A horse’s feet often reflect the environment it lives in. Dry, arid climates can leave horses with hooves that the highest-quality nippers cannot withstand. Damp, humid climates result in a sodden, decaying mess. Then there are the feet that farriers in the Midwest, like David Hallock, contend with

The Dansville, Mich., farrier works on horses that live in an environment that endures both extremes — a moist, rainy climate, followed by lengthy dry and arid stretches, only to repeat the cycle several more times.

On this “Shoeing for a Living” Day, Hallock handles plenty of feet that ride the environmental rollercoaster of the Upper Midwest, discusses how he keeps the horses going and offers insights into how he’s educating the farriers of the future.

Center of the Limb

Hallock is joined by Laura Russman, CF, and Samantha Hamm, who had recently completed Hallock’s 24-week farrier program at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. They are continuing their education with hands-on experience and tutelage with Hallock’s 3R Forge & Farrier Services.

They are tending to the horses at Horsescape Farm, a boarding facility in Williamston, Mich., that’s owned and managed by Sue and Jenny Miller. Hallock has been providing hoof care at the farm for about 10 years after the account previously was serviced by the late Gil Reaume, who is the younger brother of International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame member Bob Reaume.

“When Gil retired, he asked me to do them and one other little laminitic horse,” he says…