Poynton Farriery Clinic
COMPLETE EQUINE FOOT CARE
Poynton Farriery Clinic
COMPLETE EQUINE FOOT CARE
© 2007 -
Consult your farrier for advice
ANDREW POYNTON advises horse owners to talk to their farriers before making a decision on shoeing.
FROM my experience as a farrier for many years, I used to service a large equestrian school; only the horses that needed shoeing were shod, and of those that were, many only required front shoes.
These horses were used daily in the school on a sand arena, for dressage and show jumping. They also were ridden cross country and hacked out on the roads a few times a week. It was not until they started eventing at higher level that they needed hind shoes.
It is when doing high mileage road work that shoes are necessary to protect the hooves of most horses. When participating in fast high level sport, particularly on hard ground, such as polo, show jumping and eventing, where the horse needs sure footing to turn or brake quickly, then not only shoes but also studs, are essential for the safety of horse and rider.
A colleague has a client whose thirteen year old dressage horse has never been shod; she competes regularly and the horse is sound with good feet. The horse works on a prepared arena surface, on fields, bridleways and some hacking on the roads.
One of my clients similarly has an unshod warmblood dressage horse, who recently competed at the National Dressage Championships, performed very well, and was subsequently selected for the Word Class Equine Dressage Pathway Program, potentials for the 2012 Olympics.
Close up of 13 year old
ideal hoof fore foot.
The vet inspecting the horses commented that
this horse had some of the best feet there; so
going bare foot for this horse is also currently
appropriate.
There are many variables to take into account,
so when deciding whether to keep a horse bare
foot or not, consider the type of feet it has, the
environment in which it lives, how much work,
and on what surfaces it will be ridden.
Your farrier has a wealth of skill and knowledge
acquired through an intense apprenticeship and
college training, together with a continuing
accumulation of experience.
It would be worth discussing it with him to
make an informed decision, which will lead not
only to a balanced opinion, but also balanced
feet.
‘Consider the type of feet it has, the
environment in which it lives, how much work, and on what surfaces it will be ridden’
This article first appeared in Horse Health Magazine, December/ January 2007
Reproduced by kind permission © 2007 Horse Health Magazine
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