successful.
For my brood farm accounts, we generally set up on a very regular schedule. We trim all
babies for the first time between the 3rd and 5th week of life. They are then done every 4
to 5 weeks until sold or at least a year old. There are very few conformational defects
that we can not improve or eliminate with a controlled program like this. Young horses
grow twice as much hoof wall as older horses, growing up to half a millimeter per day.
This is why the frequent schedule.
It is also important that the farrier is very careful when dressing the outside of young
horse's hooves. These feet tend to be larger at the coronary region than at the ground in
most colts under 6 months of age. Any reduction of the wall at the distal end can be
detrimental.
To answer the second part of your question, this handling tends to really help gentle down
young horses when it comes to trimming. Just be certain that you have a farrier who can
keep calm and non-abusive when these babies are at their worst. Getting mad at young stock
never accomplishes anything beneficial. It is like spanking a 2-month-old child for
burping. At a very young age, the colt will not understand what it is being punished for,
and will only attach a greater dislike to having it's hooves messed with.
Question 9 : I have just seen a short article on a farming program and
they showed a four point horse shoe apparently they are used a lot in the USA in western
style riding and it was suggested that this style of shoe could be better for some horses.
Could you tell me more about a four point shoe and it benefits over a normal shoe.
Answer: I would like to see the picture of the 4-point shoe, and
determine if it is not simply a caulk and grab workhorse shoe. There has been much
publicity about the 4-point trim, which has become popular in recent times, however I am
not familiar with the 4-point shoe.
Regarding the 4-point trim, this new method of preparing horses hooves does not seem to
work as well as advertised. If the 4-point shoe is derived and conceived by the proponents
of the 4-point trim, I would suggest regarding the shoe as a gimmick, and use only with
great caution. The very best farriers in the world are not standing behind the principles
of the 4-point trim. There is very little to be gained by re-inventing the wheel.
Question 10: I recently purchased a beautiful 10 year old paint
gelding that has contractive heel. I have talked with and used several farriers in my area
about this problem. You would not believe the answers I have gotten from some of them. I
have been told and have read that this can be corrected with time and the proper shoeing.
I have been told that egg bar shoes are the only shoes to use and I have been told not to
use egg bar shoes. I have had this horse about 6 months, and he is a joy to ride. However
every time I ride him (and not very long) he acts like he is stove up the next day. Please
help me. I do not want this horse in any pain and I am at my wits end as what is the right
and the wrong way to take care of his feet. He is about 16 hands tall and was wearing a O
shoe when I bought him.
Answer: Your problem is not unique. There are a lot of horses with
caudal heel soreness, however an examination of the horse would be required to render any
sort of diagnosis. Unfortunately, this is not something I can do through the Internet,
however I can give you some food for thought. First off, the contracted heel may not be
the cause of the horses' problem, but the symptom of another problem, Many horses will
develop contracted heels from pain in the heel region of the hoof, or navicular related
problems. I do not wish to scare you with the use of the word navicular syndrome, however
it is something that must be considered from the description. Your horse also seems to
have a foot that is much to small for the body size, which is a problem that I see quite a
lot of since I shoe mainly Rodeo and Cutting Horses. This is not something that can be
fixed, since it is usually a result of genetics. The only hope is that breeders and horse
show judges decide to place more value on sound hooves, legs, and minds instead of color
and size.
If this were my horse, I would find a competent vet and farrier to evaluate and diagnose
this horse. Some possibilities are navicular syndrome, corns, sidebones, or perhaps
ringbone. Good luck, and keep me informed.
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