Take Special Care When Dealing With Longer Feet

During the second annual International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati in late January, Jim Keith told attendees that the relationship between the bottom plane of the hoof and the rest of the limb is vital. “The longer a foot is, whether due to natural growth, thick shoes, pads or other reasons, the more important it is to leave the bottom plane of the hoof in its correct relationship to the limb,” says the veteran shoer from Tucumcari, N.M. “Care should be taken not to shoe extra full anywhere around the hoof, except perhaps for posterior support on any horse that must be able to turn sharply at speed.”

For other valuable footcare ideas from Keith and six other Summit panelists, be sure to “Check Out 61 ‘Best Of The Best’ Shoeing” Ideas” that start on Page 46.

Slick Trick For Remedying Gravel Conditions

When Dave Coburn spots a concern with gravel in the white line area, he’s come up with a remedy that he’s found will usually make dead-lame horses sound. “I clean the affected area (actually a hole in the white line) disinfect with iodine and then pack it with pine tar and turpentine before floating the area and putting on the shoe,” says the shoer from Castleton, Vt., who says weather conditions last year practicality turned gravel into an epidemic in his area. With this treatment, he finds most horses are returned to soundness within 1 to 4 days.

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