Category Archives: Advice

What tools do I need to remove a horseshoe?

Posted on March 24, 2012 by

Q: My horse doesn’t actually lose his shoes often, but he frequently twists them so they are partially away from his feet. When this happens, should I try and remove the whole shoe or wait for the farrier to come? … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Horseshoes and hoof boots | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Horse is standing under himself

Posted on March 17, 2012 by

Q: Hi David. I have noticed that my horse is standing under himself with his front legs, very noticeably since I changed farrier about eight months ago. He also seems to stumble more. The main difference that I can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Kicking the stable wall

Posted on March 11, 2012 by

Q: My horse has white hooves and (I think) due to his annoying habit of constantly kicking his stable wall, the side of his hoof is discoloured as if it is bruised. It doesn’t seem to be causing lameness though. … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Replacing lost shoes

Posted on March 7, 2012 by

Q: My new farrier charges me to replace a cast shoe, but my old one never used to. I feel a bit resentful, as why should I pay if he hasn’t nailed the shoe on properly in the first place … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Horseshoes and hoof boots | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What causes corns?

Posted on March 4, 2012 by

Q: I do a lot of road riding and 10 to 20km forest rides, and my horse has developed corns on his heel. Can you tell me what corns are (are they anything like the corns that humans get) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Hoof Care and Treatments | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What is causing my horse to stumble?

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

Q: I have my horse shod regularly – usually every five weeks – and his feet look perfectly normal to me. But he trips a lot, especially when being ridden in a paddock. Is this a physical/foot problem, or to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Hoof Care and Treatments, Horse care | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What’s going on with these feet?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

Q Hi David. We are trying find a big, safe, suitable horse for my husband to learn to ride on – he is keen on taking up hunting. We have found a horse who seems great in all respects – … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Hoof Care and Treatments | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What happens at farrier competitions?

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

Q. Can you tell me what happens at a farrier competition? Is it the fastest person to shoe a horse who wins? My own farrier (he’s about 80 years old) takes a long time to put front shoes on my … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Horseshoes and hoof boots, Shoemaking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stud hole maintenance tips

Posted on February 18, 2012 by

Anthony Lawrence blogs about the care of stud holes Perhaps nothing in the shoeing process causes as much frustration (for those who use them) as stud holes. A vital component of traction for sport horses, they can be very problematic … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Farrier Services, Farrier tools and gear | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Problems with using a twitch

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

I haven’t been a big fan of using a twitch on horses for quite some time. Some people argue that a twitch  might hurt the horse or are in others ways unkind. It’s my understanding that using a twitch correctly … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Horse care | Tagged , , | 2 Comments