WHEN YOU shoe your clients’ horses at a show, Tony Bucci says you should respect the official show farrier by saying hello, introducing yourself and by being polite.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, you need to address the critical footcare issues that can make you more efficient while improving your shoeing skills.

 While listening to Dr. Hiltrude Strasser and a panel of farriers, veterinarians and hoof-care specialists debate the German veterinarian’s controversial hoof-care theories, I kept hearing a veterinarian who wasn’t even there. 

Horse owners love their animals unconditionally but many of them don’t know the first thing about taking care of hooves.

Examine the hoof. Check the placement and conformation from the front and the side and determine whether there is anything wrong with the symmetry (from the front or sole) or angles.