Lameness rehabilitation is a full-body, symmetry balancing and re-conditioning process. For example, if your horse is experiencing a lameness issue in or near the hoof, you will also notice muscle changes in the haunches, back, shoulder and neck area. Atrophy and weakness on one side and stiffness on the other can occur from lower limb pain compensation and stall confinement. Therefore, effective rehabilitation requires our awareness of how a lameness can affect everything from hoof balance to saddle fit.

It’s common for a lame horse to manifest pain and inflammation in other areas of the body in addition to the source area of the lameness. Tuning our radar to notice symmetry imbalances while we are grooming and working with our horse, empowers us to become more proactive in early detection and in adjusting the horses’ training or rehab schedule to facilitate healing.

Narelle Stubbs’ video slide presentation through the Michigan State MHU programoffers relevant information and demonstration photos on this ‘full body’ approach for lameness rehab.

One of the important issues that is addressed approximately 40 minutes into Narelle’s presentation, is to be diligent in monitoring and gradually progressing workout time to insure the horse is worked evenly in both directions and is not overworked. She reiterates the importance of symmetry awareness and demonstrates ‘carrot’ stretch techniques to reduce stiffness and weakness asymmetry in the horses’ core.
Have you worked with a Farrier, Vet, Trainer or Equine Physio Therapist, who is outstanding in lameness rehabilitation? If so please enter their name, profession, and location in the following form:

Humphrey is a rescued 18 yo dark bay TB gelding. He was seriously underweight when his new owner found him and brought him home. He was put on a carefully monitored nutrition plan to improve his weight and physical condition and was successfully re-shod with nailed-on HOOF-it Natural Flex plastic horseshoes for additional heel and hoof support. Humphrey was thin but going sound under saddle at all three gaits.

April, 17, 2013
During the second shoeing attempt, Humphrey had grown out enough hoof to fully manifest thin weak hoof walls from previous lack of care and nutritional deficiencies. He went totally lame from a farrier’s and horse owner’s worst nightmare – hot nails (hitting him in the quick).

May – July, 2013
Humphrey’s lameness and poor hoof condition required stall rest and hand walking with limited turnout. His feet were trimmed periodically to re-balance his long toes. Natural Flex plastic horse shoes were applied with Hoof Glue after it was determined he had no abscess problems. His overall condition continued to improve and energy levels during turnout made it difficult to keep the shoes on him for a full 4-5 weeks with this method.

August 7, 2013
Care was taken not to bring Humphrey’s long toe back too quickly. At this point, although his toe was still too long, his hoof balance was steadily improving. Natural Flex plastic horse shoes were again shaped to fit him, leaving room for hoof expansion. The hoof wall was still weak and missing in some areas, so nails were not an option yet. The shoes were applied again with Hoof Glue. After the glue set, Wrap-n-Ride was applied to hold the shoes securely in place. The goal for adding the Wrap-n-Ride, was to increase the possibility that the glued on shoes would stay on Humphrey as his energy and activity level increased. He needed fragile hoof wall protection and prevention of further hoof damage as the healthier hoof growth progressed.

August 21, 2013 – 2 weeks after application
The shoes are securely in place with slight wear of the Wrap-n-Ride at the toe.

August 28, 2013 – 3 weeks after application
Humphrey is enjoying longer turnouts now.
The shoes are securely in place with more Wrap-n-Ride wear in the toe region.

September 4, 2013 – 4 week follow up
Wrap-n-Ride and the shoes were removed, and Humphrey’s hooves were trimmed to balance. He’s showing solid healthy hoof growth and improvement in the hoof wall. There was a small trace of thrush, so we treated him with the Hoof Maintenance Kit and reshod him with Natural Flex shoes, HoofGlue and Wrap-n-Ride.

November 3, 2013
After 53 days, the September shoeing treatment with Wrap-n-Ride was removed and Humphrey is now barefoot, going sound again at all three gaits under saddle.

As a farrier or hoof trimmer, do you share in the challenge of keeping a good edge on your hoof knifes?

There is nothing more dangerous then a dull hoof knife.
First, you must start with a high quality steel hoof knife blade.  High-grade steel will always hold an edge better and longer.  We suggest the carbon steel blades made by F. Dick.  As a general rule of thumb, high carbon steel is harder than stainless steel and will stay sharp for a longer period of time.

Second, take the time to learn how to properly sharpen your hoof knifes.
How to sharpen your Hoof Knives:

How to sharpen a hoof knife.

To sharpen the hoof knife please draft the blade several times on the inner side (cutting edge) along the overall length of the sharpening steel. The cutting edge should be conducted at an angle of 15-20° along your diamond coated sharpening steel.
High quality farrier tools are a sure fire investment in the success of your business.

Are you wondering what to charge for your shoeing services? Maybe you’re a horseowner and have some questions about budgeting for proper hoof care for your horses. Here’s an interesting article from the Houston Chronicle regarding Farrier Salaries, including some of the training and credentials that can increase a farrier’s earning potential.

Read the full Farrier Salary article here

We often get calls and emails from people looking for farrier / horseshoeing schools. We hope you find this resource helpful.
“Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.” ― Mark Twain

• Arkansas Horseshoeing School
  22285 State Highway 154
  Dardanelle, Arkansas 72834
  Phone: 479-858-1011
  Web site: www.arkansashorseshoeingschool.com
  Email: info@arkansashorseshoeingschool.com

• Auburn Horseshoeing Program
  395 St. John Church Road
  Notasulga, AL 36866
  334-332-0545

• Butler Professional Farrier School
  495 Table Road
  Crawford, Nebraska 69339
  Phone: 800-728-3826 (press 3)
  Or 308-665-1510
  Fax: 308-665-1520
  Web site: www.butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com
  Email: info@butlerprofessionalfarrierschool.com

 

• “C” Horse Forge School of Horseshoeing
  Corpus Christi/Padre Island, Texas USA
  Frank Cadena (Instructor) 361-232-3773
  web site: www.cadenaforge.com
  E-mail: ninac21wmg@hotmail.com

 

• The Canadian Farrier School
  Calgary, Alberta Canada
  Gary Johnston – Instructor
  403-359-4424 or 403-458-4424
  web site: www.canadianfarrierschool.ca
  E-mail: gary@canadianfarrierschool.ca

• The Canadian Horseshoeing School
  415316 41st Line, RR #2
  Embro, Ontario N0J 1J0 Canada
  519-349-2900
  web site: www.c-h-s.ca
  E-mail: chs@quadro.net

• Carolina School of Horseshoeing LLC
  1937 West Palmetto Street
  PMB 1
  Florence, South Carolina 29501 USA
  843-230-1128
  email: carolinaschoolofhorseshoeing@yahoo.com
  web site: www.carolinaschoolofhorseshoeing.com

• Casey & Son Horseshoeing School
  14013 East Highway 136
  LaFayette, Georgia 30728 USA
  706-397-8909
  web site: www.caseyhorseshoeing.com
  E-mail: RCaseySch@aol.com

• Colorado School of Trades
  1575 Hoyt Street
  Lakewood, Colorado 80215 USA
  303-233-4697

• Colorado State University
  Equine Sciences Department
  Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 USA
  970-491-8373

• Cornell University Farrier Short Course
  Cornell University
  Ithaca, New York 14853 USA
  607-253-3127

• Cowtown Horseshoeing School
  P.O. Box 841
  Miles City, Montana 59301 USA
  406-232-3362
  E-Mail: horseshoe@mcn.net

• Danny Ward’s Horseshoeing School
  51 Ward Road
  Martinsville, Virginia 24114 USA
  540-638-7908

• East Texas Horseshoeing Clinics
  and Horseshoeing How-To Video
  Route 4, Box 731
  Altanta, Texas 75551 USA
  903-796-9308
  E-mail: ethclinics@aol.com
  Web site: www.easttexashorseshoeing.com

• Education Center of Japan Farriers Association
  1829-2
  Tsuruta, Utsunomiya
  Tochigi, 320 Japan
  0286-48-0007

• Equine Educational Services
  P.O. Box 413
  O’Fallon, Illinois 62269 USA
  618-632-7921
  E-mail: equine74@hotmail.com

• Far Hills Forge
  2391 Ringhoffer Road
  Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
  610-748-8775
  cell: 908-797-4433

• Five Star Horseshoeing School
  Rt. 2 Box 420
  Minco, OK 73059 USA
  405-352-5920

• Heartland Horseshoeing School
  327 SW 1st Lane
  Lamar, Missouri 64759 USA
  417-682-6896
  Web Site

• Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry
  PO Box 111838
  Naples, Florida 34108
  410-937-4458
  Web Site

• Kentucky Horseshoeing School
  3612 Lexington Road
  Richmond, Kentucky 40475
  800-626-5359
  859-575-4063
  859-575-4068 (fax)
  E-Mail
  Web site: www.kentuckyhorseshoeingschool.com
  Owner: Mitch Taylor

• Kwantlen University College Langley Campus
  P.O. Box 9030
  Surrey, British Columbia V3T 5H8 Canada
  604-599-3229

• Lookout Mountain School of Horseshoeing
  400 Lewis Road
  Gadsden, Alabama 35901 USA
  205-546-2036
  E-mail: tmcnew@microxl.com
  web site: www.horseshoeingschool.net

• Maryland Horseshoeing School
  11200 Wolfsville Rd.
  Smithsburg, Maryland 21783 USA
  (301)416-0800
  E-mail: mdhorseshoeing@xecu.net
  web site: www.lrn2shoe.com

• Maritime Farrier School
  R.R. 3
  Truro , Nova Scotia B2N 5B2 Canada
  web site: www.maritimefarrierschool.com

• Merced College
  3600 M Street
  Merced, California 95348 USA
  209-384-6250

• Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre Farrier School
  147 Saddle Lane
  Waverly, West Virginia 26184 USA
  800-679-2603
  Web Site

• Mesalands Community College
  Farrier Science Program
  911 S. 10th Street
  Tucumcari, New Mexico 88401 USA
  505-461-4413 Ext:158
  E-mail: eddym@mesalands.edu
  www.mesalands.edu

• Midwest Horseshoeing School
  1398 Horse Farm Road
  Divernon, Illinois 62530 USA
  217-899-8918
  www.midwesthorseshoeingschool.com
  email: midwesthorseshoeingschool@yahoo.com

• Minnesota School of Horseshoeing
  6250 Riverdale Drive, N.W.
  Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 USA
  763-427-5850
  Web Site 
  E-mail

• Mission Farrier School
  17028 Trombley Rd.
  Snohomish, WA 98290 USA
  425-890-3043
  email: MissionFarrierSchool@Hotmail.com
  www.MissionFarrierSchool.com

• Montana State University Horseshoeing School
  119 Linfield Hall
  Bozeman, Montana 59717 USA
  406-994-3721

• North Carolina School of Horseshoeing and Equine Lameness
  P.O. Box 921
  Pilot Mountain, North Carolina 27041 USA
  336-994-9497

• Northwest College
  231 West 6th Street
  Powell, Wyoming 82435 USA
  307-754-6601

• Northwest Community College
  Box 1277
  Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 Canada
  250-845-7266

• Northwest School of Horseshoeing
  Route 2, Box 232-A
  Walla Walla, Washington 99362 USA

• Oklahoma Horseshoeing School
  Route 1, Box 281
  Purcell, Oklahoma 73080 USA
  800-538-1383

• Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School
  Route 1, Box 28B
  Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
  405-223-0064

• Olds College
  4500-50 Street
  Olds, AB T4H 1R6 Canada
  403-556-8251
  403-507-7966
  web site: www.oldscollege.ab.ca

• Oregon Farrier School
  PO Box 17601
  Salem, Oregon 97305 USA
  503-901-7651
  email: oregonfarrierschool@msn.com

• Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School, LLC
  5225 Carbondale Road
  Plymouth, California 95669 USA
  209-245-3920
  fax: 209-245-3956
  web site: www.farrierschool.com

• Pennsylvania Institute for Horseshoeing
  3586 Big Dream Lane
  Tyrone Pennsylvania 16686 USA
  814-692-7496
  web site: www.pafarrierschool.com

• Pikes Peak Community College
  322 Sunbird Cliffs Lane, West
  Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919 USA
  719-540-7348

• Prairie Farrier School
  Box 468
  Clavet, Saskatchewan
  Canada S0K 0Y0
  (306) 717-7635
  web site: www.prairiefarrierschool.com

• Shur Shod Horseshoeing School
  P.O. Box 119
  Cimarron, Kansas 67835 USA
  316-855-2303

• Sierra South Horseshoeing School
  25040 Old Julian Highway
  Ramona, California 92065USA
  760-788-8115
  E-mail: info@sierrahorseshoeing.com
  Web site: www.sierrahorseshoeing.com

• Sunshine Coast Farrier & Blacksmith Academy
  Lot 1-2 Grady’s Lane
  Kin Kin, Australia
  07-54854678
  mark@smartfarrier.com
  www.smartfarrier.com

• Sul Ross State University
  Box C-110
  Alpine, Texas 79832 USA
  915-837-8200

• Texas Horseshoeing School
  Box 188
  Scurry, Texas 75158 USA
  214-452-3159

• Tim Goolsby Farrier Apprentice Program
  4565 Sherrilltown Road
  Watertown, Tennessee 37184 USA
  615-237-3755
  www.goolsbyfarrierprogram.com

• Tucson School of Horseshoeing
  2230 N. Kimberlee Road
  Tucson, Arizona 85749 USA
  520-749-5212

• Turley Forge Blacksmithing School
  (This school emphasizes blacksmithing.)
  919-A Chicoma Vista
  Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA
  505-471-8608
  Web site: www.turleyforge.com

• Victory Mountain Forge Farrier School
  9163 E. Merrick Road
  Lava Hot Springs, Idaho 83246 USA
  208-776-9825
  Website: www.victorymountainforge.com
  E-mail: info@victorymountainforge.com

• Village Farrier School
  51566 Range Road 223
  Sherwood Park, AB T8C 1H4 Canada
  780-922-3672
  www.villagefarrier.com
  e-mail: andy@villagefarrier.com

• Walla Walla Community College
  500 Tausick Way
  Walla Walla, Washington 99362 USA
  509-527-4291

• Western School of Horseshoeing
  2801 W. Maryland Avenue
  Phoenix, Arizona 85017 USA
  602-242-2560
  800-542-2560
  fax: 602-242-6670
  www.western-horseshoeing.com
  e-mail: westernt@qwest.net

• Wolverine Farrier School
  3104 E. Stevenson Lake Rd.
  Clare, Michigan 48617 USA
  989-386-7430

About 60 to 80 percent of all lameness in horses can be traced back to a foot problem. This should not be surprising when you realize that the entire weight of your horse is concentrated on those four small structures. It is also not surprising that a wide variety of things can, and do, go wrong with the structures inside of the foot. Today we will take a look at one of the more commonly diagnosed disorders, ringbone. Ringbone is new bone growth on the last three bones in a horse’s leg. Unfortunately, ringbone cannot be cured. However, with prompt veterinarian aid, and sound farrier work, its effects can be minimized.

 

Ringbone refers to a disease which involves either the coffin joint or the pastern joint. High ringbone involves the pastern joint, low ringbone involves the coffin joint. Ringbone is further classified as periarticular, meaning the new bone is around a joint, but does not involve a joint surface; and articular, which is when the new bone involves a joint surface.

Any horse can develop ringbone over the years as a result of the cumulative effects of the trauma of repetitive motion stress, long term concussion, and nutritional imbalances. This condition is expedited by poor confirmation which causes the horse to stress one aspect of a joint more than another. For example, upright pasterns, or weak collateral ligaments of the pastern joints. Ringbone can also be caused by any injury which disturbs the periostium of the bone, especially wire cuts. The initial signs of ringbone are generally not specific and may range from a decrease in the normal performance of your horse to variable progressive lameness.

In early cases of acute periarticular ringbone, cold therapy applied twice daily for 20-30 minutes for several days will help to reduce swelling and pain. Your vet may also prescribe a cycle of anti-inflammatory medication and recommend stall rest for your horse.

In early cases of articular ringbone, where the horse is lame, your vet will most likely treat your horse with a cycle of long acting corticosteroid in the affected joint. Consult your veterinarian for advice in both types of early ringbone; especially if your horse is a valuable performance horse.

All bio-mechanical treatment for ringbone consists of trimming methods and the application of alternative shoeing that lessen the articulation of the affected joint. Trimming, by itself, is not going to be as effective as the application of therapeutic shoes. Proper trimming and the right set of corrective shoes can do wonders in getting your horse back to health.

Ringbone should be taken very seriously; more than one great horse has been shut down by this disease. As with anything equine, early detection is the key. Always pay close attention to your pony’s feet, and keep in good communication with your farrier.

Hello. I am looking for any type of a snow guard product to help keep snow and mud out of my horse’s hooves during the winter. I have read that there is a product like this in Sweden and it is used instead of having to place a flat pad on the bottom of the hoof to prevent snowballing in the sole of the foot. It is a rubber like product which fits inside of the hoof. I think that they call them “snow guards” there. Currently, my farrier puts pads plus studded shoes on my horse. My feeling is that with the pad I am now using that there is still room for mud and moisture to get in behind it and pack into the sole. I live in Oregon and have to deal with mud and snow all year. Let me know if you have any ideas.   Cindy.  Hi Cindy. You are correct, there is such a thing as a “snow guard”. However, as you know, you have to have your farrier pull your horse’s shoes and apply the pads. I have found a product that works really well in the wet seasonal conditions that I deal with in the winter and spring up here at Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada. It is called HOOF-it II.  It is a pour able pad which makes an excellent functional snow pad. It is a product that the average horse owner can apply by themselves without needing to pull shoes. In my experience, which is a lot of back country riding in less that ideal conditions; it works better than the traditional snow pad since it solidly fills the sole of the hoof. It simply does not allow water, mud or snow to back fill behind it. And, as I mentioned, you can do it yourself.

The equine condition of sidebone is most significant as an indicator that your horse’s foot is receiving heavy and/or unbalanced forces. When sidebone is present there are chances that other changes to your horse’s feet, such as navicular disease or ringbone, maybe more likely to develop. 

Sidebone may be suspected after palpation of the suspected area, but a radiographic examination is essential for conformation of this condition. The good news is that sidebone usually causes little or no lameness. It does however, decrease the natural shock absorption capacity of your horse’s hoof. Due to this, it is common to see problems such as navicular disease, narrow heels, and ringbone in horses diagnosed with sidebone. In rare cases, sidebone can be caused from a direct trauma. 

When lameness is present, alternative shoeing to promote expansion of the quarters, circulation, and added shock absorption may be warranted. The root causes for sidebone are hoof concussion, repetitive motion injury, imbalances caused by conformation faults, and improper trimming/shoeing. It is most common in the forefeet of heavy horses working on hard surfaces. It is also frequent in hunters and jumpers, but rare in racing thoroughbreds. Improper shoeing which inhibits normal movement of the quarters is an important predisposing factor in the condition of sidebone. It is critical to note that anytime a horse is trimmed in a way that goes against his natural anatomy, you are making a trade off that will more than likely have a high price tag for both, you and your pony. 

For example, horses that toe out, or toe in, will often naturally paddle their feet. If you ask your farrier to correct this and make your horse travel in a straight line, one side of the hoof wall will have to be lowered. This “correction” may make your horse appear to be moving normally (straight). But all it really does is change your horse’s normal conformation, and alter the movement which is natural for him. In doing so, problems such as sidebone, ringbone, and navicular disease may result.