Trimming

© Ray Miller

Just how important is trimming of the hoof? Some owners think it can be done once every couple of years, every year, every six months. However most owners have their horses on a six, eight, ten or twelve week schedule. Trimming is very important. It is the foundation on which your horse walks on or is shod. You should never sacrifice quality and timely trimming. A lot of owners will try and trim their horses or hire less experience shoer to trim, simply because it will cost less. A horse should be trimmed between six and twelve weeks, depending on growth, on a year round basics. Spring, summer, fall and even winter.

The following information is taken from "Shoeing Right" by David Krolick.

"Trimming entails cutting away excess hoof growth. It also involves sculpting the hoof to correct any deformities and either rounding the edges to avoid chipping on an unshod hoof or preparing the foot to receive a shoe. It is the most exacting part of horseshoeing. A good trim is the foundation for the entire operation. The point is clearly demonstrated in that shortening the toe by a quarter of an inch will raise the hoof angle in relation to the ground by as much as three degrees. A quarter inch taken at the heels will lower the angle. A difference of a quarter on either side of the hoof will determine whether the hoof lands squarely during movement.

Taken together, the hoof angle and side-to-side symmetry of each hoof represent how well balanced the animal is in relation to the conformation of its legs. Balance effects not only the position of the hoof and how it lands but, more significantly, the position of the bones inside. By influencing the dynamic forces applied to the ligaments, tendons, and joints, the alignment of the bones of the hoof and leg controls how the stress of weight bearing and movement is distributed. Ultimately, the entire weigh-bearing and concussion-absorbing mechanism is directly affected by the trim. As a result, any long-standing imbalance caused by poor trimming, uneven wear of an unshod hoof, or excessively long shoeing intervals can cause or contribute to a variety of problems such as splints, navicular disease and sheared heels.

When to start youngsters. The time to start thinking about straight and conformationally correct limbs is when you decide which horses should be bred. Crooked limbs are commonly passed on from one or both parents. The next best time is when you buy a horse.

An investment in proper hoof care for a young horse will pay dividends for the rest of its life. It is true to some extent that, conformational flaws can be improved by proper trimming. Until the horse is about nine months old, the development of the bones of the legs can be both positively and negatively affected by the balance of the feet. In fact, conformation problems can actually be created by lax care. Avoiding or correcting this type of environmentally caused defect is more likely than compensating for a genetic flaw, although some genetically induced problems can be improved on. In either case, the chances for improvement are very poor once the bones stop growing.

Trying to improve conformation in a horse beyond nine months old almost never works. The long-term result of attempting change in a more mature horse is usually deformed feet and eventual lameness."

Stop and think why the horses are lame at younger and younger ages. The foundation at which improper trimming of the hoof was started. When I started shoeing horses 34 years ago under Carl Saddler, a Master Farrier with 45 years experience, we did one or may be two therapeutic shoeing a month, these horse being in their twenties. Now I see twice that many in a week starting at two years of age. This past week I was at a veterinarians with a client who just purchased a three year old gelding. The horse was showing signs of lameness. After evaluation by myself and then veterinarian with radiographs, we both agreed on the problem in the hoof and knees. Improper trimming for the past three years. This horse will recover somewhat, but he will never be or stay 100% sound later in life.

One of the tests I used in trimming and shoeing is to palpate the horses back along the longissimus muscle. By using your fingers place a good amount of pressure along the muscle, if your horse flinches or ducks down, you may want to look at hoof imbalance as a cause. I have found this to be one of the major causes of sore backs in horses.

Remember to use a qualified full time Professional Farrier. A member of the Guild of Professional Farriers, Working Brotherhood of Farriers, American Farriers Association. Or a farrier certified who is licensed through State or Federal Civil Service, to provide for long term usefulness of your horse.