Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
When I first got Izzy, he had been living out in pasture for more than a year and a half. Actually, I think his owner might have had him on pasture for pretty much his first six years of life. While pasture is fantastic, especially for young horses like Izzy, it can be pretty tough on their feet. Izzy had developed a crack up the front of his hoof, but I knew it would grow out with good farrier work. While Izzy was with the "leg wrecker" trainer (start here and scroll back to find the beginning), I had her farrier shoe him because he was starting to get footsore (he was barefoot). It was a fairly mediocre shoe job at best. Within just two or three visits by the farrier, the crack disappeared, and the hoof started taking on a much more balanced shape. Farrier work is one thing I don't try to micromanage. I always have good farriers and trust them to do their work. I can recognize a really bad shoe job, and a nice shoe job will stand out just as easily. Outside of that, I leave the angles and length to them. So far, that has worked out okay. My current farrier has been working with my horses for almost a year, and both of their hooves look really great. Speedy has been able to go barefoot, which I love (no more lost shoes), and Izzy only needs to be shod in front. My farrier was out this week. I forgot to take pictures of Speedy's toes, but I did get some shots of Izzy's freshly shod feet. They have really changed shape over the past year and look like they are now an excellent weight bearing structure. I follow a six week shoeing cycle, how often do your horse's feet get done?
4/28/2016 07:00:41 am
I switched farriers just over a year ago myself after some serious issues using my barn's farrier (hoofgate 2015). The boys were on a 5 week schedule for most of this past year as part of a clean up the angles plan but have been on 6 weeks for the last few months. I regularly discuss concerns with my vet regarding my horses' feet (hence the farrier move despite some slight drama over it) and will pass on any tidbits she provides that are pertinent but leave the actual work to the professional. 4/28/2016 07:12:42 am
I don't usually get to be there when my farrier is working, but if I have a question or concern, he's very reachable via text, voicemail, or call. Changing farriers is a nightmare, I know. I am glad your new farrier seems to be working out.
Glad to hear Speedy and Izzy's feet are doing well! 4/28/2016 09:39:59 am
I am not surprised by ten week intervals. My farrier pretty much just waves the rasp over Izzy's hind feet. He keeps them worn down pretty well by himself. I had two horses who needed to be shod on a 5 week cycle - they grew that much hoof. Most of the time my farriers recommend 6 weeks, but every horse grows differently.
Carly
4/28/2016 11:26:43 am
His feet look fantastic! 4/28/2016 12:05:16 pm
California's dry, hot climate has a lot to do with that. You don't see too many seedy toes or mushy soles here. :0) 4/28/2016 06:10:45 pm
Thanks, Tracy - California's dry climate has a lot to do with it, but you're right - good farrier's do their part as well. :0) They look great! So much better than last year. Ugh both of mine get done at minimum every 4 weeks. Rico because his toes get so long that they pull on his tendons and irritate his coffin joints and TC because he has a flare that will make his sidebone worse. One day I will have a horse who is an easy keeper! 4/29/2016 01:05:54 pm
The last mare I owned had to be done every 5 weeks and not a day late. She grew toe like nobody's business, but her heels were another story. It got expensive. Both of these boys can easily go a full six weeks and even a little more, but I try really hard to get them done within the sixth week. I hate long toes for the reasons you mention.
Val
5/1/2016 12:40:21 pm
Izzy's feet look great and I like the bevel on his bare hinds. I think it is awesome that Speedy is now barefoot, too. 9/12/2016 06:06:03 am
If you need to do it every three weeks, he probably grows a lot. Both of my horses grow toe quickly, especially Speedy. Speedy has been barefoot for over a year and a half. He was whacking himself so hard that he was bruising his feet. Barefoot, he can pick up his feet more quickly and the whacks aren't as painful.
Mia
9/11/2016 04:37:04 pm
Anyone with a good and reliable farrier is super fortunate. We've been through four in five years. My mare cme to us with high/low front hooves, the low very underrun and collapsed. The first farrier said that is her 'normal' so no point to mess with it. The toes just seemed to get longer and longer and she was prone to trip. After several months our vet commented they didnt look correct and we did radiographs that confirmed negative palmer angle. Farrier was only angry and defensive about improving this. Second farrier recommended a wedge on low foot, was never on time, just failed to show numerous times without even calling to say he wasnt coming, told me I should just let him come when he wanted without me being there. I was then told by someone they saw him slapping my horse and there was an incident where she broke a halter rearing while tied while he handled her. That was the final straw between inability to keep appointments and being uncomfortable with him handling my horse without my being present. Third farrier did something that caused hoof capsule distortion indents around quarter clips on the shoes. The heels in the wedge started crushing more as well. When questioned about these rather extreme changes was defensive. Fourth and current farrier was referred after in desperation to find a truly competent and professional farrier we consulted with the university veterinary clinic. We had to go on a waiting list for this farrier and a vet spoke to him on our behalf. He sounded great and was happy to work cooperatively with vet on improving angles. First trim resulted in one month of lameness. 😣 But although it wasn't a good thing she reacted to his rather severe trim both he and vet maintained long term getting the hoof capsule in more normal shape and taking the toe back would be positive long term. He took her out of any wedge saying they only deform the hoof further and used a pour in fill for a few cycles. Heel did drop a bit, hooves looked more matched, angles good, horse happy and moving well. By spring she was wearing a normal non orthopedic shoe and comfortable and moving well. We were so pleased. Then summer came and because he is so busy or on vacation he just will not come sooner than eight weeks. This horse should never go that long in summerwhen hooves grow faster. Toes running forward now, all the heel she gained has pretty much disppeared, developing quarter cracks. I haven't had the angles measured but they look about as bad as they used to. She is tripping sometimes now. I try to beg, plead for him to see her more frequent but I get excuses and claims eight weeks should be sufficient and denials the hoof really looks that bad. I feel everything we went through for nothing. If this is the best farrier we can get we are now out of options. I fear everyday what this means for her soundness. 9/12/2016 06:03:20 am
I am so sorry that has been your experience. How incredibly frustrating. We have good farriers here, and some people even bring in farriers from the LA area. Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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