The “Information is power and the key to the success” quotation is certainly true when it comes to providing essential hoof-care radiograph information. That’s because there’s a real need among farriers for very specific and accurate information when working with different foot concerns.

Many farriers see radiographs as another useful tool for evaluating and determining some of the footcare needs of a horse. Yet some farriers, including myself, have been victims when shoeing prescriptions are written based on radiographs taken in a way that don’t provide accurate hoof-care information.

Radiograph concerns with farriers often start with a typical dorso/palmar (D/P) view. Taken by a vet for pathology and other purposes, these views sometimes offer misleading or questionable information to a vet who is writing a shoeing prescription.

Because farriers sometimes walk a thin gray line when it comes to radiographs, a number of points need to be discussed in order to obtain valuable information that can help with trimming and shoeing problems:

• Where do farriers stand when it comes to radiographs?
• Do most radiographs provide useful footcare information?
• What is the farrier’s role or responsibility with radiographs?
• What are farriers really looking for in radiographs?

What Farriers Need

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate what an accurate farrier radiograph should look like and explain why additional views and information can be crucial when a veterinarian writes a shoeing prescription. It’s important to determine what farriers are looking for, what is significant and the concerns with the more commonly…