Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does it hurt the horse?

- Proper farrier work does not hurt the horse. Proper work should only be beneficial to the horse. If the horse is in pain after hoof-care, something is wrong.

Can I ride the same day my horse is trimmed or shod?

- Yes. There are no ill effects from proper hoof-care. A horse should not be sensitive the day of hoof care.

Do I need to do anything after synthetic hoof repair or glued-on shoes?

- Yes, keep the hooves clean and dry. Bacteria and moisture are the enemy of any glue application.

How do I administer Dormosedan?

- Dormosedan is a sedative that is vet-prescribed and administered by the horse owner. Dorm is administered under the tongue. If the horse swallows the Dorm, sedation may not happen. Sedation will take effect after 40 minutes. Do not feed the horse during or immediately after sedation. The horse must be kept calm and quiet while sedation sets in. Sedation can last 1 to 3 hours. Do not leave a sedated horse unattended. (Sedation can be very beneficial but is not a replacment for training.)

Why would a horse need shoes?

- There are 3 main reasons to shoe a horse: Traction, Protection, and Therapeutic. (Reference: Dr. Simon Curtis) Not all horses need shoes. Not all horses can go barefoot. 

How often should a horse be trimmed?

- No more than 8 weeks. Hooves will grow out of balance, chip, crack, or develop any number of maladies without proper care.

How often should a horse be shod?

- No more than 6 weeks. As a foot grows, it pulls the shoe forward, increasing strain on the DDFT (Deep Digital Flexor Tendon) as well as increased pressure on the Navicular bone and surrounding structures. Increased length propagates flares and places stress on the lamina (the connective tissue between the coffin bone and the hoof wall). Flares will also cause a hoof to overgrown a shoe, causing the shoe to be unsupportive and create sole pressure. 

How can I know how often to trim or shoe my horse?

- If a hoof "looks ready for a trim" it has been too long since it's last trim. Our goal is to maintain hooves, rather than correct them at each visit. 

What is the benefit of an even shorter trim or shoe schedule?

- A horse on a shorter trim schedule will have less hoof removed at each visit, thereby promoting sole growth and toughness, as well as a thicker wall. More frequent trims = less distortion = less foot removed and thicker hoof walls. 

Why don't wild horses need hoof care?

- The quality of a wild horse's hooves directly correlates to the surface they travel on and the distance they travel between food and water. ie.: A horse that travels 20 miles on hard abrasive ground will have a short, hard, upright foot... compared to a horse that travels 100 feet on lush grass. This horse will have soft, wide, flat feet prone to flares, chipping, cracks, laminitis, as well as other issues. (reference: Brian Hampson Farrier and co-counder  or the Australian Brumby Research Unit, with a PHD specializing in the feet of feral and wild horses.)