Trims Vs. Shoeings For Part-Time Farriers
The typical part-time farrier handles 212 trims and shoeings and 239 trims only in a year’s time.
— 2016 American Farriers Journal Farrier Benchmark Study
Farriers Find 85% Of Random Horses Have Hoof Disorders
A recent study with 942 random selected horses in the Netherlands found 85% had at least one visible hoof problem during regular footcare visits conducted by 21 farriers.
The farriers and researchers evaluated a potential dozen hoof issues with horses during farm visits. Here were the most frequently diagnosed hoof disorders:
- 45% of the horses had thrush concerns.
- 30% had superficial hoof wall cracks.
- 26% had growth rings.
- 25% had sole bruises.
- 18% had white line disease.
- 16% had perforating hoof wall cracks.
- 12% had white line widening.
- 5% had horizontal hoof cracks.
- 4% suffered from chronic laminitis.
- 3% had quarter cracks.
- 2% had keratoma issues.
- 1% had canker issues.
— Menno Holzhauer, PhD, GD Animal Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
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