Pics: Odd set of shoes fitted today...

I think those shoes are exceptionally well done, and I'm a barefooter.

The overhang of the toe is to bring back the breakover because your horse's toes look far too long.

The width is to gove support encourage her heels to widen out, where they look as if they are trying to curl under.

The length is to compensate for what look like underrun heels.

The penalty for shoeing "well" like this is that owners complain because it's too easy for the horse to tread the shoes off.

The surprise is how many people thought it was bad shoeing. It's not remedial shoeing, it's probably what most horses should have if only they would keep them on - it most accurately reflects how the horse's feet would act if it did not have shoes.

I still think the mare would be better off barefoot, allowed to grow feet which will compensate for the wonky conformation, but if the owner can't manage that then the farrier knows his stuff!


ps OP can you tell us why your farrier thought it would help those fairly severely out of line knees by shoeing her at a year old?
 
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I think they well shod, but I'm just a normal horsey person:o
However me and my farrier get on really well and I have spent many hours doing a bit of work experience (chatting) with him and his apprentice. And having him explain things to his clients and apprentices I've picked up a few things.

The only worries I have would be that it would of been a big change too soon on a horse with poor limbs so therefore changing the foot balance, and fall in just one shoeing could cause issues. It may not however, just a thought. (had to be careful with my tb with this when I brought him with very badly shod feet)

Also I would of liked the apprentice to talk though what he did, but this will come with experice, I assume he's fairly young and his customer skills aren't his forte just yet. (not saying he's bad, just that this is one skill that you pick up with age)

But I think a well shod foot, and trying to correct some issues.
 
I also think he's done a good job... However these changes need to be done gradually.
I used to ride a horse with 4 point shoes and the Farrier crippled him.
The extra shoe your Farrier has left at the heel provides corrective balance to your horses lack of heel hoof....
I'm glad you've spoken to your farrier, hopefully he will pit your mind at rest, and as someone else suggested stick over reach boots on all the time.
 
That form of natural balance shoeing is often used when the horse is sitting low on its heels and the heel-pastern axis isn't at the correct angle. As mentioned above, though, it should be done gradually as a sudden change like that would stress the tendons.

I can't see from the photos the angle of your horse's pasterns, and although the shoeing job itself looks fine to be, I'd be livid that the farrier hadn't discussed any requirements with me first, or explained his reasons for the remedial shoeing.
 
looks a good job to me, plenty of support both width and length. farrier has obviously tried hard with a challenging horse to shoe.
just because its a newly qualified job doesnt mean its not as good. sometimes the keener newer qualified lads are more up to date and not as stuck in their ways ;)
im suprised by the amount of criticism to be honest. everyones entitled to their opinion however im sure the expert in this case is the farrier :D
 
Looks pretty good to me but then I am not a farrier. I go on the basis that my farrier shoes my horses like this to allow for an even 'breakover' as one horse has ringbone. My farrier also leaves a fair bit of shoe over hanging on the backs to support the heel. Don't panic just get him to explain next time, see how your horse goes, you might be pleasantly surprised!
 
This is not four point shoeing or natural balance shoeing!!! Those setback shoes are the hind feet!

Honestly I am terrified that some of you are offering an oppinion when you can't even tell the difference between front and hind shoes. In the photos you can clearly see the single clipped front shoes!!

Also we have already been told that the horse is specially shod because of conformation so I dont know why anyone is assuming any angles have been changed or changed too drastically. Just because the hind shoe has been set back and squared (which is probably what the OP noticed) doesn't mean that the position of the shoe isnt the same or similar as before. A recently qualified lad would have been given instructions on how the boss wanted it done.

I find it unnerving the amount of people who are criticising this job. It's an excellent example of shoeing and the young man should be proud of himself not torn to shreds!!!

My husband is a farrier, I got his opinion for the OPand posted it on here a few times. In fact I think one of the other posters also has a farrier OH. Do people not read the whole thread?
 
Cptrayes is right btw my husband said he would even call it remedial shoeing just good shoeing, as it should be!Hopefully if OP chats to her farrier like she has said she will he can give his lad the chance to learn the art of trying to explain what he is doing and why to the clients. This is probably the only area of this whole job where he deserves any criticism.
 
I don't know but my farrier discusses with me anything different that he does such as leaving the shoe wider one side to straighten my youngster or putting roll toes on my old dear. I always have a reason for anything `different`.
 
That's how my last (new) farrier shod my TB mare. She didn't really have any issues with her feet but was very a very quick mover. She was shod very much the same, lots of support on the outside walls from flares and a square toe. It didn't make any difference to her way of going from being conventionally shod but we were both happy with it. I agree it is unusual if you haven't seen it before! Do ask for an explanation as to why she was shod differently though.

Oh and my loony, zippy mare never once pulled a shoe off when shod like this. She only ever pulled one off, while farting around, the day after being shod and that was with a 'conventional' shoe so I wouldn't worry about that.
 
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Sorry, haven't read rest of post (will do later when got more time).

They look like natural balance shoes to me. Quite well fittted imo.
 
Im sure the shoeing is fine but if changing the way your horse is shod then the key expectation is that you would be told and it discussed/explained. If looking at the pics as a lay person it does look odd and maybe not right even tho it is, and the farrier should be communicating with clients.

So I would be a bit cross not at the shoeing but the lack of dialogue.
 
Just have to say that he has done a fab job.

I would be reaaly please with a set fitted like that. My farriers apprentice sometimes does my boy. My farrier is very good with an excellent reputation.

The apprentice does as good a job if not better. They tend to be extra, extra careful in what they do as there would be an outcry if they made a mistake.

There are alot of not so great/average farriers around so alot of people arent used to seeing a set of well shod hooves!
 
Agree good job read the whole thread because I could not believe people said different.
You can see what farriers are up against.
My horse is shod similar by a very well known remedial farrier so the comparison is what I am basing my judgement on.
 
LJR said:
I presume your horse's feet are not usually shod this way from your reaction?

I possibly can't explain why well enough but one of my horse's is shod very similar to this.

The overhang is to do with breakover and the shoe to the side is for lateral extension.

Hopefully an expert on here can give a better explanation.
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Yes, mine is shod like that too but not with the overhanging toe. He does over-reach though and I wonder if this is an attempt to limit the damage done?
 
The lack of knowledge exhibited on this thread is frightening. Listen to the people who are married to farriers that have posted OH.

Your horse has had a fantastic job done with their feet. There are no "lateral extensions" or natural balance shoes in sight. There is a good job fitting the shoe to where the foot should be.

"Foot follows metal" is an old and accurate farriers saying. If your horse continues to be shod like this his feet will grow and widen to match the shape of the shoe nailed to them (if it is done properly) giving him a wider platform of support which he needs because of his front leg conformation.

Your apprentice farrier deserves a pat on the back for the job he's done for you.
 
Horsesforever1 said:
are they cyteks? if they are [4 point shoeing] then they look to be fitted correctly.
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I believe Cyteks are aluminium and those are steel. Cyteks also have a big area of metal covering the sole and those are nothing like Cyteks, sorry :( Cyteks are not four point shoeing, four point shoeing is where the quarters are removed from contact with the shoe leaving the foot touching the shoe at four points, two heels and one either side of the toe. I have never seen four point shoeing done, I've only ever seen pictures, but lots of people describe a well set back toe as "four point" when it's not, so you are in good company.
 
Agreed, I think it looks like a very nice job :) And they are not natural balance! Those have a nice big sqaured toe.
 
I would have to leave the technical analysis to experts but i too question more your relationship with your farrier , my boy has a slightly wider shoe on one front foot as he has a slightly off-set canon , my farrier explains exactly what he's going to do to balance correctly etc , and whilst i trust him totally he still sees me as his client and therefore involves me every step of the way. I find it a bit sad that your farrier didn't explain what he was going to do , surely any normal horse owner would be horrified if they had these shoes fitted without first being told that they are infact going to be beneficial to your horses hoof long term.
 
OP you've received some very good and some not so good advice and opinions. I think the only thing your farrier has not done is to explain the shoeing, but if he is newly qualified, he's probably building the skills of communication.

You could become one of his favourite clients by giving him the chance to explain to a calm and interested client rather than a ranting, livid one ;)
 
stolensilver said:
The lack of knowledge exhibited on this thread is frightening. Listen to the people who are married to farriers that have posted OH.

Your horse has had a fantastic job done with their feet. There are no "lateral extensions" or natural balance shoes in sight. There is a good job fitting the shoe to where the foot should be.

"Foot follows metal" is an old and accurate farriers saying. If your horse continues to be shod like this his feet will grow and widen to match the shape of the shoe nailed to them (if it is done properly) giving him a wider platform of support which he needs because of his front leg conformation.

Your apprentice farrier deserves a pat on the back for the job he's done for you.
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Totally agree. Wish I'd read this before posting.
 
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