Make Sure Heart Bar Shoes Are Applied Properly.

Tom Curl told attendees at last winter’s 6th annual International Hoof-Care Summit that farriers must develop special skills to effectively use heart bar shoes. The Vero Beach, Fla., farrier says this means learning to place the right amount of pressure on the bar and where to set the bar so it’s not setting too far forward on the frog.

During the same session, Mitch Taylor told Summit attendees that properly preparing the foot, fitting the heart bar shoe and applying needed support are essential for success when using heart bars. “It takes some skill not only in building the shoe and fitting the shoe, but also in trimming the foot for a heart bar shoe as well,” says the operator of the Kentucky Horseshoeing School in Richmond, Ky.

No Need To Share Shoe Brand, Cost Info With Clients

Karen Trebitz never tells a client the brand of shoe she’s using on their horses or whether it costs more or less than another brand. “I also don’t look at the exact price of the shoes when I order supplies,” says the farrier from East Stroudsburg, Pa. “This way I can use the shoe most suited for the individual horse and I don’t worry about the price, except for specialized needs such as bar shoes or the difference in cost between aluminum and steel that are billed differently. Since the horse is always the winner this way, I ultimately am too.”

Base-Narrow Horses Vs.