26 August 2008 14:42
My 15.2hh, 11-year-old Shire cross has always had poor hooves, which my previous farrier helped by raising his heel and reducing his shoe size, so his hooves grew stronger. I’ve since moved yards and have a new farrier, and my horse is losing shoes regularly. The farrier wants to leave his shoes off, as he thinks he is almost unable to put a nail in without making my horse lame. He says there are no remedial shoes available for horses size six and up that don’t require nails. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer
By Your Horse
Farrier Glyn Trundle advises:
Don’t be afraid to change farrier if you don’t agree with his advice. A good relationship is vital if you have a horse with foot problems. If your old farrier is local, get him back on board, even if you have to travel to his forge. Otherwise, ask your vet for a recommendation, and the pair of them can work together.
When a mature horse’s feet start to increase in size it’s usually because of a shoeing issue. They get long and flared-out, which greatly reduces the hoof’s ability to perform one of its primary functions – weight bearing. The attitude that remedial shoes don’t come in a certain size is no excuse – lengths of steel can be made into any size of shoe. Nutrition is vital for healthy feet – call several feed suppliers’ advice lines for guidance. Feeds with a high oil content are very good for your horse’s feet.