Among many of the challenges a farrier must deal with are sheared heels. Scott Morrison, the veterinarian and farrier who leads the Podiatry Department at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Ky., says this problem is usually the result of less than ideal conformation. Usually the horse toes in or out, putting more stress on one side of the hoof wall (and heel) than the other. When a horse develops sheared heels, the stressed heel becomes jammed upward, the hoof symmetry is distorted and one heel is bearing most of the weight.

Spontaneous quarter cracks a hoof problem than often causes pain and lameness — are actually anything but spontaneous, according to Hans H. Castelijns, a veterinarian and farrier of Spanish origin, who now practices in Italy.

As a hoof-care consultant, I run into some truly unusual cases now and then, but on a whole, the cases I see usually involve the same problems — deep thrush, quarter cracks, white line disease, chronic abscessing and sore heels.

Myron McLane sometimes begins a clinic by reminding his audience that he is not just an instructor or clinician — he’s a horseshoer.