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Sometimes Bigger Shoes Are Better
James Gilchrist, who owns and operates Palm Beach Farrier Service near Wellington Fla., says there are times when having more metal in a horseshoe is an advantage. He’ll often use a 10-millimeter thick shoe, because it gives him more options.
“With a shoe like this, you can draw the metal out to move the breakover back and not rob the foot,” he says. “People say you can’t get the mechanics in a shoe to move the breakover back with a shoe that also has a toe clip. But using a thicker shoe like this enables you to move breakover back without cutting off the toe and still have a clip.”
Gilchrist, who shoes a lot of high-end show horses, says being able to shape shoes as needed for individual horses is vital in keeping these high-end equine athletes going. Many of the big warm bloods he sees are shod with big, wide-webbed shoes for support, with a rolled toe to ease movement and adequate room for expansion.
“These people are not paying me to just slap shoes on,” he says. “They are paying me to set up their horses so they can perform their best. They expect me to make adjustments, as the horse needs them. These are Grand Prix horses. They are not just running around out here in paddocks.”
We spent a day with Gilchrist and his crew at Palm Beach Farrier Service recently. The day will be the focus of a “Shoeing For A Living” feature in a future issue of American Farriers Journal.
