American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Advertise Follow Us
When You Want To Stabilize Just Part Of A Foot
With cutouts, and aluminum stabilizer leaves enough metal to protect the frog and heel area
Applied between the foot and the horseshoe, a stabilizer that is made from high-grade aluminum provides extra protection to parts of the hoof.
The stabilizer is not a solid plate, but has cutouts that leave enough metal to provide needed protection to both the frog and heel area. The rest of the foot is left open.
Popularity Quickly Spread
While the stabilizer was originally intended for use with harness horses, its use quickly spread to Thoroughbreds, jumpers and Quarter Horses. The advantage of a stabilizer over using a full pad is that a horse doesn’t lose all of its cup on the racetrack and the entire bottom of the foot doesn’t have to be covered with a full pad.
When used as a bar shoe, the stabilizer becomes a full support bar shoe since it covers the entire frog. When used for protection, the entire frog is protected. If it is used to transfer part of the weight-bearing load to the frog, then the entire frog is involved. Impression material may also be added between the frog plate and the frog to provide further support and protection.
Typical uses for the stabilizer would be to protect a tender heel, frog or sole. This can be done by transferring the load from the hoof wall to the frog and utilizing frog pressure to open contracted heels. The stabilizer will also greatly stiffen a light shoe, help prevent a shoe from stinging, spreading or springing.
Practical Protection
A stabilizer can be used…
Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all American Farriers Journal content and archives online.
Top Articles
Current Issue
A Cost-Effective Way to Fight Equine Hoof Diseases
What are the 4 Lengths of Horses’ Feet?
Does New Labor Rule Alter Your Multi-Farrier Practice?
Current Issue
Special Report For Equine Veterinarians
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- Caring for Your Horse During a Pandemic
- CBD Products Have Promise for Farriers, but Buyer Beware
- Sharpening Knives with a Buffer
- Winter Hoof Care
Videos
Farrier Education: Heartland Horseshoeing School
Farriery requires knowledge and skills to provide proper equine hoof care. In this series, sponsored by VICTORY, American Farriers Journal visits Heartland Horseshoeing School in Lamar, Mo. In this edition, Chris Gregory discussed his journey to becoming an educator, his focus in teaching farrier students and the state of farrier education.
Events
EMS (IR) and PPID: Diagnosis and Management (Part 1) Webinar
Date: 02/26/24
Location:
View Event
Top Directory Listings
Life Data Labs Inc
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell USA
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
SmartPak
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.