| A lot of you have probably been through the | | | | See in theory, the ideal place to have the heels of |
| experience of one farrier shoeing a horse a | | | | your shoe end is under the line of force of the |
| certain way and completely having convinced you | | | | limb. It is a straight line down the leg that |
| it is correct, and then another farrier will come | | | | continues through the centre of rotation of the |
| along and say the horse should be shod the | | | | pastern joint to the ground. For example run your |
| complete opposite way, and is just as convincing. | | | | hands down the cannon bone where it is widest |
| Alright difficult position yeah? Lets look at a few | | | | until you reach the fetlock joint. This is the |
| common differences in shoeing jobs, why they | | | | approximate centre of rotation and a line directly |
| are done and why both sides of the fence can be | | | | down from this theoretically the heels of your |
| right and wrong at the same time. | | | | shoe should end. |
| Firstly, some jobs are scrutinized as being to | | | | Now this is the theory behind support-that the |
| short. Now in the ideal shoeing the heels of the | | | | shoe should end under the line of force of the leg. |
| shoe will come a little over the buttresses of the | | | | Okay it's technical mumbo-jumbo but the fact |
| hoof, providing good support while not being easily | | | | is-you and the horse can alter the way he holds |
| pulled off. From my experience, horses working in | | | | his pastern. So if his pastern joint is held lower, |
| heavy sand, especially competition horses, are | | | | your measurement of the force-line changes, and |
| prone to pulling shoes even when shod in this ideal | | | | the same if it is held higher. For example, look at |
| way. But when you shoe the horse just 'short' of | | | | the angle of your horse's pastern. Now apply |
| the buttresses it greatly reduces the instances of | | | | pressure to his shoulder, shifting his weight to the |
| horses pulling shoes. I especially notice this when | | | | opposite leg more. Notice how you've altered the |
| working at racehorse stables training in heavy | | | | pastern angle so easily? In fact the pastern angle |
| sand. Shoe them ideal or god-forbid 'long' and you | | | | will be different on each foot! And numerous |
| will have a good few tack-ons every week. Shoe | | | | factors can effect how a horse holds himself at a |
| them short and you have zero lost most weeks. | | | | given time. Injury-old or recent, uneven ground, |
| So where as one farrier may bag shoeing short, | | | | uneven skeletal structure, back pain, any pain, etc. |
| you must stand back and look at the | | | | See how hard it is to take an objective |
| circumstances. What conditions is the horse | | | | measurement? Most of the time, your farrier is |
| working in? Is the horse a frequent shoe puller | | | | the bloke who has the most experience with |
| and frustrating the owner who just wants to | | | | shoeing, the angles and possible changes that can |
| keep riding? Or is it just lazy workmanship? In any | | | | take place. Thus he is most often the one to |
| case shoeing short has it's time and place. | | | | trust. But then of course another farrier will come |
| Then you have the polar opposite of shoeing | | | | along when the horse is under a different set of |
| short-the farrier who shoes them 'long' or what is | | | | circumstances and will evaluate the horse |
| called 'hanging-out'. This does make the horse | | | | differently, bagging the previous farrier. But either |
| more susceptible to pulling shoes, and you will be | | | | could be right or wrong. Your getting a headache |
| fairly guaranteed to lose them in heavy going | | | | already? The best remedy in this situation is to do |
| terrain on most horses. But there is the | | | | your research and keep an open-mind. An open |
| advantage of support. Now more length in the | | | | mind will always be your greatest tool, especially |
| heels is more support and this is great for some | | | | when it comes to horses. |
| horses, especially those with long sloping pasterns. | | | | |