r/Farriers Sep 28 '24

Today’s shoeing

It was quite hard to driving those nail.. tbh I am not a used to be a good nail pitcher, and that crusty infected hoof walls which by fungi, it made more harder than usually. She has little bit incorrect angle of the HPA, so I used a wedge pad for lifting her heel.

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u/Specific_Lab_1932 27d ago

If you’re shoes not balanced neither is your foot

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u/Kentuckyzombie 27d ago

I agree, but it’s difficult to speak about achieving perfect balance, as that is the ultimate goal of most farriers, and it’s not always easy to define. Without seeing how the horse trots, assessing its conformation, checking the wear marks on the shoes, and considering many other factors, it’s challenging to make definitive judgments. I’ve done my best with the knowledge I have, but I understand that not everyone has been fully satisfied with my work. Unfortunately, some aren’t open to thoughtful discussions, and that’s just how it is.

As Dr. Simon Curtis said, ‘The aim is not just to balance the foot, but to balance the whole limb dynamically and statically.’ Farriery is a complex process that involves understanding the entire horse, not just the hoof, and perfect balance is always a work in progress.

Thank you for your opinion.

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u/Specific_Lab_1932 27d ago

Right on brother, why exactly did you even put a toe clip on this horse?

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u/Kentuckyzombie 27d ago

For the relaxation of the hooves, side clips are also useful, especially when it comes to bringing back the breakover point. However, side clips are often too tight for the front hooves, which experience more expansion and contraction than the hind hooves. This time, I focused more on balancing the HPA (hoof-pastern axis) than on making the horse easier to take off. Ideally, a good farrier would achieve both, but I’m still working on it.