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Cold Shoeing vs. Hot Shoeing

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:59:25 +0000

If you’ve ever held a horse while it is being shod, you’ve probably experienced the giant cloud of pungent smoke that develops when a farrier places a hot shoe against the sole of a horse’s hoof. But is this rather uncomfortable looking process necessary for your horse to have a good fit in his shoes?

When a farrier refers to hot or cold shaping, they are meaning the act of actually hammering the shoe into shape to fit on your horse’s hoof. Hot shaping tends to be much easier for the farrier – you can imagine that shaping cold iron would take quite a bit longer. Hot shoeing, however, refers to using a hot shoe to mark the sole of the hoof and to indicate to the farrier whether the shoe is the right fit. If there are still high points on the hoof to be filed down, these will show once the hot shoe has been placed on the hoof. This helps the farrier make the shoe a better fit for your horse.

Cold shoeing omits this step and instead fits the shoe to your horse, and then works with the hoof and shoe together to bring them into the right balance. This type of shoeing can provide your horse with just as good a fit as hot shoeing, and takes just as much, if not more, farrier skill to do it correctly. A farrier who uses the cold shoeing process should not be discounted. In fact, some horses cannot tolerate hot shoeing, and therefore must rely on the cold shoeing techniques. As with anything, it is the farrier’s skill that determines how well the shoes fit the horse, not the technique used. Some farriers will admit to using the hot shoeing technique because they are lazy and don’t want to pound cold iron for long periods of time, however be wary of any farrier who attempts to put a red hot horseshoe on your horse’s hoof – this can cause serious damage to the hoof wall and should never be done.

Therapeutic Horseshoeing

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:32:08 +0000

In recent years, the art of therapeutic and corrective shoeing has come a long way, and now many lame horses can be given new pain-free lives, and can even resume work. Depending on the situation, there are many types of shoes to help your horse – here are just a few:

Heart-Bar Shoes. These shoes circle the entire hoof and also line up with the frog to provide added support. Traditionally used with foundered horses, heart-bars can help the frog to provide weight-bearing support. These shoes typically require an x-ray so the farrier can properly line up the shoe to provide the correct support.
Egg Bar Shoes. These oval shoes provide extra support to your horse’s feet, especially in the heel area. Useful for navicular disease and underrun heels, these shoes are not quite as common as heart-bars.
Natural Balance Shoes. Although made of a somewhat softer aluminum alloy, Natural Balance shoes are a lightweight choice that mimic your horse’s natural foundation. Allowing for a more natural breakover and better sole support, these can be a great choice for any horse, including those that are lame.
Hoof Pads. Although there is heated debate around the merits and drawbacks to using hoof pads, they are generally considered useful in certain situations. Particularly with foundered horses, a properly set pad can provide the frog support needed to make the horse more comfortable. Before using the pad, the hoof is always packed with material – many farriers use the same malleable plastic that dentists use for making moulds of your teeth. Once the packing and pad are in place, the farrier will nail on the horseshoe.

Remember that special shoes do not magically heal your horse, and if improperly used can actually do even further damage. Also be aware that with most of these different types of special shoes, great care must be taken to clean the hooves daily. Dirt and manure can easily build up in these shoes, which cover a large part of the horse’s foot. Bell boots are a good option as well, since there is a greater chance for your horse to catch his hind foot on the steel of the front shoe.

How to Find a Good Farrier

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:10:26 +0000

Since good shoeing and trimming are vital to keeping your horse sound and healthy it is very important that when the time comes to have your horse trimmed and shod, you trust the person who is working on his feet. Here are some tips to finding a good and reliable farrier:

Word of mouth. Other horse people will clearly tell you who they like, who they don’t, and why. These are the people who will let you know if a farrier shows up late for appointments or takes weeks to return a phone call. Be sure to talk to other horse owners who have similar needs as your own, as someone who is showing their horses competitively will have different requirements from their farrier as someone doing casual trail riding. Other good people to check with are your veterinarian, who will likely have a few people that they are comfortable working with, and also experienced stable managers, trainers, and breeders in your area.
Look at advertisements. Some farriers, if they are relatively new or are trying to increase their clientele, will advertise in barns, feed and tack stores, equine publications, or even on the Internet. Be aware that although this can be a good place to start in collecting names, you will still need to research them to make sure they are a competent farrier.
Check their certification. Many farriers now choose to become members of the American Farrier’s Association, so that they can be certified in what they do. The most extensive certification is the Journeyman Certified Farrier, who must have two years of direct experience and pass a comprehensive exam, both written and practical.
Ask for references. A good farrier should have a few clients who are willing to say good things about them.
Interview your potential candidates. Trusting your horse to a stranger’s hands is never easy. Try to get to know your farrier first by talking to them on the phone, and even having them out to meet your horse (at your expense of course). Discuss with them your horse’s special needs, and find out whether they have experience dealing with these issues.

Finding a farrier is not much different than finding a good doctor. With a little research and networking, you’ll be sure that your horse is in good hands!

Standing for the Farrier

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:21:51 +0000

A horse that doesn’t stand quietly for the farrier is a danger both to himself and to those working around him. Try these steps to make your horse more comfortable during a farrier visit:

If your horse doesn’t like being separated from his buddies, try having a quiet horse close by that your horse can bond with while the farrier works. Even better, work on slowly separating your horse from his herd for increasing amounts of time every day.
Practice with your horse standing quietly. It will take him a while to have the patience to stand for the 45 minutes or so that your farrier will need to work on him. Start off slow and work your way up, always staying within the time limit your horse can handle.
Try lifting your horse’s feet and holding them for a few seconds. Gradually increase this amount of time.
If you feel you are experienced enough, you may also wish to hold your horse’s foot in both farrier positions – up between your legs and straight forward for rasping – for very brief periods of time. If your horse is comfortable with this, you can gradually increase the amount of time you ask him to stand unbalanced.
If you can get your hands on a dull rasp, you might want to practice running the rasp lightly over your horse’s hoof, getting him used to both the feel and the sound.
When your horse is standing quietly, try tapping lightly on his feet with a small hammer to replicate the feeling of having horseshoes nailed on.
If your horse isn’t too greedy, you might want to have some treats handy to keep him interested in you while the farrier works.

With the proper preparation, farrier visits don’t have to be scary – for you or your horse!

How to Treat a Hoof Abscess

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:54:49 +0000

If you find your horse suddenly and acutely lame, and he can barely put pressure on the affected foot, it’s very possible he has a hoof abscess. The first thing to do in a case like this is to call your vet or farrier. After using hoof-testers to locate the abscess, they will cut open the infected pocket and drain it, giving your horse instant relief. Keeping the foot clean is vital for the healing process. First soak your horse’s foot in Epsom salts and warm water at least once per day and then, placing a gauze pad soaked in iodine and table sugar on the infected area, wrap with a VetWrap bandage. To keep the horse’s foot dry, put a plastic bag over the hoof and wrap with duct tape. This will keep the foot dry even in the wet bedding of the stall, and the duct tape will keep your horse from ripping it open. Alternatively, you could use a poultice boot.

You will need to keep up this routine until your horse’s hoof stops smelling of infection, usually about 5 days or so. Keep your horse in a clean, dry stall during this recovery time. If your vet or farrier can’t find the abcess, you’ll need to have x-rays taken. Once the possibility of a fracture has been ruled out, poultice the hoof until the abscess drains on its own, either on the sole or the coronet. You’ll notice immediate improvement when it bursts, as your horse will immediately begin to put pressure on the infected hoof. Before finishing with the bandaging, you may wish to have your vet or farrier back for a follow-up visit to ensure that everything has healed properly.

What to do When Your Horse has Thrush

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:50:52 +0000

If you’ve noticed a foul, strong odor accompanied by a black, oozing discharge when picking out your horse’s feet, it’s likely he has a case of thrush. Occurring most often through the rainy winter months, thrush is the result of a bacterial infection that can develop if your horse is frequently standing on wet ground. Additionally, horses can develop thrush from standing in the wet bedding of their stalls. These moist environments are excellent breeding grounds for the anaerobic bacteria that infect your horse’s feet as they become packed with the contaminated mud or bedding. Thrush typically affects the horse’s frog and can lead to lameness, infection, and even serious deformities. Luckily, it is not only easy to catch in the early stages but also responds well to treatment.

Pick out the infected feet thoroughly, then wash with warm water and an iodine scrub and pat dry. One of the easiest and cheapest methods to deal with thrush is to simply combine an iodine solution with table sugar to form a syrupy paste. Apply this directly to the horse’s foot, especially in the grooves along the frog, and move your horse to a clean and dry environment. You will need to keep up this routine daily, for about 5 – 10 days, until the infection is gone. In some cases, before applying the medication, you may wish to have your vet or farrier look at your horse and trim back the frog so that no bacteria are trapped inside.

As with most things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping your horse’s environment as clean and dry as possible and picking his feet out everyday are excellent ways to prevent a thrush infection. Since the bacteria cannot survive in oxygenated environments, picking your horse’s feet every day is an excellent way to prevent an outbreak.

What to do When Your Horse Loses a Shoe

admin — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:31:01 +0000

Having secure shoes is probably the most important thing for a horse. Riding a horse who is missing a shoe can lead to major health problems for the horse. There are many different circumstances under which a horse can lose his shoe. If you handle the situation properly you can dramatically improve your horse's chances for a full recovery. If you see that your horse has lost a shoe while riding, get off your horse immediately. Do not attempt to ride your horse again until he has a real shoe on. Look around the area to see if you can find the missing horse shoe. Discarded horse shoes contain nails that can cause problems if left alone. Check your horse's foot to make sure the shoe has come completely off. Often times, when a shoe has thrown pieces of the hoof may come off as well which is a major health hazard for the horse. If you see that the hoof is bleeding, get help from a professional right away. If your horse's hoof looks ok and is not bleeding, check carefully for any remaining nails. Nails in the hoof can impair the horse's ability to walk. Attempt to walk your horse to the stable and check over the hoof more carefully once you arrive. Hoof boots are very useful in this situation, if you have one - you're in luck. If you do not have a hoof boot, dress the hoof with a gamgee and wrap tightly with vet wrap, then wrap tightly with duct tape. Now you can safely put the horse back in his stall. Try to have a farrier reshoe the horse as soon as possible.

Ask the Farrier » Farrier

Cold Shoeing vs. Hot Shoeing

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