Factors
Influening Shoeing/Trimming Outcomes
When shoeing or trimming a horse there are many factors
directly related to the hoof, including:
- conformation of the horse,
- injuries or abscesses,
- pathologies, such as laminitis, founder, navicular
and others,
- gait problems, such as forging and interfering,
- behavioral and environmental problems,
- bacteria, fungi, white line disease (WLD) ,and broken
down feet.
Other things to consider are:
- expectations of the owner,
- stalls, turnout, arena, trails
- amount (and type) of work by the horse and overall
condition.
I will provide
quality work on every horse, never rush a job; I continue my
education and always strive to improve my skills by attending conferences,
seminars and clinics; I stay up to date on the latest procedures and
technologies.
I'm willing to consult with vetenarians or trainers,
if your horse has specific needs.
Working
Conditions for Optimum Hoof Care
Dave Farley,
a well-known farrier, pointed to five (5) factors needed
in working conditions for
the farrier to produce optimum shoeing/ trimming outcome. He
explains to his customers -and I agree with his assessment- that
if any of the conditions are less than desirable, it will compromise
the farrier's ability to provide optimum hoof care.
- Well behaved horse
- Clean work area
- Dry work area
- Flat work area
- Well lit work area
If any of the above
requirements are lacking, the final outcome may not be 100%.
The first requirement, a well-behaved horse is the most important.
It is a tough, risky job to work on a good horse, but the "dangers to a farrier's
physical and financial well being are magnified greatly by an unruly horse".
(Adapted from The
Natural Angle)
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