Consider Ground Surface In Determining Your Shoeing Strategies

While it’s always been perceived that turf racing is safer than racing on the dirt, Stephen Seabaugh has proven otherwise. As reported in a recent issue of The Blood-Horse, the Illinois state veterinarian found that the percentage of catastrophic breakdowns on the turf was twice as high as on the dirt. While 75 percent of catastrophic breakdowns with dirt happened on fast tracks, a similar percentage of turf injuries occurred on courses listed as other than firm.

What Major Problems Will Be Future Concerns?

In an American Farriers Journal survey conducted at last winter’s Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, farriers ranked what they felt would be five of the most critical problems in the future. 

• 24 percent indicated that “animal rights” groups trying to persuade owners to have all horses go barefoot was their major concern.
• 21 percent were worried about government intervention through licensing and certification.
• 20 percent listed a lack of reliable research results regarding equine hoof care.
• 18 percent were concerned about the unfavorable impact of trimming and shoeing fads.
• 17 percent were most concerned about a lack of competent and trained younger farriers.

Let Owners Know How Flies Influence Hoof Concerns

While owners seem more concerned about skin welts and annoyances that flies bring to horses, farriers know insects can also wreak havoc on a horse’s hooves while making it difficult to handle trimming and shoeing. As Equus editors point out, horses who repeatedly stomp their feet to shake off…