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Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Lameness (Hoof) and Shoeing > Shoeing


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
When Does a Horse Need a Farrier?  *
We all know what it feels like to break a fingernail or toenail, and it is certainly not comfortable. Luckily for humans, we do not have to walk or stand on that nail after it has been cracked or split. Horses do not have that same luxury. When a horse cracks or splits his nail, the results can be especially painful since the horse must continue to ... Read full story
 10/15/2009
Toe Grab Recommendations Adjusted by Jockey Club  *
After discussions with industry participants and a review of all scientific research available on the use of toe grabs on the front shoes of Thoroughbreds, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee recommends adjusting the current RCI Model Rule on horse shoes to allow toe grabs up to four millimeters in height on front shoes on dirt racing surfaces ... Read full story
 7/23/2009
Delaware Track Adopts Emergency Rule on Toe Grab Horseshoes  *
After noticing an unusually high number of horses stumbling at the start during the first month of the Delaware Park meet, the Delaware Racing Commission adopted an emergency regulation that allows toe grabs with a height of up to four millimeters to be permitted for racing on dirt. The track had implemented a recommendation from The Jockey Club ... Read full story
 7/17/2009
Keeping Performance Horses Sound, AAEP 2008  *
James Gilchrist, Certified Farrier, of the Palm Beach Farriery Service in Florida, offered several strategies he finds useful for his high-performance clients during the "Putting Science into Farriery" session at the 2008 Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. "Not a day goes by that I don't talk to a veterinarian about a half-dozen ... Read full story
 6/4/2009
Hoof Repair Composites and Other Modern Materials, AAEP 2008  *
Glue-on shoes and other materials are indicated for cases of poor hoof quality or repeated shoe loss, or for crack repair, rebuilding a hoof, and preventing wear, began Bryan Fraley, DVM, of Veterinary Podiatry Associates in Harrodsburg, Ky., who presented during the "Putting Science into Farriery" session at the 2008 Convention of the American Association ... Read full story
 5/18/2009
Equine Practitioners Discuss Merits of Barefoot vs. Shod   *
The Barefoot vs. Shod table topic session at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., was very well-attended, and the attendee participation was excellent, according to the session moderators. The purpose of this session was to look at the merits of each method of hoof care rather than debate ... Read full story
 5/18/2009
Managing Acute and Chronic Laminitis, AAEP 2008   *
With a packed room of veterinarians at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., facilitators Jim Belknap, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, and Rob Boswell, DVM, of Palm Beach Equine Clinic in ... Read full story
 5/14/2009
AAEP 2008: Foot Casts for Acute Laminitis   *
There are many ways to support a laminitic horse's foot; one common European method is to use plaster of paris foot casts. Hans Castelijns, DVM, CF, of Cortona, Italy, showed attendees how to apply these foot casts at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif. "(These casts) are quick (taking ... Read full story
 4/1/2009
Book Excerpt: Shoeing for the Job  *
There are many kinds of horseshoes; try to select shoes well suited to your horse's work. While a horse with a problem may need a farrier to create a special shoe, many horses get along fine with factory-made shoes. Shoes should always be as light as is practical, taking into consideration the wear demanded of them, so that they interfere as little ... Read full story
 1/26/2009
Trainers Weigh in on Racehorse Shoe Regulations  *
Some leading New York trainers said a ban on toe grabs on racehorses' shoes will help level the playing field, but they're not all convinced the shoes are responsible for catastrophic injuries. The New York Racing Association in early August said it would ban the use of toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (.07874 inches) on front ... Read full story
 8/27/2008
Barefoot vs. Shod  *
This point/counterpoint discusses the controversial issue of whether horses need to wear shoes. Back in 2002, Tufts University hosted a seminar for farriers and veterinarians to review the barefoot hoof care methods devised by German veterinarian and author Hiltrud Strasser, Dr. med vet. Crossing paths at the conference were attendees Robert Cook, ... Read full story
 8/1/2008
Hoof Care: Addressing the Individual  *
We have greatly altered the lifestyle of our domesticated horses. These changes have had some negative impacts on the horse, one example of which is the health and quality of the hoof capsule. The majority of the equine population is overweight, underworked, and genetically selected for traits other than hoof capsule quality. This combination leaves ... Read full story
 8/1/2008
Kentucky Racing Group Approves Toe Grab Horseshoe Ban  *
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission July 14 unanimously approved regulations that would prohibit the use of horseshoes with toe grabs on front feet of horses racing in the state. The regulation, which still must go through a public comment period and be approved by an interim legislative committee, was recommended by the commission's health and ... Read full story
 7/15/2008
Vibram Hoof Pads
Quabaug Corporation introduces new Vibram Hoof Pads. Vibram Hoof Pads are made using a unique process that bonds two layers of resilient Vibram rubber together. Each layer plays a different role in absorbing and distributing the shock that the hoof experiences on impact. The firmer black layer faces the shoe to provide support against pad extrusion ... Read full story
 7/3/2008
Readers Respond: Tip Toes  *
Almost 1,500 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "What management methods does your hoof care professional use?" Results were as follows: Barefoot trim: 58.84% (875) Shoeing: 48.42% (720) Simple trim: 39.61% (589) Multiple selections were allowed. Results of weekly polls from TheHorse.com are published in The ... Read full story
 6/26/2008
Photo Series Shows Big Brown's Belmont Shoe Trouble   *
Each day brings new entries in the "Brown Shoe Diaries." The latest photos from the Belmont Stakes reveal Big Brown was stepped on by Guadalcanal leaving the gate, and that the shoe did not re-set itself during the race as previously thought; the colt ran the entire way with the shoe dislodged and the nail protruding from it. View a slideshow of ... Read full story
 6/24/2008
Managing Acute and Chronic Laminitis   *
To a packed room of veterinarians at the 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention in Orlando, Fla., Jim Belknap, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, an associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences from The Ohio State University's Galbreath Equine Center, and Rob Boswell, DVM, a practitioner with Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, ... Read full story
 6/1/2008
Big Brown's Hoof Shows Improvement   *
Ian McKinlay, the farrier who has been treating Big Brown's quarter crack, said Monday morning the colt's left front foot has shown improvement and he and trainer Rick Dutrow remain confident the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will not be hampered by the injury. Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., is slated to make a run to ... Read full story
 5/27/2008
Big Brown Returns to Track  *
Big Brown was back on the track a day earlier than expected, and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said he looks as good as ever--maybe even better. The Triple Crown hopeful went out for a 1 1/2-mile jog around Belmont Park on a rainy Tuesday morning, the first time since Friday the unbeaten colt was out exercising since a quarter crack was discovered on the ... Read full story
 5/27/2008
Big Brown's Feet Not So Bad, Farriers Say  *
(PHOTOS/VIDEO) Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown clearly owns some of the Thoroughbred industry's fastest feet. But many question their soundness, fueled by reports of layoffs, quarter cracks, and special shoes. His current farriers Tom Curl and Ian McKinlay gave us the real story on his feet, special pads, and how he went from stall rest to the Roses ... Read full story
 5/16/2008
HSUS Offering Reward for Information on Horse Soring  *
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will offer a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any violator of Tennessee's horse soring law, which prohibits the deliberate infliction of pain to horses' feet and legs to produce an artificially high-stepping gait. Advertisements announcing the reward will appear ... Read full story
 3/19/2008
Landmarks for Evaluating, Trimming, and Shoeing the Equine Foot   *
From many horse owners' point of view, the farrier's profession throws out a lot of confusing terms and directives when it comes to balancing a foot. Fit the shoe full? Trim to the widest point of the frog? Use a four-point trim? These nebulous statements can place the horse owner in a precarious position, as it seems like everyone has a different ... Read full story
 12/19/2007
Shoeless and Satisfied  *
I must take exception to comments by Stephen E. O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, in "Barefoot vs. Shod: An Equine Podiatrist's Perspective" online at www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9796. Nails are not "toxic," but shoeing is an invasive procedure. Infection can occur when nails penetrate corium and/or white line. Perforations weaken anything, including hooves ... Read full story
 9/1/2007
AAEP 2006: Barefoot versus Shod Table Topic   *
Steve O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine in Marshall, and Dan Marks, VMD, of Santa Fe, N.M., led a table topic discussion at the 2006 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in San Antonio, Texas, held Dec. 2-6, on the merits and disadvantages of leaving a horse barefoot or shod. O'Grady recognized that shoes change the ... Read full story
 7/25/2007
Barefoot vs. Shod: An Equine Podiatrist's Perspective   *
I am often asked about leaving horses barefoot. I must say from the onset that I favor horses being maintained without shoes when possible. Whether or not it is feasible for a horse to go without shoes will depend on the owner's situation and expectations, as well as many variables that influence the feet. I also feel that horses can be shod in a physiologic ... Read full story
 6/18/2007
Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium: Self-Adjusting Palmar Angles for Healing Hooves  *
Massage is a wonderfully relaxing, healing experience. As you stretch out comfortably on the table and the massage therapist's hands alternate pressure and release over your sore muscles, they begin to relax, blood flow improves, and you begin feeling better. Why else would you get one? The same principles apply to your horse's feet. When they are ... Read full story
 5/1/2007
Acute and Chronic Laminitis: An Equine Podiatrist's Perspective  *
Acute and chronic laminitis is a frustrating and often disheartening condition to manage. Having had the opportunity to observe, treat and shoe laminitic horses for over 30 years, I have a unique prospective into this disease. The biggest challenge to the veterinarian and the farrier is improving function in a foot that might have potential, substantial, ... Read full story
 4/21/2007
Correcting Shelly Feet  *
Shelly, crumbly feet can be a challenge for horses and their owners. The feet break down too readily if the horse is barefoot, and they are unable to hold nails if he's shod. In this article we'll look at several causes and potential treatments for shelly feet. Mitch Taylor, an American Farrier's Association (AFA) Certified Journeyman Farrier and ... Read full story
 3/1/2007
Supporting Limb Laminitis: Learning How to Save Horses Such As Barbaro   *
While flags might not have flown at half-mast on Monday to lament Barbaro's death, news of his death hit people around the world with an emotional gut punch. We've been pulling for the courageous colt's recovery since May 20, 2006, when he shattered his right hind leg running in the Preakness Stakes. We've cheered his progress and prayed during his ... Read full story
 2/3/2007
Readers Vote: Top Hoof Issues  *
A poll of readers showed laminitis, navicular disease, and barefoot vs. shod were their top issues involving horse feet. When horse owners were asked in a poll on TheHorse.com, “What do you think are the top problems relating to the health of a horse’s foot,” we received answers that might surprise you. Of nearly 1,500 respondents, more than ... Read full story
 1/28/2007
Barbaro on Friday: His Condition is Excellent  *
Five days after undergoing surgery, Barbaro was in excellent condition, according to a report from the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. "He looks good, everything is fine, and his appetite is particularly good today," said chief of surgery Dean W. Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, in a ... Read full story
 5/26/2006
Hoof Care for Toeing Out
My 2-year-old filly has turned-out toes, which originate from her knees. She does not trip or paddle when moving. However, after trimming her feet, she walks on the outside of the hoof and rotates her weight to the inside. I would like to know if a particular way of trimming her hooves would help the problem, or if I should shoe her. She is due to ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
One Step at a Time: Hoof Trimming and Leg Stress  *
Have you ever walked in shoes that you've had forever that are just a little worn to one side of the heel or the other? Did you notice that after awhile your knees would start to hurt, or maybe your ankles? Now think about wearing those shoes 24 hours a day, every day, for an entire month without ever taking them off. Image how miserable you'd feel. ... Read full story
 1/1/2006
Shoeing Wild Horses
Q: I've just adopted a wild horse and have heard that they often don't need shoes. She is in a quarter-acre dry lot connected to a 10-acre irrigated pasture for turn-out. Do we need to shoe her? Mary A: This is an excellent question; there has been a lot of debate lately about when a domestic horse needs to be shod. Wild horses and burros usually ... Read full story
 12/1/2005
Big Feet, Big Shoes
Whether you're a heavy horse fancier or not, a big hitch of fancy draft horses is an arresting sight. But what's the connection between all this flash and the ideal function of a heavy horse? Show ring insiders say you're seeing an animal displaying its full range of motion, while skeptics argue that the horse's anatomy is dangerously compromised by ... Read full story
 5/1/2005
To Shoe or Not to Shoe?  *
They are questions most horse owners have pondered at one time or another. Does my horse really need shoes? Do they help or hinder him? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Consideration must be given to several factors, including a horse's job, how much he's used, what type of foot he has, and the climate and terrain to which he's exposed. And ... Read full story
 5/1/2005
Foot Care and Hoof Health: Pulling a Shoe  *
Editor's Note: This is Chapter 6 of Care & Management of Horses by Heather Smith Thomas. The book is available from www.ExclusivelyEquine.com. The worst thing about horseshoeing in general is when shoes are left on too long. A horse whose feet have grown too long because shoes are left on may suffer leg wounds from striking himself, strained legs, ... Read full story
 9/15/2004
Protecting the Elbow From the Shoe
I'm desperate to find some way to prevent my 20-year-old Thoroughbred mare from cutting her elbow on her egg-bar shoe when lying down. She has been wearing egg-bars on her front feet to give her a little extra support since she pulled her front right suspensory for the second time. The egg-bars themselves seem to be fine; she is going great in them, ... Read full story
 7/1/2004
AAEP 2003: Preventing Supporting Limb Laminitis  *
“Laminitis in the contralateral (same end--fore or hind--opposite leg) limb is a well-recognized and potentially devastating sequela (result) in horses with complete fractures, sepsis involving a synovial structure, catastrophic breakdown injuries, and other conditions that cause unilateral non-weight-bearing lameness,” said Ric Redden, DVM, founder ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
AAEP 2003: Restoring P3 Alignment for Chronically Laminitic Horses  *
"Chronic laminitis is a frustrating and, at times, disheartening condition to manage," said Stephen O'Grady, BVSc, MRCVS, during the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. "Treating chronic laminitis is always a challenge; here we move a bit away from veterinary medicine into the mechanics of farriery. We're putting the skills ... Read full story
 2/17/2004
AAEP 2003: Podiatry Forum  *
While some forum discussions at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) annual convention are fairly small affairs, that wasn't true of the 2003 podiatry forum. About 65 veterinarians and farriers filled the room to discuss diagnostic analgesia, pads, Strasser trimming, ultrasound, and much more. Tracy Turner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ... Read full story
 2/3/2004
Shoeing for Chronic Laminitis   *
There are limited options for effective treatment of horses with lameness due to chronic laminitis. A common practice involves therapeutic shoeing, which is intended to reduce pain, aid in healing, and help return the horse to activity. Recently, researchers from Texas A&M University examined four types of therapeutic shoes to determine their effectiveness ... Read full story
 10/1/2003
Joint Pressure in the Foot   *
New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the United Kingdom has advanced hoof balance from a farrier's art form to a measurement of pressure inside the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint (coffin joint). Some day, a horse's ideal balance might be determined by a pressure reading of this type. Excess intra-articular pressure and/or joint ... Read full story
 5/1/2003
Cutting-Edge Hoof Education  *
Described by host Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky., as "probably the most harmonious learning event in the world," the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium held annually in Louisville, Ky., is a mecca for farriers and veterinarians interested in expanding their knowledge of the pathological equine foot. ... Read full story
 5/1/2003
Not-So-Fleet Feet  *
When a performance horse slowly goes off form, any number of things can be the cause. Could he have ulcers? Is he being overtrained? Is something subtle and mysterious going on with his metabolism? The problem could be much simpler than that--his feet might just hurt. A racehorse’s feet and legs are subjected to unbelievably high stresses during racing. ... Read full story
 4/29/2003
Shoeing in the Frontal and Horizontal Planes   *
When evaluating horseshoeing, many people don't look at the hoof correctly, according to Hans Castelijns, DVM and farrier based in Italy. "There are the sagittal, frontal, and horizontal planes (illustration included in this story)," he said in his presentation "Shoeing in the Frontal and Horizontal Planes" at the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium ... Read full story
 4/16/2003
Case Study: Misplaced Nail on Thoroughbred Mare  *
"Who here has never stuck a horse (driven a nail into sensitive areas when shoeing)?" asked host Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Kentucky, during the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Only a very few out of the 550-plus attendees (mostly farriers) raised their hands, showing that the following ... Read full story
 4/14/2003
Using Self-Adjusting Palmar Angles to Treat Heel Pain   *
"How do we use the palmar angle (the angle the wings of the coffin bone make with the ground) to influence the mechanics (of the foot)?" asked Ric Redden, DVM, host of the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium and founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky. First, you have to define which palmar angle you are discussing--the ... Read full story
 4/14/2003
Heel Pain in Horses   *
Your previously normal horse has developed lameness, which you notice as a stiff, short-strided gait that is worse on the turns and worse on hard ground. Giving your horse phenylbutazone (Bute) dramatically improves the signs of lameness for a period of time, but the lameness persists and gets slightly worse. With these clinical signs, the fear of ... Read full story
 4/1/2003
Navicular Syndrome/Heel Pain   *
There is probably no truer adage, "No hoof, no horse." Without this solid foundation, a horse cannot perform to his potential no matter how well trained, how fit, or how athletic he might be. A steady clip-clop rhythm at the trot gives you a sense of well-being as each hoof beat chimes aloud that your horse is sound. But when that cadence becomes even ... Read full story
 4/1/2003
Speed Limit  *
The racing Thoroughbred is trapped between a rock and a hard place. The rock is speed, which evolved slowly by natural selection for 50 million years, then rapidly by human hand the last 500. The hard place is where we find our ward today, beset by vulnerable feet, a grain-bothered gut, hot behavior, bleeding lungs, a sloping vulva, gastric ulcers, ... Read full story
 3/5/2003
Hock Joint Mechanics: Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium  *
“One of the most frequent sites of lameness is the hock joint,” said Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU), in her presentation “A New Look at the Hock Joint” at the 2003 Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium in Louisville, Ky. “Various shoeing modifications are used ... Read full story
 3/5/2003
Lower Limb Research at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium   *
Probably the foremost biomechanics researcher in the country, Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University's McPhail Equine Performance Center, discussed recent lower limb research during the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Some of the studies she described were performed ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
AAEP Convention: Horseman's Day  *
Horseman's Day, held for the third time as part of the annual AAEP convention, was another rousing success. Helping stimulate the interest and enthusiasm was the quality of the speakers. They couched their talks in terms the average horse owner could understand, but they certainly didn't talk down to them. It was the right mixture of scientific terminology ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
AAEP Convention: Kester News Hour   *
Probably the best-attended session of the AAEP annual convention, the Kester News Hour provides brief reports of studies that were too new or too brief to be included in the longer scientific sessions. Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, the president-elect of the AAEP and a surgeon at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.; and John Madigan, ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
Training to Shoe Horses   *
Shoeing horses isn't easy. To do the job correctly, a farrier has to have an understanding of equine leg and hoof anatomy; knowledge of the biomechanics of these structures; enough biology knowledge to understand how the horse's soft tissues grow, do their jobs, and heal from injury; metalworking skill to create or modify shoes as needed; and the practice ... Read full story
 1/1/2003
Horseman's Day at the 2002 AAEP Convention  *
Horseman’s Day, held for the third time as part of the annual AAEP convention, was another rousing success. There weren’t as many people in attendance as there were in San Diego last year, but they were just as enthusiastic. AAEP officials said that 266 were in attendance at the Orlando session compared to 400-plus last year and about 200 when the ... Read full story
 12/17/2002
New Focus on the Foot  *
No foot, no horse; these words are as true today as they were two hundred years ago. But during that time, the horse has gone from being a "beast of burden" as the major means of transportation to a leisure animal--one that we ride for pleasure whether it is in competition or on a weekend trail ride. One constant during this time is that the horse ... Read full story
 7/1/2002
Hoofcare Education at Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium  *
One of the most common comments at the 15th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 21-23, 2002, was that if farriers or veterinarians don't have a passion for working on laminitic horses, they shouldn't take the cases. Horse owners know that a laminitic horse is a high-maintenance case in terms of treatment and convalescent care, ... Read full story
 4/1/2002
Predicting the Effects of Farriery Using a Computerized Model   *
A talented farrier and knowledgeable veterinarian can often do wonders for a lame horse. Applying corrective shoes can change the forces acting on the feet, improving many foot problems. Unfortunately, even the most talented farrier can overcorrect a horse's foot, perhaps making the lameness worse. Ideally, there should be a way for the veterinarian/farrier ... Read full story
 4/1/2002
Wanted: Colorado Horses With Navicular  *
Researchers at Colorado State University's (CSU) Equine Orthopaedic Laboratory are once again recruiting horses suffering from navicular disease to participate in the second phase of a horseshoe study. The first study, which began last August, exhibited success using different types of shoes to diminish lameness caused by imbalances in hoof conformation. ... Read full story
 4/1/2002
Shoeing Prescription for Ringbone
My eventer was recently diagnosed with ringbone. I am led to believe that he should be shod so he can break over more easily, so I'm thinking of a rolled shoe. My question for the experts would be: How well can he jump with a rolled shoe? Wouldn't his "grip" on the ground be compromised? What else can be done? He has high periarticular ringbone and ... Read full story
 2/1/2002
High-Performance Hoof Care Meets Research at New Hampshire Farrier-Veterinarian Conference   *
The Rochester (NH) Equine Clinic cleverly wed research to practice in its 14th Annual Farrier-Veterinarian Conference, held Dec. 13-14, 2001 and sponsored by Hoofcare & Lameness Magazine. Washington veterinarian/researcher Olin Balch, DVM, PhD, presented straightforward lectures on the known and unknown parameters of the equine hoof, according ... Read full story
 2/1/2002
Winter Traction Devices: Get a Grip Before You Slip!
Snow and ice during winter can cause footing problems for horses, especially those which are called upon to do something other than loaf in the pasture or paddock. The problems include snow and ice, which translate into difficulty in maintaining balance on slippery surfaces and possible injury to horse and rider. Horseshoe manufacturers through the ... Read full story
 1/1/2002
Which Foot to Pad?
Q. I just read your June “Ask the Vet” article about muscle toning and development (article #2775). It describes my horse exactly! Her left shoulder is more developed, and the right shoulder is farther forward and flat. Her left foot has a low heel and the right is slightly clubbed. Because of this, she has a hard time moving to the right, especially ... Read full story
 12/1/2001
Nail-Free Footwear  *
Tough. Resilient. Protective. Whether on a human foot or a horse's hoof, a shoe supports weight and helps one overcome environmental hazards. With today’s technology, equine footwear can "stick" to a hoof without the traditional nails. Tough synthetics allow a shoe to adhere to the bottom of the hoof, or fit around the hoof wall. A shoe doesn’t even ... Read full story
 12/1/2001
Hoof Pads for Healing  *
They come with an assortment of labels: "high-tech hoof pads," "comfort system pads," "hoof support systems," etc. They come in a variety of thicknesses and materials. But by whatever they’re dubbed, these designer pads have two things in common: They are constructed of space-age materials, and they’re used for addressing various physical problems. ... Read full story
 11/1/2001
The Magic of Disney  *
Walt Disney World in Florida is in the process of celebrating its 25th anniversary, and there hasn't been a year of the magic without horses. Walt Disney himself was an avid horseman, playing polo and envisioning a very horse-oriented park with horse-drawn parade floats and carriages throughout. There were more than 200 horses at the Tri-Circle D Ranch ... Read full story
 10/11/2001
The Natural Hoof: A Sign of the Times  *
The popular image of the American "wild" horse has gone through a lot of changes in recent years. Once the epitome of the wild and free animal in a Marlboro cigarette commercial, the wild horse soon was denigrated to the enemy of the Western rancher, a competitor for forage with valuable cattle during years of drought. Then came the Bureau of Land ... Read full story
 10/10/2001
AESM Convention  *
Researchers, veterinarians, and horse people from around the world gathered in San Antonio in April for the 16th meeting of the Association for Equine Sports Medicine (AESM). The program included three full days of presentations concerning the overall welfare and treatment of sport horses. The presentations, most of which were 20 minutes in length, ... Read full story
 10/10/2001
The Brave New World: Navicular Syndrome Treatment  *
In spite of the best care given to horses in the history of their domesticated lives, record numbers of carefully bred, reared, and trained saddle horses are prevented from fully athletic lives by the crippling disease known as "navicular syndrome." More a condition than a disease, navicular syndrome mystifies the veterinary profession by existing ... Read full story
 10/9/2001
Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium 1999  *
The name of the conference might be misleading, because the 10th Annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium in Louisville, Ky., covered topics from how nutrition affects hooves to what stimulates hooves to grow. The theme of this year's symposium was Long Toe Low Heel. Organized by Ric Redden, DVM, owner of the International Equine Podiatry Center near Versailles, ... Read full story
 10/2/2001
Horse Show Shoes  *
Winter’s finally over and you’re ready to roll down the road. Your horse is fit, you’ve been coached to new heights, and visions of blue ribbons dance in your dreams. Suddenly, your happy dream turns into a nightmare as you recall what happened last year at that horse show, when your horse needed to be re-shod at the show. What’s a horse owner to ... Read full story
 10/1/2001
Nail-Quicked  *
Shoeing is necessary to protect the hooves of many hard-working horses, and nails are of course an important part of the process. Ideally, horseshoe nails enter the outer hoof wall, which lies adjacent to the "quick," or the sensitive laminae inside the hoof capsule. Occasionally, however, a nail is placed wrong and enters or presses against the sensitive ... Read full story
 10/1/2001
Hoof Repair  *
Your show jumper lands off a five-foot vertical and is cutting right, thinking a few fences ahead. The footing is just a little bit sticky from the rain storm last night, but not to worry--you have a nice set of those European show jumping studs securely set in the shoes. As the leading foot grabs the ground, the shoe seats firmly in the muck, but ... Read full story
 9/13/2001
Shoeing The Laminitic Horse  *
Of all the medical crises that can afflict a horse, laminitis surely is one of the most alarming. Horribly painful, and potentially devastating to his long-term soundness, the strange syndrome whereby the coffin bone inside the hoof begins to tear away from the laminae (the accordion-like soft tissues between the bone and the hoof wall) quite rightly ... Read full story
 9/13/2001
The Barefoot Horse: Romance vs. Reality  *
Most of us had a childhood that involved childrens' horse books and the wonderful, romantic images they conjured: A magnificent horse--most likely a black stallion--galloping free, au natural. Nostrils flaring, legs charging, mane blowing, tail flowing. It's hard to set aside that dreamy fantasy, and as adults, particularly in this era of "natural ... Read full story
 9/12/2001
Barefoot Benefits  *
We often assume a horse needs shoes without really thinking about why or how that affects a horse's overall health. Yet standard veterinary texts, such as books by James Rooney, DVM, and O.R. Adams, DVM, on equine lameness, refer to shoeing as a "necessary evil." What makes shoeing necessary in some instances is the need for additional traction caused ... Read full story
 7/1/2001
Graveled Horses
Q: My horse became very lame without showing any signs of cracks, bruising, or having a "hot" nail. The barn manager said my horse was "graveled" and called the veterinarian. After treatment, the horse became fine, but since my horse is never on gravel, could you please explain the term? A: The diagnosis of a graveled horse is usually not difficult. ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
A Step Ahead--Tips on Regular Trimming and Shoeing  *
At one point in my life, I decided to learn about farriery. I enrolled in an intensive 10-day short- course. During the day, we would fashion shoes, trim horses, and when the instructor thought we were ready, attach the shoes to an equine foot. Each evening was devoted to classroom sessions. We discussed, debated, and learned. One evening the debate ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
At Home On The Range: Dude Horses  *
While many of our horses do some kind of work for a living, the work usually consists of a couple of hours a day, three to five days a week. Many of our horses are ridden far less than that, and we don't really think of them as "working" for their living as did horses of yesteryear. But there are horses out there which do put in a full day, whether ... Read full story
 2/1/2001
Bar Shoes  *
Once regarded as pretty radical, bar shoes now are experiencing something of a renaissance. In particular, egg bar shoes are being fitted to more feet now more than ever before-even those belonging to horses in high-intensity athletic careers, such as racing or showjumping. The reason? Simple--they work! The term "bar shoe" encompasses any type of ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Coffin Bone Fractures
My horse has been diagnosed with a fractured coffin bone. What could have caused it, and what is the prognosis? Fractures of the coffin bone or distal phalanx usually occur in the horse following some type of trauma, often from kicking, or a large force placed on the coffin bone (i.e., racing on hard tracks). However, they can occur from a penetrating ... Read full story
 3/1/2000
A Footwear Primer  *
Some horse owners have little more than a passing acquaintance with those things that are nailed onto the bottoms of their animals’ feet. The shoes are there (they hope) when they pick up the hooves to clean them, and once every six weeks or so they write a check to the farrier. Such owners might not be remiss in their horses’ care and management, ... Read full story
 11/1/1999
American Farrier's Association Convention  *
The American Farrier’s Association Convention held in Lexington, Ky., March 3-6, was planned with the professional farrier in mind. While the lion and the lamb vollied outdoors throughout the four-day event, inside the convention center farriers from all over the world escaped the vagaries of the weather and took advantage of the occasion to increase ... Read full story
 5/1/1999
Emergency Hoof Care: Pulled Shoes  *
Have you ever noticed a group of serious "bikers" out on the highway on a weekend? Somewhere behind them you’ll see a support vehicle, usually a van, full of tools, food and drink, luggage, and with room to load on a motorcycle or two in the event of a breakdown. The man (or woman) behind the wheel is called the "road captain." HOOFCARE ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
10 Tips For Winter Hoof Care
Does the sound of sleigh bells set your nerves on edge, anticipating a wreck on the icy patch down the road? Do you dream of the day next spring when you will be able to see your horse below his knees? Do you lie awake at night designing heating wires that can be implanted in horseshoe pads to melt the ice balls? Have you dreamed of sandpaper inserts ... Read full story
 1/1/1999
Pounding The Pavement  *
In England, tradition dictates that foxhunting horses be turned out in the spring and brought in during late summer, when they are summarily trotted on tarred roads in a process known as "legging up" in preparation for the season to begin in the fall. Ouch. In Amish communities, retrofitted Standardbreds trot for miles each day, barely missing a ... Read full story
 9/1/1998
Egg Bar Shoes  *
She was holding the lead line so tightly her knuckles were white. Her eyes were glued to the farrier's fingers as they felt the horse's coronary band. Then she looked into the eyes of the veterinarian and wailed, "You've got to do something! I have to show this horse this weekend, and he can't go to a horse show wearing a bar shoe. No one will ever ... Read full story
 8/1/1998
Cold Feet: Winter Hoof Care  *
It's here. Maybe it's where you are, too. Snow, ice, wind...and worry. How do you know what to do to protect your horses when bad weather sets in? What can you do to prepare yourself, and your horses? Here are a few tips. HOOFCARE & LAMENESS Anti-winter arsenal: Drive-in studs and hard-headed nails are some of the most popular traction ... Read full story
 1/1/1998
Advice for the Hoofsore  *
Q: What is the relationship between chronic, severe thrush and my horse's contracted heels? A: Thrush and contracted heels often go hand-in-hand...but by the time a veterinarian or farrier is called to help the horse, it is hard to tell which came first, particularly because so much "ordinary" thrush goes untreated. Some owners think horses' feet ... Read full story
 11/1/1997
The Art of Therapeutic Shoeing  *
Michael J. Wildenstein, resident farrier at Cornell University's large animal clinic, has approximately 400 different types of therapeutic shoes hanging on the wall of his clinic. Each one, he says, was made for a particular lameness or disease problem to fit an individual horse: aluminum shoes for a fatiguing jumper, plastic shoes for an endurance ... Read full story
 11/1/1997
Traction or Trauma?  *
Some astute horsemen have long alleged that certain styles of horseshoes might predispose a racehorse to catastrophic injury, often resulting in euthanasia of the athlete. A recently completed study at the University of California, Davis, supports the hypothesis that some shoe types might predispose a horse to musculoskeletal injury. "We are very ... Read full story
 6/1/1996




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