Scott Simpson, Farrier friend

Contribute about Scott Simpson: Farrier, Teacher, Friend, and Christian Brother. I got the sad news of his death this past week.

I met Scott as the instructor at Montana University Horseshoeing School in 1977. Scott was strict and informative as an instructor of farrier science. Yet, like the hard steal he softened in the forge to expertly shape into a beautiful handmade shoe, he always was there to shape a friendship.

My favorite quotes/thoughts from Scott:

· “You know why farrier’s go to Hell? To pound on cold metal”

· “When it comes to nailing we are going to name you ‘Lightening’. Not because you are so fast, but because you can’t hit the same place twice!”

· “Shape the shoe: Toe – Quarter – Heel”

· Want your nails to come out at the right height? “Aim it”

· “Let’s rope the dummy for an airplane ride” I think I lost but I still got that plane ride!

· “Always shoe with the lightest shoe possible”

· When traveling from Montana to a farrier convention in Clovis, CA over a snowy Donner’s Pass, “So you just pointed to the Montana license plates and didn’t stop for tire chains?!”

· “Always compliment your clients horse, even if you say ‘nice color’.”

Scott’s instruction, encouragement, visits through the years, and friendship are major components to why I am still shoeing horses after all these years.

shoeing for show season

Show season is coming and with the estimated price of fuel we may be riding our horses to these events. But I won’t go there; I’d need a political blog for that.

So my thoughts on shoeing for different disciplines:

Trail rides/competitions: Rims or Lite Rims all around

Working cow/ cutting/ Ranch horse: Lite Rims in front/ plates on hinds

Reining: Lite Rims on Front/ sliders on hinds

Pleasure/equitation: Lite rims all round or plates all around*

Barrel /Poles: Lite rims all around or lite rims on front and plates on hinds.**

Dressage: plates all around

My favorite shoe is the lite rim. I think it is important to shoe the horse in the lightest shoe possible as dictated by use and hoof needs. If someone rides many miles and/or on abrasive ground regular weight rim shoes may last longer. Or if the horse needs a little more protection a wider web plate may be better. I feel the rim shoe offers a little more ease of breakover in all directions and can offer a little more grip without compromising ease of movement.

I find folks who compete at the local level in the western disciplines and desire to add reining to the list of events want sliders to “make” their horse slide. However, these shoes don’t work that way. They will enhance the horses ability to slide. I am a real proponent that if a horse is used for other events this is not the shoe for the horse. I feel a nice wide web plate with slight trailers (length would vary case to case) with well set nail heads will aid the horse competing in events that have a reining pattern as part of the total package.

*Pleasure/equitation horses should be shod the same front and hind

**Barrel and pole horses need to be evaluated on how each horse and rider maneuver around the barrel/pole. Some styles are more of a sliding motion (plates) while others train and run wanting more of a driving hind end motion (rims).

OF COURSE there is no one way. Each horse and use of that horse and any lameness/confirmation issues need to be considered when using a type of shoe. There are many types of shoes on the market with various names and/or claims. Use whatever works. I just K.I.S.S. most situations unless a situation really directs otherwise.

Or I know some just want to try barefoot. I think this could work for arena classes where special effects aren’t desired. Remember the need for shoeing amounts to three things: 1. If the hoof is wearing faster then it can grow. 2. If there is a desired traction/ lack of traction /movement needed. 3. Correction for lameness/conformation/interference.

But if you can’t afford fuel and need to ride your horse miles to compete, your main consideration may be a shoe that wears well and then we may need to talk about how to shoe the pack horse!!