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Henderson County Horse Committee |
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RE-SHOEING HORSES AFTER THE WINTER BREAK Pete G. Gibbs Performance horses often have their shoes removed and are turned out to spend the winter in a large corral, paddock or on rangeland. Without a doubt, this practice often improves horses' attitudes and can save owners considerable amounts of money in management costs. But, as horse owners make plans to return such horse's to active use, it is important to think ahead regarding hoof care. A month or more without shoes often results in a hoof that is either too soft or too brittle and many horses will show evidence of chipped, broken or split hoof walls. It is very common to find that uneven wear has occurred either to the toe or the heel and many horses will have hoof wall missing in the quarters. These hoof conditions are seldom serious, but it may take up to 90 days and two or more shoeings to regain a strong, properly shaped hoof on your performance horse. Moisture balance of the foot is important. With winter usually comes wet ground from snow or rain, and some horses frequently exhibit a "thrushy" hoof. This is evidenced by a dark, wet, foul-smelling condition often invading the channels that run on each side of the frog. Keeping the horse on dry footing, as well as the use of specific hoof products designed to treat thrush, can aid in reducing problems related to excessive moisture. A knowledgeable farrier can evaluate the present condition of a horse's unshod feet and then begin the process of regaining a uniform, balanced hoof. Unnatural hoof wear due to walking on rough terrain commonly affects the needed slope of the hoof. The first shoeing will be a start toward achieving the correct hoof-pastern axis and is important in minimizing undue strain on the horse's lower column of bones. Don't be surprised however, if you have to wait through a couple more shoeings to see the big gaps that may have occurred in the quarters totally disappear. Natural hoof growth between shoeings, combined with proper trimming when shoes are reset, will help eliminate broken areas in the hoof wall. Most horses will need to be reset about 5 to 6 weeks after the first shoeing, followed again by a new set of shoes in approximately 5 weeks. The length of time a reset will last depends on many factors such as the horse's behavior (ex. pawing), the terrain and the type of shoes used. Horses with special hoof problems may need to be reshod monthly, while others might be able to go two months between visits from your farrier. So, for horsemen planning on using horses for a specific spring activity, it is important to plan ahead in terms of hoof care. Starting early and taking time to redevelop good feet is just one of many factors that will help_ make spring and summer activities more enjoyable and trouble free for you and your horse. |