Why do we shoe our sport horses?
Due to soft soles or to prevent over wearing of soles
To improve conformational abnormalities such as club feet, flat feet, soft tissue injuries
Improve traction for some disciplines
Rehabilitation/recovery from injury
What are the draw backs?
Cost
Excessive Nail holes-crumbly hoof walls
Loss of traction
Self-injury
Possible worsening of caudal hoof failure
Should I take them off for the Winter?
Yes if you have nice soil in your paddocks
Yes if you have a problem with caudal hoof failure
Yes if your horse isn’t being ridden
Yes if you have crumbly hoof walls
No if there is stoney soils and the horses soles are soft
No if there is stoney soils and the walls will chip
No if there would be detriment to the feet due to conformational abnormalities or injuries
Shoes on for Spring!
We are considering running a podiatry day at our facility in Spring this year.
This will help farriers set up your horses feet the best they can for the season.
There will be a special price for podiatry xrays
Pre-shoeing and post shoeing radiographs will be available.
Biscuits and coffee are a given 😉