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Is there such a thing as breeding a draft horse to have larger feet?
Post At
07/ 9/2011 - 8:22 am
reply from
Marion Michaud
Hi, my question is do they breed draft horses to get larger flatter hooves or is this done by shoeing at a young age with scotch bottom shoes? I know of a draft that has very large hooves and very thin so thin they have a hard time keeping the shoes on, and this horse was once shod with the scotch bottom shoes starting at an early age. ( mm)
Reply at
07/ 9/2011 - 9:40 am
reply from
Dr. Esco Buff, PhD, CF
Hello Marion,
As with any breeding, genetics can affect many things. Yes you can breed for better feet by breeding to better genetic horses. Easier said then done.
As far as the type of shoes goes - Any shoe not applied correctly by any farrier can add or create issues.
If the draft you know has thin and flat feet; this can be a condition of genetics, the horses weight, performance, environment, and/or improper hoof care (whether that be owner requested, farrier created, etc).
Hope this helps,
Esco Buff, PhD, CF
As with any breeding, genetics can affect many things. Yes you can breed for better feet by breeding to better genetic horses. Easier said then done.
As far as the type of shoes goes - Any shoe not applied correctly by any farrier can add or create issues.
If the draft you know has thin and flat feet; this can be a condition of genetics, the horses weight, performance, environment, and/or improper hoof care (whether that be owner requested, farrier created, etc).
Hope this helps,
Esco Buff, PhD, CF
Reply at
07/ 9/2011 - 12:27 pm
reply from
Marion Michaud
Thank you for that response. it does help with the genetics issue. Maybe you could tell me if a draft horse bred for show in an arena, is also able to be used in a Draft pull arena, the reason I ask is there is a debate on weather or not show drafts can be used as a pulling horse in draft pulls. Some say yes and we say they are not built or shod for this activity because the method of shoeing is so different, and the genetics of a show draft and a working or plow built draft are to different.Pulling drafts are shod so the horse stands what we describe as squared off were as a show draft is shod so that they are able to lift there feet and knees higher. Could you possibly shed some Professional views on this!
Reply at
07/ 9/2011 - 3:17 pm
reply from
Dr. Esco Buff, PhD, CF
Marion,
In any breed of horses, we shoe them with different shoes to do the activity that the owner want to do with them. Horses that are used for several activities can be harder to shoe as a compromise has to be obtained. Therefore, a pulling horse is generally shod differently than a show horse, than a general work horse, a pleasure horse, etc. (and can be trimmed differently - whether rightly or wrongly).
Show horses and working horse can be totally different from each other or the same, depending on training and breeding. Although horses can be trained as all around, many are trained for specific activities to maximize winning or performance for that activity. So a pulling horse generally is differently built than a show horse so as to get more pulling power but they certainly can be used for both or all activities.
There are as many different ways to shoe a draft as there are farriers. Some probably good for the horse and some not. Some probably getting better performance/action and some not. I choose my trimming and shoeing protocal for what is best for the horse, secondly to perform his duty. Other farriers may do opposite.
Hope this helps,
Esco Buff, PhD, CF
In any breed of horses, we shoe them with different shoes to do the activity that the owner want to do with them. Horses that are used for several activities can be harder to shoe as a compromise has to be obtained. Therefore, a pulling horse is generally shod differently than a show horse, than a general work horse, a pleasure horse, etc. (and can be trimmed differently - whether rightly or wrongly).
Show horses and working horse can be totally different from each other or the same, depending on training and breeding. Although horses can be trained as all around, many are trained for specific activities to maximize winning or performance for that activity. So a pulling horse generally is differently built than a show horse so as to get more pulling power but they certainly can be used for both or all activities.
There are as many different ways to shoe a draft as there are farriers. Some probably good for the horse and some not. Some probably getting better performance/action and some not. I choose my trimming and shoeing protocal for what is best for the horse, secondly to perform his duty. Other farriers may do opposite.
Hope this helps,
Esco Buff, PhD, CF
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