5-6 week trim/shoeing cycle - would more frequent be better?

[Bonnie Allie]

We have a mixture of barefoot and shod with our 5 horses. Every horse gets what is best for them. However, post a septic pedal bone surgery followed by mechanical lamintis and the recovery process I’m beginning to rethink whether the traditional 5-6 weeks is too long for some horses.

Recovering horse was placed on you beaut magic supplement which accelerated her hoof and sole growth. She grew an entirely new hoof top to bottom in 5 months. During this time she was on a Lamintiic trim (and boots, not shoes) and trimming her weekly had outstanding results.

So started looking at the shod horses and changed their shoeing to 4 weeks and the improvement is also outstanding. Better hoof shape, better angles, more consistent.

So is the 5-6 week cycle a tradition based on averages? Where did it come from?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Interesting.

4 weeks for shoeing is definitely better than 5-6 weeks, I've had a farrier who came every 4 weeks in summer, although 5-6 weeks over winter when hoof growth had slowed down was OK.

I strongly suspect that 5 - 6 weeks is down to habit and finances, and that is still for the more responsible owners.

Now I trim my own, I realise that little and often every few days is even better - it keeps the hoof angles as consistent as possible rather than altering them rather drastically every 4 to 6 weeks (or up to 12 weeks/ a shoe falls off as far too commonly happens ).

 

[Red-1]

I always had 4 to 5 weeks for trimming. I may have gone to 6 in winter when there was less growth, bit that would have been infrequent.

I now have 2 barefoot, and trim as Tiddlypom, every few days. Barefoot encourages growth anyway. Not only do I think every few days is better for the horse, it is also better for my back as it only takes a minute per foot while I am picking/dry scrubbing.

 

[paddy555]

I do the same as TP and Red. I cannot see people paying for 4 weekly, You can correct feet very quickly with constant trims, every 2 weeks or even more often.
I don't see how farriers can correct much every 5/6 weeks.

I don't really see hoof growth slowing much in winter, it used to years ago but not so much now. I don't know if that is climate or just barefeet.

 

[Surbie]

Mine grows very little hoof and it definitely slows over winter. I'm on a 6-week cycle with my farrier but I rasp mine a couple of times a week to maintain the trim and to keep cracks and splits to a minimum and that seems to be working, together with starting to walk out on the roads.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have done four weeks in the past for some horses it would however be too quick for mine .

 

[Barton Bounty]

Im every 5/6 weeks sometimes 4/5 in summer

 

[AmyMay]

My horses we’re shod every five weeks in winter, four in the summer.

 

[JBM]

My semi-retired 22yo barely needs trimmed she self trims nearly perfectly
She’s out on 30 acres and once went 8 weeks before farrier would trim her and still commented that there was barely anything to trim just a quick 2 minutes
She was being checked as my 3yo grows hoof more normally and gets done every 4 weeks currently (also barefoot)

 

[Birker2020]

We have a mixture of barefoot and shod with our 5 horses. Every horse gets what is best for them. However, post a septic pedal bone surgery followed by mechanical lamintis and the recovery process I’m beginning to rethink whether the traditional 5-6 weeks is too long for some horses.

Recovering horse was placed on you beaut magic supplement which accelerated her hoof and sole growth. She grew an entirely new hoof top to bottom in 5 months. During this time she was on a Lamintiic trim (and boots, not shoes) and trimming her weekly had outstanding results.

So started looking at the shod horses and changed their shoeing to 4 weeks and the improvement is also outstanding. Better hoof shape, better angles, more consistent.

So is the 5-6 week cycle a tradition based on averages? Where did it come from?

I had four weeks for my first horse but always had five weeks for every one since then (all shod) and then when Lari went BF he was 8 weeks trim, although this 2nd time round he's gone 11 as the farrier was loathe to trim him as there wasn't much to trim and he thought he might make him sore.

 

[spacefaer]

We've been known to shoe every 4 weeks over the winter as the hunters wore their shoes out with roadwork. It also helped the older ones improve their foot balance particularly as they were noticeably wearing the outside of their hind shoes more.
We had an older gelding who had high ringbone in one front pastern. He had to be shod every 28 days otherwise he'd go lame. Fewer days, and he wouldn't have enough hoof to trim

 

[Wizpop]

I can see that from a keeping the best shape and angles, a shorter shoeing cycle could be better. The only thing would be potentially more nail holes to weaken the walls- unless the same holes were used??

 

[Fieldlife]

Shod every 4 weeks better for foot balance but risk putting too many nail holes too close together if foot not growing enough. Hence only works if have good growth.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I do my own barefoot horses about once a week or as soon as they need anything doing. No change in winter.

 

[Red-1]

I do the same as TP and Red. I cannot see people paying for 4 weekly, You can correct feet very quickly with constant trims, every 2 weeks or even more often.
I don't see how farriers can correct much every 5/6 weeks.

I don't really see hoof growth slowing much in winter, it used to years ago but not so much now. I don't know if that is climate or just barefeet.

Possibly because I am not in a field over winter: we have hardstanding and feed hay. I also exercise less in winter LOL.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

It really depends on the hoof, the growth, the angles, flares etc. When shod B was every 5 weeks not because he grew any foot but because he went through steel shoes like butter. Now he’s barefoot he goes every 6 weeks in summer and 8 in winter. DP needs balancing more often because he grows more foot, wears boots and he has an imbalance which if not addressed causes him to point his toes even more that usual so it is what is in front of you and no two horses will be the same.

 

[Barton Bounty]

BBs not using his back end the same as he did when he was shod. I might have to shoe on the back again

 

[Fieldlife]

Mine grows very little hoof and it definitely slows over winter. I'm on a 6-week cycle with my farrier but I rasp mine a couple of times a week to maintain the trim and to keep cracks and splits to a minimum and that seems to be working, together with starting to walk out on the roads.

I think if you allow a change in work or nutrients in winter growth can slow.

My horse doesn’t really change workload, has same access to turnout and is supplemented for lower quality winter grass.

Gets extra protein, vitamin E, oily herbs, hedgerow herbs, micronised linseed in winter to offset the lesser grass quality.

Feet keep growing all winter at similar rate.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

We are every 4-5 weeks for our (barefoot) horses, with every two weeks in the beginning phases of rehab or if there is an issue.

 

[saddlesore]

BBs not using his back end the same as he did when he was shod. I might have to shoe on the back again

My boy has never worn shoes (he’s 11) and I’m finding him using his quarters less than I would like atm when hacking out. I think it’s a difficult time of year for their feet despite our best efforts

 

[Lois Lame]

We have a mixture of barefoot and shod with our 5 horses. Every horse gets what is best for them. However, post a septic pedal bone surgery followed by mechanical lamintis and the recovery process I’m beginning to rethink whether the traditional 5-6 weeks is too long for some horses.

Recovering horse was placed on you beaut magic supplement which accelerated her hoof and sole growth. She grew an entirely new hoof top to bottom in 5 months. During this time she was on a Lamintiic trim (and boots, not shoes) and trimming her weekly had outstanding results.

So started looking at the shod horses and changed their shoeing to 4 weeks and the improvement is also outstanding. Better hoof shape, better angles, more consistent.

So is the 5-6 week cycle a tradition based on averages? Where did it come from?

Traditionally, it's 4-6 weeks between shoeings. not 5-6 weeks

 

[Fieldlife]

My boy has never worn shoes (he’s 11) and I’m finding him using his quarters less than I would like atm when hacking out. I think it’s a difficult time of year for their feet despite our best efforts

BBs not using his back end the same as he did when he was shod. I might have to shoe on the back again

I think if horse is footsore for the work asking have 4 choices

1) change something in care / diet / trimming to improve feet
2) use boots for work on ground finds tough
3) avoid tougher ground or tackle in hand
4) shoes

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Traditionally, it's 4-6 weeks between shoeings. not 5-6 weeks

Agreed but given farriers appear to have a challenge managing an appointment book, phone and a watch as a collective the reality is it can run 5-8 weeks. If I had that many “urgent things that come up” that require pushing clients back by a week at a time I wouldn’t have any clients left.

We had one UK farrier that was the most amazing farrier but the sheer volume of BS and excuses that came out of his mouth meant we had to sack him.

My hairdresser can book me in every 4 weeks before I leave the salon and knows how to collect money from me - but the farrier can’t?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think if horse is footsore for the work asking have 4 choices

1) change something in care / diet / trimming to improve feet
2) use boots for work on ground finds tough
3) avoid tougher ground or tackle in hand
4) shoes

Firstly I do not want to take over someones thread as I wasn’t asking for advice as suchI already know what position I am in, I am going to give him till the end of summer-to see if there are any changes but farrier said he is always going to be stumbly because they are so flat.

he has really low heels and flat feet and to leave the yard I have no option but to be on rough ground anywhere I go.
The shoes have been off since July.
Boots are still making him tuck his bum under also.

His feet are excellent and tough and the hoof wall is strong but they are sadly just flat as hell.
I just dont want him to be uncomfortable

 

[Barton Bounty]

My boy has never worn shoes (he’s 11) and I’m finding him using his quarters less than I would like atm when hacking out. I think it’s a difficult time of year for their feet despite our best efforts

Yeah I have noticed he is tucking his bottom under even with flat concrete or tar. Maybe its just weather, damp wet conditions. He hasnt got any muscle wastage or anything but I can feel its not quite right. I think I will give hoof armour a Go

 

[LEC]

Farrier friend researched this for his master farrier qualification and 2 weeks was the optimum time for reshoeing. Most people are not going to do that so 4 weeks was the compromise. Anything longer starts to cause issues especially if you compete due to pressures a longer toe puts on tendons.
I shoe 4 weeks.

 

[Lois Lame]

Agreed but given farriers appear to have a challenge managing an appointment book, phone and a watch as a collective the reality is it can run 5-8 weeks. If I had that many “urgent things that come up” that require pushing clients back by a week at a time I wouldn’t have any clients left.

We had one UK farrier that was the most amazing farrier but the sheer volume of BS and excuses that came out of his mouth meant we had to sack him.

My hairdresser can book me in every 4 weeks before I leave the salon and knows how to collect money from me - but the farrier can’t?

Good point.

I've been thinking for decades how well a skilled, honest and reliable trades(wo)man can do these days once they get a good name for themselves, because there are so few in that category.

 

[rextherobber]

My farrier tells me how often each horse can go between visits , same as the EDT does with their teeth. ( He's also an excellent timekeeper, books you in for the next visit before he leaves and answers his phone!)