While it is true that increased weight exaggerates motion, the cost of that added motion is fatigue. Fatigue is due to the increased energy required to put that weight into motion. Horses with heavier shoeing packages work harder than those shod light; it is as simple as that. There is no better support to this point than the fact that so many trainers elect to race barefooted in big races, especially in second-heat races. A few special horses gait better with added weight and overcome the fatigue factor to win. Donato Hanover was a great example of this.

In the summer of 2011, trainer Bob Stewart picked up a horse named Swan In A Million. The colt trotter had a mushroom shoe on at the time to alleviate some of the heel pain that he was showing in both front feet.

The width of your hand and length of your hoof knife will determine the leverage you have with the tool.

Another in a series of American Farriers Journal interviews with 2012 International Hoof-Care Summit Educational Partner Farrier Product Distribution. This interview dealt primarily with the new information sources from FPD — Hoof Wall and Natural Angle. For more information visit www.farrierproducts.com.

It's extremely difficult when a lack of hoof wall means the foot can't hold a shoe.

Hoof quality is dependent on balanced nutrition, and the correct building blocks are needed in the horse's diet to ensure healthy hoof growth.