Quick Q & A with The Farrier

We're fortunate to have spent some time with a great farrier, Dave Jacobsen. He was good enough to answer some questions for us and we're sharing his wisdom with you. If you've got a question, post it in the Shoe Talk Forum and we'll get 'em answered. Dave's a cut-to-the-chase kind of guy and will never use ten words when two will do! To that end, we put together a list of questions to get his take, and to get our members talking. Let us know what you think by posting a comment below.

Should I pull my horse's shoes in the off season?
It is always best to keep a horse barefoot if they are outside a lot in the winter. Leaving a horse barefoot will help widen the hoof out, as shoes restrict growth. Whether to keep shoes on or not depends on the horse's hooves and what you are using the horse for. If shoes are on in the winter, studs or borium and snowpads are a must in snowy and icy conditions.

Are there supplements that improve the hoof?
Yes, there are a variety of supplements. Any supplements containing biotin will help to some degree. Farriers Formula works well, but remember -- just because you feed a horse a supplement, doesn't mean it will always work well. Individual horses may react differently.

What can you do to help a bad-footed horse?
Depends on the problem. There are a variety of solutions involving shoeing, feeding, and care for a horse with bad wheels that can help. Routine farrier care can solve the majority of problems.

What do you see as the worst confirmation problems?

• Crooked hooves (offset cannon bone, severely toed in or out)

• True club hoof (this is not two different sizes of hooves-a true club hoof is straight down; see next question)

• Hooves that are too small for the horse

• Severe low heels (ones that the farrier even has a hard time building up with shoeing)

• Severe rings in the hoof (a misshapen hoof due to founder or severe illness)

• A horse that is extremely heavy in the front end (thick neck, wide chest) and light on the hind quarters

What does it mean when a horse is said to have a club foot?
A true club foot has restrictive tendons that cause a hoof to be straight up and down. The hoof looks upright and boxy. The heel grows faster than the toe. Depending on the degree of severity, the horse may be short-strided. I don't consider two hooves that are of different shapes to be a true club. If your horse is born with club hooves, consult a veterinarian and your horse shoer to decide on the best course of action.

How often should a horse see the farrier and at what age should he/she have first trim?
A weanling should be looked at on your next farrier appointment to address any problems (crooked legs, club hooves, or any abnormalities). The weanling may not need any trimming for 6 months, but if there is a problem he or she might need attention every month. I personally don't like to shoe a horse too early in their life. I like the horses hoof to widen out naturally, for as long as possible. Some horses may need attention monthly, depending on what you are doing. Under normal conditions a horse should see a farrier every 6 to 8 weeks. Sometimes depending on the winter weather you can let it go longer.

Thrush stinks! What is thrush and do you advocate any topical treatments to prevent it?
Thrush is a pain in the rear. Sometimes it just shows up, the condition is more likely to occur in damp areas of a hoof that are often tightly packed with dirt and manure.Thrush is a fungus of the frog. Really it is a simple fix. There are many thrush medications, consistency is crucial when treating. In severe cases the hoof may need to be treated multiple times a day. It all depends on how fast you want this pain in the rear to go away. For prevention, clean hooves always help. Ask your farrier to show you what to look for and you may be able to catch it early.

Some owners just don't like to shoe their horses.
That's okay with me. I don't shoe any horse that the owner doesn't want to shoe. Shoes do serve a purpose. Remember that there was a reason someone decided to nail a piece of metal on a horse's hoof. He didn't do it because he was bored. If your horse has sensitive hooves, shoes are a simple fix. You can use easy boots also. It's all what you, as a horse owner, want to deal with. Shoes can also correct a number of problems that arise. One advantage of shoeing a horse, especially a horse with sensitive hooves, is that you'll usually be able to ride when you want, not when the horse decides to toughen up.

What are the basics we all should know about trimming a horse to trot as compared to trimming to work western pleasure?
Remember horses are animals, not machines. Getting too crazy with different shoeing techniques can cause major problems down the road. Balance and natural angles are crucial to longevity of a horse. Yes, there are different shoeing techniques for every aspect of horse riding (racing, roping, english, pleasure, jumping, trail, timed events, etc.) but the basics always play a part.

Should horses that live in the pasture have shoes?
It's all up to the owner. Personal preferences is usually the reason.

What does it mean if my horse has started striking his front heals to the back toes? Is it a shoeing issue?
It's called forging, and it is a problem. Sometimes it takes a shoeing or two to get it dialed in and corrected. Normally a horse that is shoed at natural angles doesn't have this problem, but not all the time. Talk to your shoer right away if this happens. My biggest complaint is that I don't receive information from the owner. If your horse has a problem, you have to be able to talk to your farrier openly; they can help.

What does a farrier want from a client of the 2-legged variety?

• I want a client that cares about their horse's hooves.

• Someone I can talk to honestly and openly about how their horse is going for them.

• For the client to trust me… to know that I will to do the job correctly.

• A clean and friendly environment. Remember, I am doing a job and you want a good job done, so make it as comfortable as possible, for everyone.

• Someone to hold the horse is always nice, but not essential.

• If you know your horse is naughty, help me with it; farriers don't like to get hurt.

I keep hearing that my horse is toed out. What does that mean and what should my farrier be doing to address it?
Toed out or in should be addressed before the horse is 18 months old. After that age, it is crucial that the horse be kept as level as possible. Twisting a horse's hooves when they are older might work for awhile, but more likely than not problems will occur with knees, ankles, pasterns, spine, hips and hocks. Remember that a horse is connected from the ears to the tail.