There’s one big thing about shoeing horses at Disney World, says Gary Wade, the farrier who oversees the hoof care for the world-famed theme parks horses.

“All of our shoeing is on stage, in front of the public,” he says, “whether it’s good or bad.”

Wade shared his experiences as the resident farrier for the Walt Disney World Co. during the March, 2004 Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine hoof-care seminar on the needs of draft and heavy horses.

Wade does his shoeing in what Wade calls “an old-fashioned shop.” There aren’t any gas forges or power tools. The Percherons that make-up the theme park’s award-winning 8-horse hitch are never shod in stocks and the farriers try to avoid using tranquilizers.

Always On Stage

Wade says its important for everyone who works with the Disney horses to realize that they are always in the public eye.

“Shoeing is important, maintenance is important,” he says. “But 50 percent of the job is public relations.”

It might surprise many people to find out that Disney doesn’t necessarily seek out employees with a lot of horse experience to work with its horses.

“We like green people,” Wade says. “The…