The care of horses’ feet has been a necessity for centuries. As such, the art and science of shoeing is not a new one. It is perhaps one of the most important aspects of horse care and ownership. At one time, good feet and hoof care was the difference between life and death for mounted soldiers and travelers. Today, the way that the farrier trims and shoes may not impact the outcome of a war, however, there are thousands of dollars won and lost from both good and bad shoeing at shows and rodeos around the country.
Farriery is an art with a scientific backdrop. The science is becoming more complete and advanced every year, but the horse itself is not changing. We are better able to understand what we are working on through the efforts of equine researchers around the world, and the advances technology is allowing. All of this is great for the shoer and the horse, but there is a dark side. The dark side is that with all the new data being presented, there are always people who make great claims about how to shoe or trim based on dubious research. Their observations are presented as fact along with the truth. Farriers that do not have a complete grasp of anatomy and physiology are easily persuaded to change from a traditional, proven shoeing method after reading the wrong article or attending the wrong clinic.
As a horse owner, how are you to know if the application on your horse is what it should be? None of us have ever had a horse explain what angle, length, or shoe weight felt the best, and one talking horse would still not represent the entire species. This dilemma has caused many a horse to fail from the efforts of a well-intentioned, but misguided farrier. As a horse owner, you must insure that you hire the most competent shoer available to keep your horse at peak performance. Price should not really be a deterrent from hiring a good shoer. I have seen many $40.00 shoeing jobs turn into $300.00 vet bills, and the loss of a horse for an extended recovery time. Some horse owners have the opinion that you can buy a million dollar aircraft, have it serviced at Wal-Mart, and take off into the wild blue yonder. If you have that airplane, you should have it serviced by the most experienced, competent and well-trained technician available. Doing otherwise would seem foolish, but many riders on expensive mounts don’t seem to see farriery in the same light.
There are several things that a horse owner can do to make certain that they are receiving a good job from their farrier. First of all, the owner should become as educated about shoeing as possible. Read good recommended textbooks and trade journals, attend shoeing clinics and contests as a spectator, talk to as many shoers as you can find to ask questions you might have, ride with a reputable farrier for a few days, and even attend a good shoeing school for a few weeks. All of this is not for the purpose of becoming a farrier, rather learning what a good farrier is capable of, and what shoeing at a high standard looks like.
When your farrier starts to do something new and different to your animals, find out what the purpose is, and where the idea comes from. If all has been well before, perhaps there is nothing to fix. The things to be wary of are one-size-fits-all gimmicks that are designed for every horse, and ideas that are not based on good research and a thorough understanding of anatomy. No single aspect of shoeing can be said to apply to every horse. Even time tested traditional methods will fall short in some instances. There are horses that require a square toe, and those that don’t. Horses that require a wedge pad, and those that don’t. (The list continues). Every time I see a new idea, or hear of a new concept, I go back to the anatomy of the animal. If the concept does not make good anatomical sense, then it probably will not work on the majority of horses in a predictable manner. Too many farriers are affecting a structure that they do not know completely, and perhaps your horse is suffering as a result.
The next thing that a horse owner can do is to search for someone that has exhibited a certain level of competence through voluntary exams. The most prestigious association in the United States that offer examination is the American Farriers Association. They offer exams at three levels, (Intern Certified, Certified Farrier, and Certified Journeyman Farrier). While not having taken these tests does not prove incompetence, taking them does let the horse owner know that the farrier hired is interested in becoming the best that they can. Passing these exams insures the horse owner that the farrier is capable of achieving a high standard, as determined by examiners and testers in the association that are among the best in the industry.
And finally, the horse owner can listen to their horse, (especially if they happen to be a talking horse). If the shoeing or trimming results in lameness, something is not right. I have heard of hoof care methods that require a horse to be lame for a year until they can be used. This makes no sense to me, or any of the competent farriers I count among my friends. Good, sound shoeing principles will result in a sound horse that is able to work and move with ease and comfort.
If the horse is sound and performing as well as the horse is capable of performing, the shoes are staying on, and radical methods are not being employed or suggested, you are one of the lucky ones with a farrier that has good common sense. Share that farriers’ name with your horse owner friends, and go out of your way to keep them happy. Once you lose a good farrier, you will understand just how important this person can be to the welfare of your valuable horse.