If you go to a Jim Quick clinic expecting him to dictate how you should shoe a horse, you’re at the wrong clinic. Instead, the Niwot, Colo., farrier says his purpose is to not give instructions to tell other farriers how to shoe, but to share his thoughts on how he does the job. Quick did just that at Bruce Daniels Memorial Clinic in early April when he suggested points of consideration regarding medial-lateral balance.

Quicking a horse happens to the best of farriers. In most cases, the wound is cleaned, disinfected and the horse is no worse for wear. That didn’t happen when Cricket McLaren accidentally drew blood on Will, a 3-year-old Thoroughbred. In fact, it was the start of what the Eagle, Colo., farrier calls a “cascade of events” that highlights the importance of a strong veterinarian-farrier relationship, such as the one he has with equine veterinarian Courtney Diehl of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Even if you've relied extensively on steel and aluminum shoes for years, maybe it's time to take a break from tradition. By carrying a few synthetic shoes in your rig, you might come up with a few innovations to deal with troublesome footcare concerns that occasionally show up with some of the horses you regularly work with.

Oakum and pine tar have been packing material longer than anyone can remember and other ingredients like Venice turpentine, Epsom salt and iodine have been included in hoof packing for a long time, as well. Through the years, companies have introduced compounds that are effective in various needs for packing by providing some protection, support and treatment of the area.

The structures of the hoof capsule are the primary focus of a farrier's job. Yet, there are other elements outside of the hoof capsule a farrier might have a role in supporting. Among them are soft tissue injuries.