In today's world of horseshoeing there
are basically two theories that are being addressed. Walter Koespich
of Dutchtown Forge states the following: "Clinical Shoeing and Real
World Shoeing. In clinical shoeing you shoe the horse in what ever way
is best for the horse without worrying about what a judge may think,
and when dealing with a lame horse that is the way to go, before you
can worry about how the horse travels, he must first be sound. Real
World Shoeing, on the other hand, is the what the shoeing farriers do
on a day to day basis. If a show horse isn't competitive, it wouldn't
be a show horse very long. If a trainer doesn't produce winners he wouldn't
be a trainer long and if show horse farrier doesn't shoe winners, he
will be shoeing a different kind of horse before long."
"Shoeing show horses today is a dilemma for the farrier. On the other
hand you have the very good principles that are laid down by the educators
today and on the other hand you have to consider the kind of movement
the judges are looking for.
Bottom line is, judges and stop watch determine how show horses are
trained and shod! The farriers responsibility is to shoe for the judge,
keeping as close to principles of good shoeing as you can."
My question to you owners, breeders, trainers and judges: Why have we
come down this road? What happened to the natural horse and natural
movement of the horse?
The following was taken from "Dressage Today", December,1995, "Shoeing
for Balance":
"In dressage, farriers aren't compelled to take heroic measure to ready
a horse for competition. While other disciplines depend on modifying
natural movement for optimum performance, in dressage, the purest gait
and the freest actions count most. Unnatural paces or irregularity in
the gaits lead to low scores and even dismissal from the show ring."
When it comes to shoeing the dressage horse, farriers generally agree--simple
is best. The blacksmith's foremost responsibility is to maintain the
integrity if the hoof: balance the foot, support the limb and keep the
horse comfortable."
Isn't this what owning, riding, and showing a horse is about?
In my shoeing practice I see more horses that are sore in the feet,
legs and back because they have been altered to stand and move like
the owners, trainers and judges what them. It seems that no one takes
into consideration the well being of the horse. In some cases the horse
is considered disposable if it does not meet certain criteria of the
movement.
A lot of our problems go back to simple genetics and the misunderstanding
of balanced movement of the equine in its "Form to Function" (Marvin
Beeman, DVM). The following is taken from a posting on the internet
at www.horseshoes.com. A farrier,
Duane Alexander, was asking how to shoe a horse with a specific problem.
He received several answers and several good suggestions on how to deal
with the problem--"Real World Shoeing". Among the answers was this posting
from Don Jones, a farrier: "Actually, shoes were invented to stop excessive
wear period. Now, however, they are used, to try and correct almost
everything wrong with a horse besides parrot-mouth. This has put us
where we are today, in a situation where everything breedable is bred,
forget about genetics, it isn't important. Veterinarians perform surgeries
to straighten crooked legs and we put all varieties of shoes on to correct
and straighten everything. Sure, you can probably shoe this horse in
a way to help it, but what is wrong with starting out with a horse that
has great feet and is dynamically capable of doing the job you want
the horse to do."
As owners, breeders, and trainers, do you want to continue down the
road of "Real World Shoeing" or down the road of "Clinical Shoeing"?
If you select the road of "Real World Shoeing" the farrier will need
to become more specialized, six to eight years of college in Equine
Science to be able to meet the requirements you are laying down now.
the cost of special shoes and pads will increase. Over all, the general
cost of shoeing will increase. Horses will become less and less sound
at earlier ages. Clinical Shoeing, will allow the horse to be sound
in hoof, leg and back. The need for special shoes and special shoeing
will decrease. The horse will move in a more natural state, as he was
intended.
You are the final JUDGE!
Remember Farriers Resource Center at
www.horseshoes.com for answers
to all your questions about shoeing, trimming, and movement. Top Farriers
and Veterinarians from all around the world are at this site.
Email me your questions at emsi@execpc.com and I will answer them here
each month.
