Discipline Specific Shoeing
The conformation and condition of a horse’s foot combined with the exercise that it is doing directly affects the way in which the horse is shod. It is imperative that a farrier knows what you intend to do with your horse in the immediate future and long term; what terrain and surface you will be covering, at what speed and obstacles you may be facing in order for him/her to care for your horses feet appropriately in both shoe and style.
A horse participating in a fast activity such as polo and hunting will be shod with less steel exposed (shorter and tighter) to reduce the risk of a shoe being pulled off however this will require the horse to have a shorter shoeing cycle to ensure the correct support to the foot is maintained. A horse participating in lighter work and/or at controlled speeds and conditions may be shod with greater support (width and length) if required.
In instances where movement is judged the type of shoe will need to be considered in order to compliment the horse’s natural action. Furthermore many competitions have shoe-specific rules and these also need to be adhered to. Do chat to you farrier – if you are not there at the time of shoeing ring him before hand to discuss any changes in your work routine and to address any other considerations you may have.
Horseracing
National hunt or flat, all weather or turf. Racehorses move at incredible speeds and compete alongside other horses in potentially testing conditions and possibly incurring large obstacles. Some trainers have particular ‘ideals’ for how their horses are shod however, the basic principles remain the same.
“An ounce off the foot is a pound off the back” – race horses are shod with the lightest material available whilst racing. Aluminium plates are the most commonly used.
During pre-season training (especially when doing road work) or in between races themselves trainers may opt for a steel shoe as these last longer. Generally all horses are shod with aluminium plates for racing. Flat horses are more likely to be left with aluminium plates on continuously – they are often run with their races closer together, are shorter in distance and often complete less road work.
Aluminium plates are exceptionally light and are made from a relatively narrow section keeping the weight down but still providing good traction. Aluminium is not heated to be fit to the foot like steel shoes but a good fit can still be achieved and is equally important. As with shoeing for any other discipline media-lateral balance and adequate support is essential. Due to the shorter shoeing cycles, preservation of the foot is desired and unnecessary trimming of the hoof is avoided in order to maintain strength within the foot – particularly important due to the concussive forces these feet are exposed to. Thinner walls found in the thoroughbred foot benefit from a nail with a strong thin shank to minimise hoof wall distortion.
