A primary hoof-care goal always has been to trim the hoof so that it provides support and stability to the distal phalanx (hence the bony column), regardless of whether a horse is being shod or left barefoot.
How a horse is put together — body proportions and angles, leg angles, straightness or imbalance in limbs — influences how that horse moves, how its feet push off and strike the ground and how its hooves wear and grow.
Some farriers wear the fact that they aren’t computer savvy like a badge of honor.
But like it or not, shoers in this day and age are going to be dealing with the Internet and the World Wide Web — even if they never put their fingers on a keyboard or place their palm over a computer mouse.
Normal vs. abnormal locomotion of the equine lower leg and foot is a complex and often confounding subject, according to equine veterinarian Olin Balch.
Pointing out that hoof balance or imbalance helps explain much about the mechanics of the foot, Michael Wildenstein says you need to evaluate both to determine how to trim and shoe to reduce abnormal stress in the moving horse. He told members of the American Association of Equine Veterinarians at their annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, that fully understanding the mechanics of the hoof actually makes it easier to balance the hoof.
Olin Balch's long-time interest in the biomechanics of equine locomotion began when, as a student, he worked his way through veterinary school by shoeing horses.
Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.