The usage of hoof gauges varies greatly among farriers — some use a hoof gauge religiously while others don’t use one at all. This raises the question of whether one approach is better than the other.

Farriers that use a hoof gauge may believe it’s an important tool for leveling and balancing the hoof. On the other hand, farriers that don’t use a hoof gauge may argue it is an unnecessary tool because leveling and balancing is done visually. Since there are many successful farriers on both sides of the issue, consensus is unlikely.

For farriers who have an established business, there is little motivation to change, as what has worked in the past will likely continue to work in the future. But for farriers trying to establish or build their business, the decision on using a hoof gauge may not be that easy.

These farriers may want to offer those services most preferred by horse owners. And, offering services that appeal to the greatest number of horse owners may increase the likelihood of getting hired as a farrier.

What Do Owners Want?

To address this question, an online survey was conducted with a random sampling of 489 U.S. horse owners who use farrier services. These horse owners were asked whether their farriers used hoof gauges and if they needed a new farrier, whether it would matter if he or she used a hoof gauge or not.

About half (49%) of the owners surveyed use a farrier that does not…