Q: I am looking for some advice about stud holes. My farrier has always put two stud holes in my horses’ shoes, fairly near the heel. But my friend’s farrier puts her stud holes much further around the shoe, about halfway up the sides. And a friend in the US tells me she puts three …
How to sharpen a hoof knife
How to sharpen a hoof knife using the Paul Mitchell diamond hoof knife. Here's a short video I shot today. I enjoy making videos and it's something I hope to improve on 🙂 The Paul Mitchell diamond hoof knife sharpener is available from http://www.farrier-shop.com
How high should the farrier put the nails?
Q: Hi David. My friend's farrier says that nails should always be put in 'as high as possible', but my farrier says this is completely incorrect. What is your view on this? Nellie, Manawatu Answer: Thanks for your question. “As high as necessary” might be a better approach. That is, only as high as necessary …
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Laminitis
Q: My pony has come down with a bad case of laminitis for the first time and the farrier has asked me to get some xrays of the feet before he trims her. Is it usual for farriers to ask for xrays and can you tell me what use they will be to him? I …
Horses that dish Q&A
Q: I'm looking at purchasing a staionbred/standardbred cross which dishes its front legs. In the future I would like to do some showing and dressage - would corrective shoeing help? What can I do to fix, help or disguise this fault? Angela, Kaiapoi Answer: Angela. Dishing, where very simply, either one or both of the front …
How often do young horses need to be trimmed?
How often do young horses (yearlings, two-year-olds etc) need to be trimmed? My farrier says every two to three weeks, as being unshod their hooves grow really fast. But most people I know get their young ones trimmed MUCH less frequently than that. I have a yearling colt and I want to do what is …
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Thrush in NZ Horses
Q: I have a mare who is on three to four months’ box rest for an injury, and she is now suffering from thrush. I try to keep her bedding as clean and dry as I can, but it’s not easy. Do you have any suggestions for treatment? Also, she is currently boxed on sawdust …
Learning to be a farrier on a weekend course
Q. I’d like to start shoeing my own horses so I no longer need to use a farrier. Is there a weekend course I can go on or better still a book I can read to learn the basics? I just want to put shoes on my own horses, not learn about the advanced stuff …
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The apprentice farrier working on my horse
Question: I have been using the same farrier for many years and I am very happy with him. And I still am, apart from one thing. For the last year or so, he has taken on some trainees and is letting them remove shoes, trim hooves and size new shoes. I have not seen them …
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What do bar shoes do?
Can you tell me what bar shoes do? My horse was on-and-off unsound in front until my farrier put him in bar shoes, and now he is sound. But I am curious as to how they actually help. MG, Wellington Answer: Thanks for your question. Great to hear that you’ve made the improvements and your …
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