HOOF GROWTH CAN BE DECEIVING

 In some respects this hind foot looks pretty normal and a horse owner may not even realize it needs a trim.  But when the shoe is pulled and the hoof is trimmed the photo below shows just how much the foot had grown in just one nip around the hoof.  Even more was removed when rasped and shaped.
 A hoof that does not flare can "carry" the shoe in a normal position even when the hoof is long.  A person needs to look at the calendar days since the last shoeing not just the foot on the ground.

I'm Back to write farrier posts

Okay,  I have had shoeing stuff to write about throughout the summer and failed to log on.  Then I put off because it would take me too long to catch up.  so instead of catching up I am moving on. And hopefully will blog as farrier stuff comes up......which it does , weekly!
Ok , this is a start.  and with winter coming it typically has been when I stay in and take time to post.
I'll Be Back in the next few days .......I hope!

Two Shoe Shapes / One Hoof

Here is an interesting photo I had to take of a shoe I pulled off a horse that someone else had shod.  I thought the foot was a little long in the toe and under run in the heels. But figured it was mainly due because the owner went awhile between shoeings, but after shaping the hoof and then the shoe I realized my shoe, shaped to fit the newly trimmed hoof, was more rounded and not as long as the other. conclusion?!!? get a proper trim first!  But no harm was done so I guess if the shoe fits nail it. yet over the long haul an improperly trimmed hoof may lead to something bad down the trail.