Shoeing

Tivers@aol.com
Tue, 26 Nov 1996 17:03:17 -0500

<< Farrier, who I believe is a good one with years of experience, squared
the back hooves and shortened his breakover point once I told him he
was forging. He stopped forging until he became tired on long rides
(understandable). When he and I are paying attention and I am working
hard at keeping him collected and he is calm, etc...ramble on.... he
doesn't forge. This, keep in mind, is with the squared off back
hooves. >>

Squaring the hind toes is a quick fix. In racehorses we'd rather balance the
whole horse because our animals are hitting hard and, above all, need reach
behind. Squaring any toe increases the effects of concussion and, behind,
will go right at the hocks--in racehorses.

Perhaps this kind of thing is OK for endurance horses. Perhaps stride
efficiency is not so important and concussion is not of a magnitude that it
will affect the hocks and stifles. This is out of my realm of experience.

The whole-horse approach, though, is better served by moving toward higher
angles and shorter toes in front, lower angles and longer toes behind. Speed
up in front, slow down behind to correct front to back interference at the
trot and in the rotary gallop.

ti