A nearly lost shoe should stop a rider cold because it can expose horses to foot injuries ranging from nail punctures to sole bruising. Having the right tools and knowing how to use them can help you remove a shoe safely when a farrier isn’t available.
A farrier is part of a team that also includes the horse, owner, trainer, grooms, and veterinarian. This team approach is never more necessary than when a horse has an injury or disease.
Trail riding season is in full swing, and our sources answered 17 questions about keeping your horse sound and healthy.
Your laminitis survivor’s true prognosis depends on how you manage him after the worst is over.
A team from Norway conducted a series of studies on coat type, body-clipping, and metal shoes to understand how and where horses lose body heat.
Dutch researchers are printing custom shoes, which allow for a perfect fit so farriers and veterinarians can address specific hoof issues and lamenesses.
UK researcher: Evidence-based studies are lacking; here are my experiences and shoeing strategies.
What can I shoe my horse with that will provide traction and reduce concussion when riding on paved roads?
Reining horses and those competing in other cattle events often wear slide plates. These specialized hind shoes allow them to slide while reducing joint stress.
Consider the big picture—from farrier care and diet to environment and genetics—when working to keep horse hooves healthy.
No matter what devices farriers use, their goal is the same: to give each horse the best opportunity to run to his potential. Here’s how they help racehorses succeed on the track.
Take a look at how adding studs to horseshoes can help horses navigate less-than-ideal footing.
While surgery alone can improve septic navicular bursitis prognoses, recent study results suggest outcomes can be even better if surgery is combined with antimicrobials and therapeutic shoeing.
Given the link between the external shape of the hoof capsule and its internal function, trimming and shoeing should optimize functionality and ultimately reduce stress, both to prevent injury and to treat established pathology, one veterinarian says.
Some effects of the shoeing strategies farriers use to correct low heels in horses can actually be detrimental in the long run. Here’s how one farrier recommends correcting this frustrating lameness cause.
The theory is that when the polyurethane pour-in packing absorbs the shock from the hoof impacting the ground, it prevents it from traveling further up the musculoskeletal system, where it could cause wear and tear injuries.
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