Jonathan "Tim"; Briggs (Sherburne, N.Y.)
Jonathan "Tim" Briggs is my farrier hero. Long story short, my 14-year-old solid Paint gelding, Matchbox, had recurrent lameness every spring for the past 3 years. The first year the lameness presented, he was diagnosed with palmar syndrome, with long toes/underslung heels. Matchbox improved with therapeutic shoeing, but it was challenging to maintain, even with close attention to the recommended shoeing cycle. He’d be sound by the fall, only to have the lameness reappear again in the spring. It was frustrating, and I thought after the third year in row that I’d have to retire him.
A friend I met at a clinic last fall recommended Tim. I showed Tim the radiographs and the photos of Matchbox’s feet, as I had noticed that the lameness seemed to be associated with toe length. Tim also spoke with my veterinarian. Finally, we discussed what had worked in the past and what hadn’t. One thing I appreciate about Tim is that he measures the hoof angle and the toe length at every shoeing. We record the measurements and monitor how the hoof angles change. We’ve seen the angles improve as the hooves remodel. We still have a ways to go, but already with the increased hoof angles and shorter toe length, Matchbox is going better than he ever has, and for the first time in 3 years, he was sound this spring. Thank you, Tim.
— Lauren Ostergren (Ithaca, N.Y.)
