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Q&A: May/June 2017

What discipline do you find challenges you the most when the horse interferes and why?

 

A: Shoeing Standardbred racehorses that interfere can be the most challenging. The fact that they are moving at the fastest speeds increases the likelihood that any conformational anomalies will result in limb interference, so balancing feet with proper trim and shoes of proper weight is a must.

— Steve Kraus, Trumansburg, N.Y.

A: The discipline that I find the most challenging when a horse interferes — front feet or hind feet — is polo. Due to the nature of polo, the way a horse has to perform is very different than any other discipline.

The weight from the player shifting all the time from left to right or over the neck of the horse, away from the center of the saddle, keeps the horse struggling for balance. Therefore, certain polo ponies are much more difficult to make them keep a clean stride than a show jumper or a dressage horse.

— Fabio Gnoatto, Wellington, Fla.

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Additional advice on dealing with interference within various disciplines at
americanfarriers.com/0517

A: Dressage horses that interfere present the most challenges for me since it is a low impact, slow-speed discipline. Weight and traction only work to spread limbs if the horse is moving at speed.

— Bob Smith, Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School, Plymouth, Calif.

A: It’s not really the…

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