GETTING THE BEST SHOEING
The old saying is true. “No hoof. No horse.” One of the most critical aspects of equine comfort is proper hoofcare. Your horse should be shod every 4 to 6 weeks. This means that your farrier will visit your farm 8 to 12 times a year. It is not in your horse’s best interest for you to try and “stretch” time between each shoeing. If your horse’s hooves go too long between shoeing problems will eventually occur. Some of those problems can be: toes becoming too long, heels becoming sore, or shoes falling off causing chunks of hoof to be pulled off weakening the entire hoof. I hope the following information gives you, the horse owner, some insight on what a farrier encounters on each visit as well as ways you can help to maximize each visit.
To perform well, a farrier needs:
- A clean, dry place to shoe. A concrete pad with a cover over it is ideal. Most farriers are willing to work in washracks if they are not too sloped (its no fun chasing your shoeing box toward the drain), not too cluttered, and the crossties are not situated too far back in the rack. Remember, there has to be enough room behind the horse’s rump for leg extension, the farrier and his tools. This may require the addition of more crossties situated forward of the existing crossties.
Leave a broom and a scoop nearby so the farrier can clean his work area as he goes. Most farriers are willing to deposit the hoof trimmings and manure in a wastebasket or muck bucket if it is located close at hand.
- Access to the facility. When the farrier sets his truck up he is temporarily setting up a shop which many times will incorporate a large area. When he arrives at your barn he will back up to the area that is closest to the work zone, usually situated on one end of the barn. This location should be free of clutter. Hanging baskets, chairs, and flower arrangements dress up a barn entrance, but they severely curtail the work zone. Give him a place to work that is out of your way, yet convenient to the shoeing area.
Part of the shoeing process is sizing, shaping, and fitting the shoe. Most farriers shape their shoes on an anvil, sometimes heating the shoe in a forge. All of this is done at the truck, while the fitting of the shoe is done at the horse. Fitting the shoe is a trial and error moment, requiring a checking of fit on the horse and then a minor adjustment of the shoe on the anvil. The closer the truck is to the horse the fewer steps the farrier must take to achieve proper fit.
- Adequate lighting. One naked interrogation bulb directly over the horse’s back is not sufficient for the farrier see the hoof he is working on. It is important to remember that good farriery revolves around theories of balance and level, and the farrier uses sight planes and visual references to achieve these goals. It is in your horse’s best interest to have bright lights situated where they can illuminate the area under a horse’s belly. Confronted with power restrictions? Try lining the walls of the shoeing area with a whiteboard material that will help bounce available light around. This material is usually waterproof, comes in 4’ x 8’ sheets, and can be found in most home improvement stores.
- Adequate power supply. Most farriers arrive with a myriad of power tools designed to make their job easier. Fans, grinders, and drills provide comfort and valuable timesaving efficiency.
- Proper compensation. Most farriers preferred to be paid the same day they provide your service. If you cannot be present for your horse’s shoeing consider leaving a check with the barn manager, or in a designated location at the barn. Always clear your payment schedule with your farrier prior to shoeing the horse. Should your farrier agree to allow payment through the mail, make sure you send it in a timely fashion, preferably in 10 days.
- Train your horse to stand quietly. Forego bad shoeing experiences by investing time into teaching your horse to tolerate the shoeing visit. If you haven’t the wherewithal to teach your own horse, hire a professional trainer to do it for you. You would be surprised how far daily picking and cleaning of the hooves will take you with this task.
Horses are herd-oriented creatures and many horses do become very agitated when subjected to solitary confinement. If your horse has a particular “friend” in the herd, consider keeping them both in the barn at the time of your horse’s shoeing appointment. The calmer your horse is, the more likely you will get a thorough job.
- Refrain from offering your horse treats before or during shoeing. Put all treats away until your horse is completely shod. Feeding your horse while the farrier is trying to work can cause your horse to become anxious. This anxiousness will create an unstable work environment and could cause the farrier to get hurt. After the farrier is completely done shoeing your horse then and only then reward your horse for being a good boy by lavishing him with treats and praise.
