Re: [RC] pulling shoes now OLDER horse - Elizabeth Walker
I'll submit that a good farrier pulls out his book to set up the next appointment without even being asked, because he wants to get the horse on a steady schedule. He shows up on time (or calls if he is seriously delayed), checks the feet, and the wear on the shoes to see if things need to be adjusted, etc. The shoes tend to stay on, too. I've had the same farrier for over 10 years (actually - it is probably closer to 15 years...). In all that time, I think I have had a shoe come off once. He is used by several of the local vets for reconstructive and corrective work - I figure that is a pretty good recommendation.
A good farrier also adjusts the shoeing schedule to suit the horse. My old horse was on a 6-week schedule, would grow about 1/2" of hoof (practically all toe), and drop several degrees of angle in that time. Caisson is on an 8 week schedule, grows maybe 1/4" of foot (just barely enough to reset the shoes), and his angles stay rock solid. (so that is the genetics thing again..the first time he did Caisson and I asked what he thought of his feet, his answer was "hell of a lot better than the last one...) :)
I've talked to him about barefoot, and while I will admit his is a biased viewpoint, some of the points he raised have merit. I don't remember all of them, but one stuck with me ... if you ride with boots, any adjustments made in the trim for special issues are moot. As an example, one month Caisson started wearing the toes of his shoes, so my farrier did a "block", shortening the toe and setting the shoe back to rebalance the foot. He did that for a couple of shoeings. If I was riding in boots, the effect would be lost. Of course, if you ride without boots, that doesn't apply, but since lots of my riding is on gravel and rock, and Caisson grows so little hoof, I would probably need to use boots, so it was something I had to consider.
On Jan 10, 2010, at 12:56 PM, Sisu West Ranch wrote:
"...Do you mean to say these people wait more than 3-4 months to call a farrier when their horses are shod??..."
If you have identified an excellent Farrier (or barefoot trimmer), he or shewill be very busy. I submit for your consideration, that a prudent person makesthe next appointment before he leaves the barn.
A bare or shod hoof that has been neglected causes problems. I suspect that you don't wait until your own shoes have a hole in the sole, and you have a bleeding foot before you go shopping for a new pair. Our horses deserve the same consideration.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875
