As part of last winter’s sixth annual International Hoof-Care Summit, two veteran farriers tackled a number of the most frequently asked questions concerning trimming and shoeing situations. For the third year in a row, this “Point/Counterpoint” presentation was among the highlights of this annual event that is sponsored by American Farriers Journal.

This latest unrehearsed and fast-paced session sparked a number of viewpoints for Summit attendees. In this article, Tom Curl of Vero Beach, Fla., and Mitch Taylor of the Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Mt. Eden, Ky., share their thoughts on proper footcare.

Q: Are there good ways to explain the importance of a regular shoeing and trimming interval to clients who may be inclined to let their horses go longer to save a few dollars?

Curl: A lot of guys are having trouble keeping horses on a schedule since some clients just don’t have the money. Some clients have pulled the shoes and only want to trim at 8 or 12 weeks.

Decide which clients are going to demand longer intervals because they are only going to do what their wallets allow them to do. Others who may own a nice performance horse may want to cut back on shoeing costs. In these cases, explain how longer trimming intervals may lead to excessive toe length that can cause other problems.

Taylor: In Kentucky, many farriers trim mares where the owners want to stretch trimming out over a longer period of time even though longer intervals can affect…