American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
The first thing Mike Norris does after an Arabian show horse returns to the barn is measure its hoof length. Hoof lengths are strictly enforced for purebred and half breeds. Source: Jeff Cota
Missouri Farrier Keeps Arabian Show Horses Dialed in
Mike Norris juggles hoof lengths, conformation & padded horseshoeing
Takeaways
- Providing hoof care in the show world requires quick thinking, problem-solving skills and extreme efficiency.
- When dealing with a medial hoof crack, the lateral toe will be long and pull the foot open. Release the inside heel and outside toe to stop the crack from recurring.
- The foot tells you what it needs, if you listen to it. Wear on the shoe’s lateral toe tells Mike Norris the medial heel is too high.
Mike Norris is among a rare breed in hoof care.
The Garden City, Mo., farrier is one of the few who shoes Arabian show horses, and he’s fine with that. It just means he has more Arabians to shoe.
Twenty years ago, Norris was shoeing a variety of horses — rodeo, backyard and others. It was wearing on him. He ran into Frank Forgette, who asked if he wanted to learn how to shoe long-footed feet.
“No, not really,” Norris replied.
“You’ll never have to work in mud and you’ll always have concrete and a cover,” Forgette countered.
“I’m in,” Norris quickly responded.
He rode with Forgette for 3 years at $50 a day.
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