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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: To Shoe or Not To
Shoe? That Is the Question!
A: I get asked my
opinion on this quite regularly. Barefooters have horse owners
thinking that if the person is a farrier then they won't have their
horses best interests in mind and they are certainly not qualified
to trim their horses hooves. Yet, even though I put shoes on
horses, I will be the first to say that not all horses need shoes. I
have several horses that never got shod and they manage quite well.
One particular client has 8 horses in their barn that are used for
riding lessons and they never get shoes and actually perform quite
well.
So if you ask me if your horse needs shoes, my answer would be "It
all depends." What do you use the horse for, what's its environment
like, how's the conformation of the horse, where do you ride and
what is the terrain like, etc. Another big factor in the
equation I feel is genetics. In the future I am sure this
debate will become more heated, but now you know how I feel about
the subject.
Q: How often should my horse be trimmed or shod?
A: Another loaded question that usually gets different answers from
different farriers. Personally my own horses get trimmed or shod
every 6 weeks. Yes I know, I don't have to pay someone to do them.
Each horse has a different amount of hoof growth. In the warmer
months the hoof grows much quicker since protein isn't being used
for coat growth. During the warmer months if your horse is going
barefoot it is best one doesn't go over 6 weeks between trimming to
prevent chipping and breakage of hoof wall, especially during the
fly season. I also prefer to shoe horses every six weeks so the
horses toes and heels don't become too over grown and to keep the
hoof in better balance. This doesn't mean that all the horses I care
for are kept on this schedule. I have some horses on 4 week
schedules and some done only maybe 3 times a year. It's a decision
that I leave to the client since it is their money. So in closing I
would like to say, in your horse's best interest, your horse should
be trimmed or shod at least every 6 weeks. Will you get different
answers from other farriers? Bet on it! Please remember that this is
just my opinion.
Q: Does my horse suffer from laminitis or founder?
A: Spring has sprung and so have the cases of laminitis. We seem to
use the term laminitis and founder incorrectly and cause a lot of
confusion in the equine world. I hope to clear up some of the
confusion.
Laminitis is an inflammation of the laminae that can be graded by
degree of severity.
Founder on the other hand happens when sensitive and insensitive
laminae separate causing the coffin bone to tear away from the
laminae and rotate downward. The entire bony column can actually
sink within the whole hoof capsule. Founder actually means sinking.
Founder can be acute or chronic. It is possible to for laminitis to
occur without founder but founder begins with laminitis. So remember
that laminitis and founder are not the same thing.
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