WHAT IS A GOOD SHOEING JOB?
With a good shoeing job, a horse should not be sore or lame after being shod whether hot or cold. The feet must be balanced and even where possible, as unbalanced feet contribute to gait problems, brushing, ringbone and splints.
The horse should always be shod with shoes that suit that type of horse and the type of discipline the horse is involved in. The shoes should be fitted slightly longer and wider at the heels to allow for expansion of the hoof wall when bearing its weight. The nails used should suit the type and size of shoe.
Toe cracks should be cut out, but if not, unclipped shoes must be used. Excessive wing or flair should be removed sensibly so as not to thin and weaken the wall.
The frog should be trimmed sensibly to aid in the ejection of manure and stones. The sole should be pared away lightly and the shoes seated or bevelled to alleviate any sole pressure, as this is the most common cause of lameness along with short and tight heels.
A professional farrier should always inform the owner or trainer of any hoof problems, and explain how these can be corrected with adequate trimming and shoeing.
A competent farrier should ask many questions before applying shoes to a new client's horse. Some of these questions are: does the animal have a previous lameness problem, does it brush, overreach or pull shoes, is it exercised in a ménage, around the roads, on the beach, in a paddock or ridden in hill work or trackwork?
During the dressing (trimming) of feet, the farrier should observe any problems or abnormalities that may occur and point this out to the client regarding lameness or gait problems and discuss a remedial process.
The farrier should be able to liaise with equine vets to discuss adequate shoeing or trimming procedures, and most importantly the farrier must be :