Shoeing question

R

Ranyhyn

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 November 2008
Messages
21,273
Location
Funny farm
Visit site
Not sure of the exact termiology, but on the inside side of my horses foot, his shoe touches his frog - or at least the heel of his frog.

Is this right - should the shoe touch this and can it cause discomfort?

Everytime the horse is shod it tends to touch this - due to a slight personal issue with my farrier I am not there when the horse is shod, hence asking here.

Kitty :)
 
no it should not be touching, it may have been the intention to give good heel support but the shoe should in no way affect the movement of frog.
 
Sounds like the heel branches are too tight, and the hoof is perhaps contracted.

If you can't be there with the farrier when your horse is shod because of personal issues - it;s time to get a new farrier. The partnership between professional and owner is key for the horse.
 
Does the frog not down run down the exact centre of that particular foot, as in the shape of the foot in not correct which means the frog/heal is nearer to one side than the other?

A bit like this
DSC00844.jpg


Both the TB's feet (in above pic) are in the process of having remedial shoeing (they very bad), because her insides where longer than the outside, which were making her feet grow deformed, although it looks like the shoe is pressing in the wrong place its not as there is a slight gap, hopefully within 6 months and my farrier has worked his magic, her feet will be back to how they should be.

But if you horses foot is how it should be then no it shouldnt be, maybe you should discuss it with your farrier just to see what he says, or if there is a reason he's doing it that way?
 
In that picture Kenzo imagine the very end of the shoe, on the inside, was touching the bit of foot/frog you see behind it. I will try and take a photo tonight. I cannot get my hoofpick between the end of the shoe and the heely back mass of the frog.

(If you imagine your hand, in a shoe, the heel of your hand, the fatty bit behind your thumb, is pressing against the shoe. Or vice Versa.
 
I would usually agree Brucea - but in this case I am of the opinion he's a good farrier - so our personal thoughts on each other were put secondmost to the needs of the horse.

He is, however supervised by a very good friend at the yard, whom I could trust to speak to him on the matter - if you guys think its worth asking about?
 
I would certainly think it is worth asking the question.
I must say though, I wouldn't want to not be there for the farrier. There are always things that I want to ask or discuss with him. Could you not get over your personal issues?
 
I agree with brucea - if you can never be there when the farrier is shoeing your horse then you need to change farriers. Would you let a vet treat your horse without you ever being there? You say you're confident he's a good farrier yet you're worried about how he's shoeing your horse...
 
He doesn't shoe the horse on his own, he shoes it under the supervision of my friend at the yard, who is a far, far superior horsewoman than myself. That would be the same 99.9% of the time as I work 9-5 and farrier does too, so not much scope for fitting the horse in anyway.

And yes I would and have let the vet treat him under my YO, if he needs something doing and I can't be there, he doesn't suffer for me to be there.
 
And I am confident he's a good farrier, however that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to ask questions lol or does it? Maybe you have to have blind faith in everyone...?
 
And lastly I hope your disparaging tone extends to those on full livery - who are NEVER there for things like this and who pay and trust in their YO/yard workers to supervise these activities for them....
 
Franks often do kitty or are very close. I don't think I have any pics, will have a look see if not can take some for you!

Thats why my farrier tried some differnt shoes on him (I called them his sports shoes ;) ) but they wouldnt stand up to the road work we do. I have a pic of them I think will see!

eta to add

link to the shoes,

http://www.michelvaillant.fr/site/produits/index.php?v=m&lg=gb&id=86

you can see they are cut away from the frog while maintaining the support
 
Last edited:
Ahhh ok. I wondered if it was because he wears "hind" shoes, because his feet are of a certain shape? I presume, wide and flat? He also always cuts the toe back and rolls it, to improve breakover.

Those shoes look interesting. I might get someone to chat to him about those. As Ed only wears fronts I can afford to perhaps look into better shoes for him. He came with those natural balance or whatever shoes.
 
yup not sure how my farrier ended up with them, he used frank as a guinea pig really to see if they might work. I don't have any sole pics but will take a couple of pics when I go back tonight for you.

And yup, my farrier is often completely on his own... with flask of coffee and flapjack ;) I am never there, mum quite often is though wouldnt know much about it anyway. I trust him to do the job I am paying him for and will speak to him any problems on the phone.
 
Kitsune said:
And I am confident he's a good farrier, however that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to ask questions lol or does it? Maybe you have to have blind faith in everyone...?
Click to expand...

Sorry didn't mean to offend. Of course you should ask questions - but you should be asking him not us. Not saying everyone should be there everytime their horse gets shod but if you have a problem you need to be able to talk to him. As I asked before - would you use a vet you wouldn't talk to?
 
Yes so long as someone would on my behalf. My personal issue with a person doesn't mean I would use them if they were the best professionally.
 
well in which case I wouldnt worry too much. :) he is due for shoes next week so can take a proper set of pics then!

I was also going to say to you I might be a bit careful about changing anything too much after his lami scare anyway.
 
He's never been noticeably uncomfy and happilly jumps out of his field most days, so not feeling any undue discomfort I don't think. Will deffo get it brought up though.
 
Updated

The farrier said it was nothing to worry about and just to keep him shod regularly, however the brand new shoes, one side is still touching his heel/frog/bulb thingy, so I am going to get a second opinion from another farrier - as surely as it grows it will be pushed closer?

Anyway just to update you all!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top