Hoof Size

Last year I did a blog entry about shoe size, but I am beginning to form an opinion that there seems to be a misconception that the farrier is the sole (no pun intended) instigator in creating a small hoof or for that matter a large hoof. Hello!?!, though many shoers may act like pre-Madonna’s, we would hope none presume we are gods nor should the horse owner or vets. I truly believe that each horse has the size foot it was created to have.(period) Sure it can be left long and appear large and it can be trimmed short and appear small. But in either case the genetics, the coffin bone, and the hoof wall determine the size for that horse.
How can people “tell” a shoer to create a larger hoof? The hoof capsule and its structures define the true size. Again, a person can avoid trimming the horny structures and the foot may appear bigger and hold a larger shoe, but the hoof itself is not the size it is suppose to be. And on the other hand the same thing rings true. A person can trim a hoof to accept a smaller shoe, but the horse’s hoof is still not “made” smaller. So realize making the foot appear too large or too small may cause problems: weak walls, stumbling, contracted heels, thrush, etc.
You can put a shoe on your own foot that is too small so to appear like you have cute little feet, and you can put on a large shoe to have a foot that appears big and not only would you look like a clown, but if you were serious in your efforts to have a bigger foot you would be acting like one. I once again get tired of the farrier “taking” blame (or credit) for supposedly changing the hoof size.