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By Ray Miller--An Editorial
In today's world of horseshoeing there are basically two theories that are being addressed. Walter Koespich of Dutchtown Forge states the following: "Clinical Shoeing and Real World Shoeing. In clinical shoeing you shoe the horse in what ever way is best for the horse without worrying about what a judge may think, and when dealing with a lame horse that is the way to go, before you can worry about how the horse travels, he must first be sound. Real World Shoeing, on the other hand, is the what the shoeing farriers do on a day to day basis. If a show horse isn't competitive, it wouldn't be a show horse very long. If a trainer doesn't produce winners he wouldn't be a trainer long and if show horse farrier doesn't shoe winners, he will be shoeing a different kind of horse before long."
"Shoeing show horses today is a dilemma for the farrier. On the other hand you have the very good principles that are laid down by the educators today and on the other hand you have to consider the kind of movement the judges are looking for.
Bottom line is, judges and stop watch determine how show horses are trained and shod! The farriers responsibility is to shoe for the judge, keeping as close to principles of good shoeing as you can."
My question to you owners, breeders, trainers and judges: Why have we come down this road? What happened to the natural horse and natural movement of the horse?
The following was taken from "Dressage Today", December,1995, "Shoeing for Balance":
"In dressage, farriers aren't compelled to take heroic measure to ready a horse for competition. While other disciplines depend on modifying natural movement for optimum performance, in dressage, the purest gait and the freest actions count most. Unnatural paces or irregularity in the gaits lead to low scores and even dismassal from the show ring."
When it comes to shoeing the dressage horse, farriers generally agree--simple is best. The blacksmith's foremost responsibility is to maintain the integrity if the hoof: balance the foot, support the limb and keep the horse comfortable."
Isn't this what owning, riding, and showing a horse is about?
In my shoeing practice I see more horses that are sore in the feet, legs and back because they have been altered to stand and move like the owners, trainers and judges what them. It seems that no one takes into consideration the well being of the horse. In some cases the horse is considered disposable if it does not meet certain criteria of the movement.
A lot of our problems go back to simple genetics and the misunderstanding of balanced movement of the equine in its "Form to Function" (Marvin Beeman, DVM). The following is taken from a posting on the internet at www.horseshoes.com. A farrier, Duane Alexander, was asking how to shoe a horse with a specific problem. He received several answers and several good suggestions on how to deal with the problem--"Real World Shoeing". Among the answers was this posting from Don Jones, a farrier: "Actually, shoes were invented to stop excessive wear period. Now, however, they are used, to try and correct almost everything wrong with a horse besides parrot-mouth. This has put us where we are today, in a situation where everything breedable is bred, forget about genetics, it isn't important. Veterinarians perform surgeries to straighten crooked legs and we put all varieties of shoes on to correct and staighten everything. Sure, you can probably shoe this horse in a way to help it, but what is wrong with starting out with a horse that has great feet and is dynamically capable of doing the job you want the horse to do."
As owners, breeders, and trainers, do you want to continue down the road of "Real World Shoeing" or down the road of "Clinical Shoeing"? If you select the road of "Real World Shoeing" the farrier will need to become more specialized, six to eight years of college in Equine Science to be able to meet the requirements you are laying down now. the cost of special shoes and pads will increase. Over all, the general cost of shoeing will increase. Horses will become less and less sound at earlier ages. Clinical Shoeing, will allow the horse to be sound in hoof, leg and back. The need for special shoes and special shoeing will decrease. The horse will move in a more natural state,as he was intended.
You are the final JUDGE!
Remember Farriers Resource Center at www.horseshoes.com for answers to all your questions about shoeing, trimming, and movement. Top Farriers and Veterinarians from all around the world are at this site.
Email me your questions at emsi@execpc.com and I will answer them here each month.