Latest from Horse & Hound in Shoes-and-shoeing

Campaign launched to raise awareness of possible risks of inhaling hoof smoke

Lucy Elder — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:06:06 +0000

A nurse is aiming to raise awareness of and encourage research into the possible risks of hoof smoke inhalation among farriers and equestrians.

Lisa Nealen is an orthopedic scrub nurse with extensive expertise in exposure to surgical smoke. This is the smoke that can be created during certain types of surgery in hospitals, and which has recognised health risks.

Mrs Nealen, who is also a horse owner, started looking into comparisons between surgical smoke and the hoof smoke produced when hot-shoeing horses.

She said she sought guidance from the Farriers Registration Council, and has worked with four master farriers, and that her campaign has also had interest from farriers in other countries.

She found specific research involving hoof smoke and any effect it has on farriers is lacking, but that there are studies showing harmful chemicals present in surgical smoke and smoke from dehorning cattle.

Mrs Nealen told H&H that her intention is not to alarm but to raise awareness of potential risks and encourage informed decision-making among farriers and horse owners, through the EquiSmoke Awareness campaign.

She said simple, practical measures that farriers and owners could think about that may prevent exposure are working in open or well-ventilated spaces and thinking about wind direction.

“My aim is to create general awareness for farriers, and for owners as well,” she said. “Help your blacksmith out: find somewhere where you know your horse is going to be downwind, so the smoke gets blown away.”

“I don’t want to be seen as the enemy, I’m not trying to preach; this is simply about creating awareness and supporting long-term health and wellbeing.”

She also recommends regular health checks and appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) for farriers, including gloves, eye protection and – when feasible – a properly fitted respirator that meets at least FFP3 standard. She has had reaction from farriers saying that level of PPE is not always practical – and she stresses that she is not trying to tell anyone what to do, but rather to share information so people can make their own informed choices.

Farriers’ views on hoof smoke risks

Farrier Danny Bennett told H&H this is an important topic.

He added that farriery is a dangerous job, giving examples of the serious injuries that can happen when shoeing horses, adding: “But it’s the long-term effects on the body that a lot of people don’t take into consideration.”

“When you’re 30, 40, and think ‘I feel fine’ – yes, ok, but how’s your breathing going to be at 60, 65, when you actually want to retire?” he said.

“I think there’s a lot of farriers who haven’t even thought about it, let alone the horse owners, yard owners, and everyone else.

“Every farrier knows farriery is a high risk job. You’re dealing with unpredictable large animals, but this is [potentially] going to creep up on you as a long-term thing, and I think that has to be reflected in our pricing.”

Master farrier Liam O’Hara added that as farriers and horse owners “we are all aware of the injury and risk undertaken when shoeing a horse”.

“Cuts, burns, kicks, bites and hammered thumbs are all part of the short-term aches and pains of being a farrier. But what about the long term?” he told H&H.

“The point of raising awareness isn’t to scaremonger, but to help farriers, owners and paraprofessionals be aware of the risks involved. So where possible please be mindful and help your farrier where you can.”

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Calls for fresh look at rules on horses being shod in certain showing classes

Lucy Elder — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:28:48 +0000

The requirement for thoroughbreds to wear shoes in some showing classes has come under the microscope as riders ask – why?

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) requires horses to be shod all round in its ridden showing classes. But they can compete without shoes in other RoR disciplines and in-hand showing.

Hannah Oldham told H&H she is a big supporter of promoting former racehorses and their versatility, but finds the shoeing rule “really frustrating”.

“I have a lovely ex-racehorse, and he is just the epitome of a brilliant retrained racehorse,” said Hannah, who owns 12-year-old Django Django, formerly trained by Jonjo O’Neill.

“We have done eventing, dressage, showjumping – he does pretty much everything – and he has really embraced family life.”

She added that the gelding has excellent feet and wears only front shoes to enjoy all those activities through the summer, and is barefoot all round in the winter, as she believes it is best for his welfare.

“I would love to do a bit of showing with him, but I’m unwilling to compromise his welfare and shoe him solely for this,” she said. “I have had several ex-racehorses over the years and these classes are a really good way of having the opportunity to experience competing at a big county show.

“They also really show how versatile former racehorses are to a wider audience. These county shows are a big showcase to the public, as well as being fun to do.

“I hear so many people say, ‘Thoroughbreds have rubbish feet.’ Well, they don’t all, and what a great way to showcase that and all the things that they can do.”

Hannah said the subject has caused discussion online and that she has also heard anecdotally of horses’ being shod specifically for RoR ridden showing classes.

Ms Oldham has written to RoR asking if there is evidence that showing barefoot is more of a safety concern than shod, and questioning whether it is a rule just because “that’s how it always has been”. She also questioned whether there is a platform to discuss the rule “to make these important classes accessible for all”.

Rules on whether horses must be shod or not vary between associations. The SEIB racehorse to riding horse championship, which is not part of RoR, does not require horses to be shod.

Under Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain rules, ridden hunters in classes where the judge rides must be shod all round; they can be shod or unshod in other classes.

The Irish Draught Horse Society states that in ridden classes, horses do not need to be shod for society-run shows on a surface, but that competitors must “always confirm the current ruling with individual shows as it may be different”.

The British Show Horse Association told H&H it “does not stipulate a horse should be shod in our classes” and added that “it is deemed the responsibility of the competitor to determine whether shoeing is necessary for their horse”.

Societies’ rules differ on remedial shoeing.

An RoR spokesperson told H&H its rule requiring horses to be shod on all four feet was introduced with the safety of competitors and ride judges in mind.

“Many of the grass arenas used for showing can be small and, at times, slippery,” she said.

“That said, we fully acknowledge that there are many ex-racehorses thriving barefoot or with front-only shoeing across a wide range of disciplines. We recognise that equine management practices are evolving and advances in equine science continue to inform what is best for horse welfare.

“As such, our rules – including those relating to shoeing – are reviewed annually. Our aim is always to strike the right balance between ensuring safety in the show ring and supporting the highest standards of horse welfare.”

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How to help prevent your horse from losing a shoe

Liz Falkingham — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 08:30:49 +0000

Wet, muddy ground is one of the worst aspects of caring for horses during winter. If it’s not dealing with filthy rugs and muddy legs, then it’s the inevitable situation when your horse loses a shoe after spending time in a paddock that looks more like a battleground than turnout space.

Lost horseshoes aren’t just an expensive nuisance, either. Horses can tear off part of their hoof at the same time the shoe is being pulled off, and then there’s the time spent finding that lost shoe, which can be a serious hazard if not retrieved.

What can be done to prevent a horse losing a shoe?

Overreach boots

A correctly-fitted pair of the best overreach boots are a must, according to farrier Paul Raw. “It’s not just about keeping the shoe on — they also protect your horse from overreach injuries. I find the long rubber boots are best; make sure they are big enough to drop down fully over the heel when the foot is in flight,” he advises. In some cases two pairs of overreach boots, with an oversized pair on top, can work well to protect the shoe from being stood on.

Regular shoeing

Another must is regular shoeing on a schedule which takes account of both what the horse is doing and at what activity level. “Most people assume horses should go six weeks between shoeings — but if you’re an endurance rider doing miles of training, it is common sense shoes will need renewing more often. Make sure, too, that you tell your farrier what you are doing with your horse, as the way the foot is dressed and the type of shoe used will alter accordingly,” says Paul.

Consider the barefoot option

How about considering going barefoot over the winter (or even permanently)? If your horse is having some down time after a busy season, it’s easier on the pocket and your paddock – and his feet may benefit too – to have a period without shoes. And no shoes on means no shoes to come off. If your horse appears uncomfortable without shoes, then investing in some suitable hoof boots may help.

Talk to your farrier

If you have a repeat offender for lost shoes, discuss the problem with your farrier to review possible causes and how to address them. “Wire fencing is a common culprit, for example,” says farrier Phillip Denton. “Horses paw at the fence then catch the shoe on the wire and tear it off.”

Look after your horse’s feet

Sounds obvious, but Phillip says not everyone takes the time to pick out feet daily or apply a good quality hoof dressing to protect the hoof wall and soles. “There’s a big difference in terms of hoof quality between horses which aren’t receiving that attention to detail and those which are; you can’t fool your farrier! It’s our job to put the shoes on correctly, but it’s the owner’s job to help them stay on — and healthy hooves are more likely to keep their shoes.”

Consider your horse’s diet

And finally, make sure your horse’s diet is designed for optimal hoof health. Equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr says hooves rely on an adequate supply of essential nutrients for strength, resilience and health, and good growth rate. “It’s a misunderstanding of nutrition to simply add a hoof supplement into the diet before investigating whether the basic diet is balanced,” she says. “A balanced diet is absolutely essential for all body parts to function correctly, yet many horses’ diets are not balanced.”

“UK forage is typically short of minerals and preserved forages such as hay and haylage can be short of vitamins. Diets with high levels of grass or starchy concentrate may oversupply water soluble carbohydrates, which can detrimentally affect the hooves.

“The most common error is to feed less than the full recommended amount of a compound feed, then top it up with a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement, when feeding a horse whose energy requirements aren’t enough for the regular amount of hard feed,” says Clare.

She adds that once the diet is balanced, some horses do respond in terms of hoof health to higher than optimal levels of certain nutrients, including the sulphur-containing amino acid methionine, the essential micro-mineral zinc and the B-complex vitamin biotin.

“Other nutrients that might be found in hoof supplements include copper, MSM, calcium and magnesium. Investigate daily servings to ensure adequate levels and feed for an extended period of many months before expecting results.”

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An extraordinary grey, a ‘tiny’ horse with no-nail shoes and a win ‘you can only dream of’

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 06 May 2024 13:31:25 +0000

What a week of showjumping news! We were treated to a feast of international showjumping on our doorstep at one of our favourite events, Royal Windsor Horse Show this weekend. Some of the leading riders in the world going into battle made for exceptional sport and you can’t help but fall in love with the gallant grey Rolex grand prix winner Leone Jei – he and Martin Fuchs are simply in a different league.

British showjumper Jodie Hall McAteer may have been competing on the other side of the world, but she made international showjumping news headlines with a five-star win in Shanghai, while we also investigated a “tiny” horse, who “thinks he’s 17.2hh” wearing an unusual set of no-nail shoes.

Read on for this week’s round-up of international showjumping news and results.

Showjumping news: “We had to risk it all”

Swiss sensation Martin Fuchs has built an incredible partnership with the gallant grey Leone Jei, but he took a chance taking just the one horse for the CSI5* classes at this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show. His faith in the 12-year-old’s exceptional talent was rewarded when he took home the Rolex grand prix – the second consecutive year that the Swiss rider has secured the €125,000 (£106,990) first prize here.

“I knew after I walked the course that the jump-off would suit us very well and if I do a good job, then normally he’s going to jump two clear rounds,” said Martin, who piloted one of his other phenomenal horses, Connor Jei, to win in 2023.

“I knew that I had to risk everything, having some of the fastest riders in the world coming after me. If I do the same amount of strides as the others I can be a bit slower but his energy and ability enables me to leave out strides where other horses aren’t able to.”

Both Gregory Wathelet (Bond Jamesbond De Hay) and Steve Guerdat, with his recent Fontainebleau winner Dynamix de Belheme came close, lodging 41.75sec and 41.86 sec respectively for second and third place, with Robert Whitaker best of the Brits on his King George winner Vermento in fourth.

Royal Windsor Horse Show Rolex grand prix results

Gilles Thomas of Belgium celebrates winning the LGCT of Shanghai grand prix riding Luna Van Het Dennehof. H&H recommends always wearing a hat. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

LGCT of Shanghai: “You can only dream of this!”

In China, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Shanghai went to Belgium rider Gilles Thomas with Luna Van Het Dennehof, with the pair celebrating in epic style (pictured, above). From first draw in a seven-way jump-off, the speedy pair proved unassailable, finishing well clear of the only other double clear from Edwina Tops-Alexander with Fellow Castlefield. Miami winner Michael Duffy of Ireland set the fastest time with the 10-year-old Cantano 32 but the last fence agonisingly hit the floor for third.

“I only have dreamed of this moment and now twice on the podium – one second and now my first LGCT Grand Prix win, twice on Luna – she is just such a fantastic mare,” said Gilles.

Edwina also heaped praise on the 25-year-old winner, “I think the world of Gilles, he is the best young rider and up and coming rider in the world today,” she said.

“He has so much talent, he is super cool in the head, he is such a team player and I think he has a massive future and this has just boosted it even more.”

Jodie Hall McAteer finished win four faults in round one on Hardessa in the grand prix, but had earlier sealed victory in the two-phase with 14-year-old mare Kimosa Van Het Kritrahof.

LGCT of Shanghai results

Laura Kraut (USA) and Calgary Tame win the CSI5* Manama Rose Show Stakes at RWHS. The “tiny” gelding “who thinks he’s 17.2hh” wears glue-on aluminium front shoes. (Image credit: Peter Nixon / RWHS)

“The horse didn’t love the nails”

In Sunday’s 1.50m Manama Rose Show Stakes at Royal Windsor, Laura Kraut took a well-earned victory with Calgary Tame, who was previously competed barefoot, but now sports ultra lightweight glue-on rubber-coated aluminium front shoes.

“He is so cool, he thinks he’s 17.2hh, but he’s tiny,” said Laura, who took over the ride on the 161cm (15.3hh) Selle Français, who is co-owned by his breeder Eugenie Angot and the Stars and Stripes syndicate, from flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard in 2021.

“When Julien had him before me, he had no shoes, because that’s what Julien does – but I just didn’t like the feeling of it. I always got the impression that the horse didn’t love the nails, so these shoes are rubber coated and they glue on.

“With these shoes he feels great, he’s been really happy with them. I also have Confu in them, as well as a couple of my other horses, and they seem to really like it.

“Knock on wood, they seem to stay on much better than shoes with nails and I have never had one come off! They are also much lighter. We have got to do something [when classes are so close] and every little bit helps!”

The same type of shoes were used by racehorse trainer Charlie Appleby on his Qipco Guineas Festival runner Castle Way at Newmarket on Friday.

Royal Windsor Horse Show results

Kent Farrington and Landon scorch to victory at Royal Windsor. (Image credit: Peter Nixon / RWHS)

Showjumping news: a remarkable hat-trick for one of the fastest riders in the world

Finally in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we return to Royal Windsor Horse Show, where speedy US rider Kent Farrington claimed the King’s Cup for a third time when he headed the Saturday’s Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes.

“I always loved coming to this show, it’s a great crowd, great atmosphere, top course designers, top competition and Rolex grand prix money!” he said.“It was a fast class as it always is here. It was great fun. As first to go I just stuck with my plan for my horse and it worked out in my favour that some other fast rounds had a rail down.”

It was Brit Joe Stockdale who had almost denied Kent a hat-trick when he jumped an inspiring round 2.66sec up on the clock with Barbara Hester and Laura Stockdale’s talented 10-year-old stallion Ebanking – only to lower the final fence with the lightest of touches.

Royal Windsor 5* winner’s go-faster shoes: ‘Every little bit helps!’

Sarah Radford — Sun, 05 May 2024 12:55:26 +0000

Laura Kraut and the brilliant 15.2hh chestnut Calgary Tame have been on lightning form at Royal Windsor — winning Sunday’s CSI5* Manama Rose Stakes and coming second by 0.04sec in Saturday’s Defender Challenge Stakes.

Besides having the edge of “thinking he is 17.2hh”, the 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding also has another potential advantage in the ring —he wears unusual light-weight front shoes, made of rubber-coated aluminium.

The horse, who is co-owned by his breeder Eugenie Angot and Laura’s long-term Stars and Stripes syndicate, began his career with flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard but Laura took over the ride in 2021.

“When Julien had him he had no shoes, because that’s what Julien does, but I didn’t love that, I just didn’t like the feeling of it,” Laura said.

“I always got the impression that he didn’t love the nails but these shoes are rubber coated, so they glue on.

“With these shoes he feels great, he’s been really, really happy with them. I also have Confu in them, as well as a couple of my other horses, and they seem to really like it.

‘He’s very quick and very brave’

The “very cool” Calgary Tame has an enormous amount of stride and scope for a little horse, and managed to beat some great rounds in the Manama Rose show stakes, including toppling mid-field leaders Lorenzo De Luca and Violino Il Palazetto by a surprising 1.36sec.

“I watched the first two go (Rob Whitaker with Evert and Joe Stockdale with Ebanking, who finished fifth and sixth) and they were so so quick, I didn’t think I could catch them. They didn’t leave room for anything,” Laura said.

“I followed the same track as them, my horse was just that little bit quicker. He’s tiny, so what would be a normal line for most horses is fast for him. He is just very quick and very brave.”

Laura came to Royal Windsor 10 days after moving her horses from Florida to Holland for the summer and will now head to Peelbergen before picking up the Global Champions Tour in Madrid.

Pioneering rubber horseshoe designed to improve equine welfare

Lucy Elder — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 20:43:51 +0000

A former top British jockey has partnered with a farrier and an innovative manufacturer to produce a pioneering rubber horseshoe.

Robert “Choc” Thornton, who rode more than 1,000 winners including in the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, worked with farrier Aron Tyler to create Equishox – a lightweight vulcanised rubber shoe with an aluminium core, designed for racehorses with welfare in mind.

The inspiration for the design came “by chance” during one of Aron’s regular visits to Apple Tree Stud, which Robert founded in 2014.

“I was rummaging around in the back of Aron’s van, as there’s all sorts of interesting things in there, when I found an original Öllöv SoftStep shoe – a vulcanised rubber shoe, made around a steel insert,” he told H&H.

He asked Aron about it, who told him that it is designed to reduce concussion and vibration forces on a horse’s limb, and to reduce the impact in cases of knocks.

“I went away and over a period of time I thought, ‘what if we can make this lighter, more versatile and more accessible?’” said Robert. “I asked Aron, who did some drawings and put the question to [manufacturer] Öllöv, who said ‘yes’.”

That was three years ago. In the time since, Robert and Aron have founded Equishox, partnered with Öllöv, and the team has gone through various testing processes on the shoe. This includes testing with their own horses, and research with the help of scientist Professor Lars Ropestorff. Their research has found a reduction in concussion and limited vibrations in the leg, and they have also seen a reduction in knocking and striking-in injuries when wearing the shoe.

Robert said that the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) director of equine health and welfare James Given has been “very helpful – which shows that British horseracing is a leader in welfare”.

“The BHA gave us approval to run horses in them,” he said. “We had to declare to James every time a horse was running wearing them, and they were checked before and after. Once they were happy with that, we were free to go and so we spread the shoe as widely as we could and did some practical trials.”

The performance results have been pleasing, but the main priority is welfare and the team is keen to continually improve and develop the shoe through further studies. Another positive that they have heard from those using the shoe is increased stability on hard surfaces, for example when handling horses on the yard or riding to and from the gallops.

“It’s not something that we’re going to just stand still on. We’re going to carry on with the research,” Robert said.

Relief for apprentice farriers as delayed exams get the go-ahead

Becky Murray — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 19:33:48 +0000

The delayed farrier apprenticeship exams have been given the green light as a new assessment organisation is approved.

VetSkill has been approved by the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) and Ofqual to deliver the end-point assessments, after the FRC withdrew its approval of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF). In October H&H reported that the FRC had “lost confidence in WCF’s ability to deliver the end-point assessment (EPA) with the appropriate level of assurance”. At the time, a WCF spokesman said the company was “disappointed” but “working hard to rectify the situation”.

This meant that the exams originally scheduled for 17 November and 20-24 November could not go ahead, while Ofqual, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical (IfATE), and the FRC found a new EPA provider.

In a statement yesterday (13 December) a VetSkill spokesman said the organisation was “proud to announce” it had approval.

“The first round of EPAs will take place at Myerscough College and Warwickshire College in mid-January with Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College following shortly after,” read the statement.

VetSkill director of operations Sam Double said assessors and venues have been confirmed and bookings are being taken for the EPA.

“The VetSkill team have worked tirelessly to be approved for the level three farrier apprenticeship standard, in record time. This could not have been achieved without the support of the FRC and the WCF for which we are very grateful. We would also like to thank the three training providers and the assessor team for working closely with us to achieve this,” he said.

Ben Benson AWCF, president of the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association, told H&H the association was “really saddened” that the WCF lost its end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) status.

“We’re really grateful for VetSkill coming in with the support of the WCF, so that we can see this cohort of apprentices finish their apprenticeships and gain their qualification and access to the farriery register,” he said.

“We’re confident that the EPA will be the same high standard that we all expect from farrier qualifications in the UK. The farriery industry worldwide wants to see the WCF back as the EPAO for the apprenticeship and we would all like to support the WCF in their reapplication to be that.”

IfATE deputy director Joanna Moonan told H&H the organisation is “delighted” VetSkill has been approved.

“It’s really good news as apprentices will now be able to complete their assessments and progress to the next stage of their careers in farriery,” she said.

The WCF spokesman told H&H the company had no comment.

Update 19 December 2023:

In a statement issued on 18 December 2023 a WCF spokesman said the company “wish all the candidates well” in the January exams.

“The WCF intend to grant the post-nominal DipWCF to successful candidates who

will undertake their EPA exams being delivered by VetSkill in January 2024,” it read.

“Once the WCF has addressed all the FRC concerns, the WCF will be reapplying for approval in the first part of 2024. We wish to thank all registered farriers in the UK for their overwhelming support in our quest to continue running farriery examinations in the UK.”

Wait continues for apprentice farriers due to sit exams

Becky Murray — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:23:21 +0000

The postponed farrier apprentice exams are expected to take place in January under a new provider.

H&H reported that the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) had withdrawn its approval of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF), as it had “lost confidence in WCF’s ability to deliver the end point assessment (EPA) with the appropriate level of assurance” (news, 12 October).

At the time, a WCF spokesman said the company was “disappointed” but “working hard to rectify the situation”.

The next EPAs were scheduled for 17 November and 20–24 November – but these did not go ahead. On 15 November, qualification and EPA provider VetSkill, via the FRC website, announced that the provisional date for the EPA for the current cohort of apprentices is moved to the period 15–26 January 2024.

VetSkill is still to receive official approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), Ofqual and the FRC to hold the EPAs.

A WCF spokesman said the company’s examination board “stands ready to support the holding of the EPA in January” and will continue to give access to its examiner pool, question bank and IT systems “as far as it is able”.

“The WCF appreciates that candidates are concerned as to whether they will still be awarded the diploma of the WCF (DipWCF) on successful completion of the EPA.

We assure candidates that as long as the examination board is satisfied that the new provider meets the standards expected by the WCF, then they will receive their diplomas upon passing the EPA.”

An IfATE spokesman confirmed to H&H that an established organisation has applied to Ofqual and the FRC to provide the EPA for the farrier apprenticeship, and that the November EPAs will be moved to early 2024.

“We are continuing to work with key stakeholders to resume industry-standard EPA as quickly as possible and support all learners to complete their apprenticeships,” said the spokesman.

An FRC spokesman told H&H the FRC had no comment to make at this point.

Farriers’ shock as organisations’ dispute leaves exams in limbo

Becky Murray — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 17:09:09 +0000

Apprentice farriers due to take their final exam next month are facing uncertainty after the Farriers Registration Council (FRC) withdrew its approval of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF).

On 5 October, the FRC announced that in accordance with its statutory powers as the national regulator for farriery, it had withdrawn its approval previously granted to the WFC – stating that it had “lost confidence in WCF’s ability to deliver the end point assessment (EPA) with the appropriate level of assurance”.

Apprentices must sit the EPA to complete their WCF diploma, known as DipWCF, following which they can apply to the FRC register. Farriers must be on the FRC register to legally shoe horses in the UK.

The FRC said the withdrawal was because the WCF’s IT system used for planning and its delivery of qualifications, examinations and assessment “is not supported and its functionality cannot be guaranteed”.

“This places at risk candidates being able to access the EPA on an assured basis, complete their apprenticeship and seek registration,” said an FRC spokesman, who added that it also affects potential approved training farriers (ATFs) being able to access the associate of WCF exam, known as AWCF.

The FRC added that the WCF “failed to give proper notice” to the regulator for qualifications, Ofqual, and to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) in respect of these matters. It added that the WCF had “not fully resolved matters” outstanding from its last approval visit in November 2021 regarding health and safety at examinations, reasonable adjustments for those with special education needs at assessments and access to information for candidates.

“Withdrawal of approval was necessary to safeguard the interests of learners and training providers, and to maintain public confidence. Any qualification awarded outwith the approval of the FRC may not be accepted by the council for the purpose of securing entry to the register of farriers or becoming an ATF.”

The next EPA was scheduled for 17 November (written paper) and 20–24 November (practical exam). The FRC said it is engaged with relevant stakeholders, including Ofqual and IfATE in seeking the “best possible outcomes” for those affected, and an FRC spokesman told H&H the ongoing delivery of EPAs is being considered by Ofqual and IfATE, which will issue guidance “as soon as they are able”.

A spokesman for WCF said the company is “disappointed” at the FRC’s statement and is “working hard to rectify the situation”.

“The company recognises the impact this will have on farriery students, ATFs and the colleges delivering apprenticeship training and every effort will be made to mitigate these impacts,” he said.

“WCF remains committed to the welfare of the horse and its duty of promoting, encouraging and advancing the art and science of farriery and education as it has done over the centuries.”

A WFC spokesman confirmed to H&H that a meeting is taking place tonight (9 October), and a further statement will be released in due course.

An Ofqual spokesman told H&H it is aware of this matter and “in touch with relevant parties to find a resolution”, and an IfATE spokesman added that the institute is “putting in place special measures to make sure every apprentice is able to complete their EPA to industry standards”.

A spokesman for the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association, which represents and supports farriers, said the association understands “the shock and concern farriers are now feeling”.

“The welfare of apprentices and ATFs is first and foremost our priority. We are aware some of our apprentice members are close to their EPA and any delay of this will obviously cause enormous stress,” he said.

“As the voice of the working farrier, this is something that resonates deeply with all of us and we encourage anyone impacted to reach out to us. We urge all parties to resolve this matter at pace and offer our support in finding a solution for a swift resolution.”

What do you think about the FRC announcement? Send your thoughts to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to be included in the magazine

Myth, magic and mystery: 12 interesting facts you might not know about horseshoes

Martha Terry — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 06:02:32 +0000

Horses have been wearing nailed-on shoes for well over around 1,500 years, ample time for this simple lump of metal to amass a wealth of myth, magic and history. Here are 12 interesting facts you may not know about horseshoes. If you’re not the superstitious type, skip to point 7. There’s a whole lot of fortune attached to the humble horseshoe.

1. Most of us recognise a horseshoe as a symbol of luck and protection. It is a superstitious symbol dating back hundreds of years to a blacksmith and his dealings with the devil. Legend has it that the devil asked the blacksmith to put horseshoes on his hooves, so the blacksmith duly burned and nailed them on. However, this caused the devil excruciating pain, enabling the blacksmith to make a pact with him, only removing the shoe on the condition that the devil would never to enter a home with a horseshoe hanging by the door.

2. In medieval times, there was a belief that witches and evil spirits had a fear of horses, especially their iron horseshoes which could withstand fire. Hence they preferred to travel by broomstick than horse. Witches – if not burned – were buried in coffins with a horseshoe nailed on to prevent them from resurrecting.

3. Should you hang your horseshoe up or down? The jury is out on the correct way – in a U-shape, or with the two points facing downwards. Some say the U-shape is correct, as all the luck keeps collecting in the curve, ensuring protection. Others say if you hang it “upside down” the good luck will pour out over you – or maybe drain out. Maybe try one of each?

4. Even the traditional number of holes in a horseshoe is lucky. Shoes tended to have seven holes to hold them in place, a number which is considered lucky in many cultures as it is ubiquitous in our world: seven continents, seven colours in a rainbow, seven days in a week, seven seas, seven dwarves, 007 and so on… Nowadays, however, many farriers use an even amount of nail holes on each side.

5. Modern horseshoes are made from of a range of different materials, from steel to aluminium, or even rubber, plastic horseshoes and copper coated nails. The early shoes were made of iron, which was thought to have mystical powers due to its magnetic properties, abundance within the human body, and ability to withstand fire. More magical luck….

6. If you’re in serious need of change in fortune, the luckiest horseshoe of all is purported to be one from the hindleg of a grey mare.

7. Despite the devil’s painful experience with the blacksmith (see point 1), shoeing does not actually hurt a horse. Horses’ hooves are made from thick layers of keratin, the same protein found in human nails and hair. Shoes are nailed on to the outer layer of the hoof, where there are no nerve endings and therefore it doesn’t hurt – nor does the act of burning on the shoe to ensure the correct fit. You can recognise the smell of the briefly burnt hoof as the same as when you actually catch your hair in a candle flame! However, beneath this insensitive outer shell, the hoof itself is made up of several layers of soft tissue with blood vessels and nerves – so the horse can still feel pain in his hoof due to other causes.

8. Historians debate when the first iron horseshoe was used, and in which culture. In Roman times, horses wore a protective leather and metal sandal – rather like a hoof boot today – and within 600 years or so, farmers began nailing metal shoes on their horses’ feet. There were certainly iron shoes used during the 12th century Crusades, while bronze shoes seem to have been in mainstream use in Europe from around 1000AD. Hot shoeing became popular in Britain and France in the 16th century, and by the early 19th century and the coming Industrial Revolution, shoes were cast by machine on a large scale.

9. The word farrier was originally “ferrour” in Middle English, and has its roots in the Latin word for iron, “ferrum”.

10. Enjoy quoits? Wondering what to do with your horse’s used shoes? There’s an official lawn game called Horseshoes, which is played with either two or four people. The aim is take turns at tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, and trying to either encircle the stake or get as close as you can. There’s an official governing body, the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association, and the sport has a long history, dating from the 12th century. Rather more recently, George W Bush was an avid player.

11. The patron saint of blacksmiths (and vets and horses) is St Eligius. The story goes that Eligius was a goldsmith in sixth-century France before he was a saint. He is said to have been visited by Christ in the form of a traveller with a horse needing shoeing. Somehow, Eligius managed to chop off one hoof – some folklore says the horse was demon-possessed — then made the three-legged creature a golden shoe and the “traveller” miraculously reattached the amputated appendage. Eligius’ saint’s day is 1 December and by tradition, no Catholic farriers will shoe on that day, enjoying a festive party instead and hopefully a few tips from their clients.

12. From Catholic saints to the humble local, horseshoes are an ever-present feature. According to Pubs Galore, there are 100 pubs with the name Three Horseshoes in the UK, which ranks it 43rd in terms of popularity. Fifty-two are named simply Horseshoes, ranking 93rd. The White Horse is the most common equine moniker (eighth), preferred to the Black Horse at 19th. If you’re keen on the shoeing connection, Blacksmiths Arms pips Horseshoes, with 55 pubs bearing that name. Horseshoes were a necessary feature of travelling back in the days when people used public houses as stopovers for their horses, so it’s a fitting name. Why three horseshoes rather than four? The Worshipful Company of Farriers’ coat of arms depicts three horseshoes to illustrate their trade, and dates back to 1356.

Whether you’re superstitious, religious, a history buff or up for a new game to play on your lawn, there’s a lot more to the horseshoe than simply protecting a horse’s hooves.

British rider makes her Burghley debut on a mare wearing ‘very special’ shoes

Pippa Roome — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 07:35:36 +0000

Kate Shapland makes her Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials debut this week – and her mare Uris Cavalier has personalised shoes for the occasion.

The shoes were made by Kate’s boyfriend, national apprentice champion farrier George Dey, and say “Kate and Libby” – Libby or Little Libby being the Uris Cavalier’s stable names – and “Burghley 2022”.

Kate met George in Yorkshire, where she currently lives and says: “He’s been a big part of helping me.”

The 22-year-old rider has had Libby for eight years, since she was 14 years old.

“She was literally a £5,000 buy and my older brother Chris bought her because my parents didn’t have enough money,” says Kate. “I still remember the first time I took her cross-country schooling and she took to it like a duck to water. That’s what made me believe I could get there with her.”

Kate left home “as soon as I could, because I didn’t have any facilities there”.

“I just worked as a groom wherever I could and competed on my days off and gradually made it here,” she says.

Kate worked for the Dumas family, then for Caroline Harris, then for French eventer Sidney Dufresne’s father in France.

“Then I worked for Chris Burton for a bit down on the Sunshine Tour, then came up with a Swedish client of his to Christopher Bartle’s. I really liked it at the Yorkshire Riding Centre, so I stayed there as a freelance rider,” she explains.

“Christopher has always had an eye out for me and even though we’re not having lessons every day, in the five-minute conversations you can gain so much from someone with that modesty and ability and knowledge.”

Kate Shapland and Uris Cavalier in the dressage at Burghley 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Kate Shapland describes Libby as “feisty, sweet and intelligent”.

“What makes this whole experience easier of my first five-star is I know her so well, it’s like coming with my best friend and I can rely on her,” she says.

The pair scored 38.7 in the dressage and will set out across country at 1.50pm today.

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Young event horse escapes serious injury in freak accident: ‘When she wins Burghley this will just be part of her story’

Becky Murray — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:11:41 +0000

A “lucky” event horse escaped catastrophic injury when she impaled a hind hoof on a front horseshoe in a freak accident.

Pippa Dixon’s head girl Blossom found Pippa’s six-year-old mare Woo Hoo, known as Molly, injured in her field last Thursday lunchtime (14 April).

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Blossom phoned me and said Molly had got her shoe stuck in her foot. We grabbed some farrier tools thinking she had probably pulled or twisted it, but when we got down to the field I realised it had gone into her leg above her coronet band and into her frog,” Pippa told H&H.

**Warning: graphic image**

“When I saw her all the worst thoughts were going through my head. I was thinking it had gone through ligaments or fractured her pedal bone and it was going to be the end of her career. I was trying to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario”

Vet Charlotte Ingham and vet nurse Maggie Chapman attended from Tyrells Equine Clinic.

“Whichever way we tried to pull the shoe it was pushing in further at the other end and I was thinking we were going to have to get the fire brigade to come and cut it in half. But luckily another vet at the practice had an angle grinder so we had to run metres of extension cord down to the field and the shoe was cut and removed,” said Pippa.

“Molly had been given a bit of sedation but she was absolutely rock solid and completely unfazed by all the smoke and sparks going on around her”.

Molly was taken to Rossdales for an MRI scan and had the joint tapped but has escaped serious injury. She will have six weeks’ rest and can then resume exercise in walk.

“The shoe had gone in a couple of inches but it went into the most perfect place, in that it missed everything. I could have cried with relief,” said Pippa.

“The vets have been amazing, especially Charlotte and Maggie who dealt with a very stressful situation brilliantly.

“No one knows how she did it; whether she rolled and pulled it off or whether she was galloping along and pinged it off and it went into her leg. To start with I felt awful thinking maybe someone else had pulled a shoe and it had been missed in the field, but it was her own shoe and was just one of those freak things,” said Pippa.

Molly had been due to step up to novice level at Horseheath this weekend and was being aimed at the six-year-old championship at Osberton later in the year.

“It’s absolutely gutting she’ll miss the championships, but looking at the bigger picture she’s been very lucky,” says Pippa.

“She’s a very talented mare and I’ve got very high hopes for her so I hope she’ll come back fighting fit and raring to go. One day when she wins Burghley this will all just be a little part of her story.”

Connections pay tribute to late friend following Blenheim best-shod horse award

Lucy Elder — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:03:28 +0000

Connections of the horse who won the best-shod prize at Blenheim Horse Trials (16-19 September) have paid tribute to their late friend and farrier, whose work was recognised through the award.

The prize was awarded to Simon Grieve’s ride Mr Fahrenheit III (“Freddie”) who is currently shod by Sam Johnson following the recent passing of farrier Phil Richardson.

Simon and Sam both took the moment to remember their friend.

“It was so wonderful that Freddie was picked as the best shod,” Simon told H&H. “It made me reflect on what a wonderful job Phil has done over the years, and is also testament to Sam’s skill and talent. It was very touching.”

The late Phil Richardson, pictured, shoeing Mr Fahrenheit III. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Simon and Freddie, owned by Dr Polly Taylor, jumped clear across country in the CCI4*-L, rolling two poles in the final influential showjumping phase to finish 53rd in the 90-strong field. The 11-year-old Catherston Liberator son is out of Phoebe Buckley’s popular former five-star ride, Little Tiger, who was also owned by Dr Taylor.

Sam added they were all thrilled with the award.

“We feel it is a fitting tribute to our friend, Phil,” he told H&H. “The first time I shod Freddie, I commented to Simon on how well he was shod – the feet all landing level, and not a single risen clench.

“Having shod Freddie four times now, I look forward to continuing to the work and watching him progress through the levels.”

Welder creates beautiful horse head when freed from day job

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 13:02:23 +0000

A welder who carries out his day job almost on autopilot allows himself free rein in his spare time to create beautiful sculptures.

Using horseshoes to create artworks is not new, but William Moulton-Day takes it a step further. His most recent creation is the result of over 110 hours of hard work.

William told H&H he works full-time as a welder, and that when he was learning his trade, he picked up some old shoes from his best friend, a farrier.

“I welded up a little reindeer and it went from there,” he said. “That was about three years ago, and it’s blossomed; I think now I can call myself an artist rather than a welder.”

William said he fits his art round his job so he rarely has a day off.

“But I love doing it,” he said. “At work, I zone out a bit and do what I’m told, like a robot, but as soon as I’m finished, I can be let loose to create what I feel like.”

Picture by Jessie Anita Photography (Image credit: creditUnknown)

William makes no sketches or maquettes in advance. For this piece, he asked horsey friends to take some detailed pictures of eyes, downloaded some pictures from the internet and took two measurements; the length of the face and the distance between the ears.

With his second-hand forge and anvil, he heated every shoe, straightened it and fitted it into shape.

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“I pride myself on being as detailed as possible; down to things like the little dent above the horse’s eye,” he said. “One thing that was harder than I thought was the pile of shoes; there are about as many in that as in the head, as I needed them to balance the weight, and I wanted them to look as if they’d just been poured out of a bucket, but it was very hard to weld them without making a pattern.”

He added: “It’s just sitting outside my workshop at the moment; it’s the first thing I’ve made in about two and a half years that isn’t a commission, and the first horse head, and it will be up for sale, but I just like looking at it at the moment.”

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Things to consider before removing your horse’s shoes this winter

Alex Robinson — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:24:37 +0000

Is it right for shod horses to have their shoes taken off over the winter months during a break from work? Richard Stephenson MRCVS weighs up the options...

Horses, whether shod or not, have a tough, horny hoof capsule, while human feet, unless accustomed to walking barefoot, are covered with soft, sensitive skin. However, we need to remember that many horses will struggle to make the transition from being shod to going barefoot and, in some cases, they will suffer pain and discomfort to a level which is simply unacceptable. It is fashionable in some circles to view unshod horses as “natural” and shod horses as being the victims of an outdated and harmful practice. But is it natural for a modern horse to be unshod, and what are the potential benefits and pitfalls?

While shoeing is frequently described as a necessary evil, it is important to appreciate that the modern horse is the result of many centuries of selective breeding which has rarely concentrated on hoof quality. With the possible exception of some native pony breeds, there is little “natural” about our horses. We must also recognise that even the so-called native pony has an enormous variety of different environments to cope with in different parts of the UK. One foot management approach cannot be made to fit all circumstances or all horses.

Before thinking about taking shoes off during winter, we need to ask why we put them on in the first place. Farriers will say that shoes offer protection from wear and provide grip — for the majority of horses in active work this is true, but do they really need shoes while at rest?

The answer will depend on how strong your horse’s hoof walls are, his current foot balance and the surface he is being turned out on. Every horse must be considered as an individual.

Good farriery should ensure that the shoe supports the normal physiological function of the foot. The most caudal nail (the one furthest back) should be at the widest point of the hoof, so that normal expansion and contraction of the heel areas can occur during motion.

However, without a doubt, shoes alter the way in which the hoof wall wears down. In a shod horse, there is virtually no wear in the toe region of the hoof. This is because it is nailed to the shoe, meaning there is no friction between the hoof wall and the metal. But there is wear in the heel region, because the hoof wall here moves across the surface of the shoe when the foot absorbs concussion during footfall.

This is why farriers have to be particularly skilful in paring the foot before applying a shoe, as more needs to be trimmed off the toe than the heel region.

Many shod horses suffer from collapsed, long, sloping heels which, as well as creating poor foot balance, can become the focus for corn or abscess formation.

It can be useful to remove the shoes from affected horses to allow more natural hoof wear for a period of time (around eight to 12 weeks), but this must be accompanied by regular trimming from a skilled farrier.

Consider these points if your horse is going without shoes this winter:

1. Is there a problem with your horse’s feet — if he has good, strong hoof walls, a straight hoof pastern axis and is sound while shod, why risk taking the shoes off?

2. Think about the ground your horse will be turned out on. Hard, stony ground may cause soreness due to solar bruising, while wet and soft ground could allow the hoof wall to grow and become flared or even break off.

3. Your horse’s feet will wear according to the ground type surprisingly rapidly, and the foot balance will alter within four to six weeks.

4. What is for certain is that removing the shoes is not an alternative to providing good foot care. The feet still need to be inspected and picked out on a daily basis. Trimming by a qualified farrier every four to six weeks will be just as important during a period without shoes as when shod.

Be prepared with these useful tips

1. Hooves with bad grass cracks are highly likely to deteriorate severely without shoes.

2. Unshod horses still need regular hoof care from a registered farrier.

3. If your horse looks uncomfortable, is taking short strides or is reluctant to walk out without shoes, going unshod may not be for him — listen to what he is telling you.

4. Horses with strong hoof walls may cope well without shoes if not worked regularly.

5. Horses with collapsed heels may benefit from a period without shoes to allow more even heel growth, but only if accompanied by high-quality hoof care.

6. If you are going to remove shoes for a period of time, don’t do it when the ground is very hard, either from dry weather or frost.

7. To achieve any benefit from removing the shoes, they need to be off for around three months in a horse with a normal speed of hoof growth.

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The perfect fit: Standard and therapeutic shoeing options for your horse

Horse & Hound — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:35:37 +0000

Your farrier has a huge array of standard and therapeutic options at his disposal to optimise your horse’s health and performance, as Briony Reed discovers

The importance of equine hoof care has long been understood – bronze horseshoes were found in an Etruscan tomb dating from 400BC, and horses in Roman times wore “hipposandals” not unlike a modern hoof boot.

In recent decades, scientific research has finessed the wealth of knowledge in the profession. Dynamics and biomechanics are now taken into account to ensure that whatever your horse’s job, the correct shoeing will optimise his performance and address any imbalances or foot conditions.

Discipline, surfaces, hoof condition and conformation will all affect shoe choice, as will the level of support and grip needed, and shoeing cycle length. Racers wear thin, narrow shoes of light steel or alloy – aircraft grade in some cases – whereas dressage horses working on an artificial surface will have very different weight and grip requirements.

Different again will be those for hunters: shoes with shorter heels allow for the large amount of fast work, reducing the chance of pulling a shoe. This means that a shorter than average shoeing cycle of two to three weeks is often necessary.

What’s the norm?

The vast majority of horseshoes are made of traditional mild steel. The extra weight compared to alloy or plastic shoes is compensated for by its cost-efficiency, malleability that allows a precise fit when the horse is hot-shod, and comparative durability.

The concave fullered shoe is “the standard UK riding shoe,” says master farrier Ben Benson AWCF. “Fullered means that a groove is cut in the ground surface of the shoe, reducing the weight and providing grip. It can be fitted with stud holes, and is suitable for work on multiple surfaces.

“An alternative is the three-quarter fullered shoe, which is fullered only on the sides – a flat section at the toe forms a stronger, squarer section for extended wear and protection. It does provide less grip, but would be well suited to a horse working mostly on a surface – a dressage horse or showjumper – or one doing roadwork.”

A third standard shoe is the continental concave or hybrid, with a more rounded channel than the concave fullered, broader, flatter heels, and a more concave shape at the toe.

Ben explains: “The grip is less aggressive, which keeps the horse on top of the surface, allowing movement and so relieving pressure on the tendons. I feel they are the best multi-surface shoe for arena and grass work.

“A critical point to bear in mind, whichever kind of shoe your horse wears, is that for every 1cm a horse’s foot is too long, the extra strain on its musculoskeletal system as the hoof angle changes is equivalent to 50kgs on its back.

“In a standard shoeing cycle a hoof will have grown by 1–2cm on average, in effect adding 50–100kg. Don’t leave it too long between farrier visits!”

Therapeutic shoes

Conformational issues, injuries or other veterinary problems can mean a horse needs therapeutic shoeing. Increasingly, off-the-peg machine-made shoes for any given condition are being superseded by a tailored approach informed by technological advances.

Carl Bettison, AWCF (Hons) and managing director of Stromsholm Ltd, explains: “Technology such as slow-motion cameras and MRI scanners can be used to ascertain precise biomechanic and diagnostic information.

“For example, a camera can provide details about a foot’s break-over point or the length and height of a stride, while an MRI might pick up ligament damage. This gives farriers specific information about what is required therapeutically for each individual, and often means problems can be treated far earlier than used to be the case.”

Carl continues: “Although such techniques are costly, they do benefit the general population – the knowledge gained through investigations performed on high-value competition horses trickles down as farriers see patterns and can make more educated assessments even in cases in which such technology is not used.

“As with any horseshoes, it is critical that the hoof is trimmed and balanced to ensure that loading is correctly distributed through the hoof and leg before application.

“Of course, prevention is better than cure – therapeutic farriery can do a lot, but ultimately it is unwise to breed from any horse with bad feet.”

Ben agrees: “Fitting therapeutic shoes is very specific to the injury itself, the site of the injury, and the mechanics and proportions of the foot. They must be precisely fitted to help rather than hinder the recovery.

“Tailored fitting is easy as farriers who routinely shoe these horses have vans that are set up and kitted out like mobile workshops, allowing therapeutic shoes to be manufactured to each foot’s specific needs using standard shoes and inserts,” he adds.

Bar shoes: The family of bar shoes can address a multitude of sins. Carl says, “Bar shoes are still the most common therapeutic shoes as they increase the surface area of the shoe and eliminate the two loading points, namely the heels on a normal shoe.”

Laminitis is one condition they can alleviate. Carl continues: “Heart bar shoes are still the most popular shoe used on laminitic ponies. Glue-on versions are available, which help further by reducing the trauma of nails being hammered into a sore foot; glue-on shoes are now common, especially on thoroughbreds.”

Karen Coumbe MRCVS, of Bell Equine, is convinced of the efficacy of good shoeing for laminitis, when done the right way.

“Decent shoes for laminitis are wonderful and can turn a case around impressively when done in the right way at the right time – namely, early on in the disease process, rather than as a last resort. If one waits until the pedal bone has sunk catastrophically, nothing will ever work,” she says.

Advanced possibilities: Greater expectations of soundness and performance for horses in combination with scientific and technological input have driven developments in farriery in the past few decades, as happened with veterinary science around a century ago.

A horse pulling a milk float needed to be sound only at walk, but today’s leisure and competition horses are asked for far more. This has driven changes in therapeutic farriery just as much as for standard shoeing techniques.

“Modern materials play a very important part in shoeing a lame horse, and can be used in conjunction with different types of shoes,” says Carl. “Products such as Vettec hoof packing are very popular, and modern adhesives are used on foals’ hooves to help correct limb deformities.

“Thanks to MRI, shoes designed to help damage to collateral ligaments in the hoof have now been developed, especially for the sport horse. These have a wider branch on one side than the other, to reduce the extent to which the hoof capsule sinks into the surface.

“Composite shoes (made from rubber or other materials) are now being used. These help to eliminate shockwaves and vibration travelling through the hoof into the leg. They are becoming more popular, especially with the focus on standardising the all-weather surfaces in different countries when the Olympics and World Championships are held.”

Ben adds: “Just as Usain Bolt’s running track is tuned before he runs, FEI competition surfaces are created to very specific requirements. Long gone are the days of woodchip: at London 2012 the exact frequency at which the surface would reverberate was specified; by Rio the requirement was the same frequency plus the ability to absorb 100ml of rain in an hour and to dry in 20 minutes; planning for Tokyo demanded the same capacity but for 130ml of rain.

“Top-level farriery will be honed to work so precisely, and the knowledge gained will ultimately trickle down through all levels of farriery, improving the support available for your horse.”

‘His whole body has changed shape’

Amy Struthers’ event horse Fabriano (Fred) had always had very low heels and long toes, but was transformed when shod with bar shoes.

“Fred’s movement could be very flat, especially when galloping,” says Amy. “He just didn’t pick up properly off the ground.

“Over the past two years, Ben has changed his shoeing. We started with a quarter-clipped heart bar with glue to support the heels and shorten the toe – the glue helped reduce concussion and support the heels over the shoeing cycle. Now, he has quarter-clipped straight bar shoes.

“Fred’s whole body has changed shape as a result, not only his feet. He looks and feels completely different, especially in trot. He is now engaging from behind, and working more evenly and with more spring, taking the contact positively.

“We have now been able to move up to advanced for the past two seasons. He wouldn’t have made the level without the therapeutic shoeing – he physically couldn’t work in the correct way.”

A stable foundation

Lauren MacBurnie’s Kerayasi, known as Edward, had spent years adapting posturally to very low heels and long toes, making him stiff and sore, especially behind. A three-quarter fullered lateral extension under the hind toes helped him stabilise himself better when ridden, and to “sit” and collect more.

“Since Edward has been shod by Ben Benson he has found the more advanced movements easier,” says Lauren.

“Movements that felt like hard work before now feel a lot easier. As an ex-racehorse he’s not naturally built for high-level dressage, so anything I can do to help him is key.

“Since the change of shoeing we have made our advanced debut and plan to compete at prix st georges this year. Edward is 18 years old – I had considered retiring him from competitive dressage, but he feels better than ever these days.

“Ben says it’s the small percentages that make all the difference, and the way he shoes Edward definitely contributes to his soundness, way of going and competition results,” concludes Lauren.

Ben adds: “The lateral extension meant better stance and more correct posture and balance, and so better and more correct movement. This led to much better muscling, in turn regenerating its own support system, and we could reduce the shoes back to a ‘normal’ perimeter type sport shoe.”

Softening the blow

Sometimes the shoe alone cannot provide all the protection and support a foot needs, which is where pads and padding come in. As with shoes, your farrier is spoilt for choice.

“Different structures in the foot and different conditions will require greater or lesser levels of flexibility and ‘give’,” says Ben. “A laminitic might need the equine equivalent of Crocs, while an event horse may benefit from something with more bounce – a horse’s Nikes, if you like. Varying the exact combination can give an eventer the same feel over the ground throughout the season, as the ground itself changes.

“A flat pad with a frog piece will increase the loading on the frog, in turn relieving pressure on the heels, and a plastic wedge with chevrons can, at the same time, improve grip.

“From most to least flexible, a farrier’s options range from a flat leather pad, to a plastic flat pad, to a plastic pad that can be moulded in hot water and then allowed to set. Between these, and the use of packing – similar to dental impression material, and in three possible levels of softness – a solution can be tailored to each horse.”

Why so pricey?

It may feel horribly circular, shelling out your hard-earned shekels for… more shoes like the last lot. What exactly do we get for the outlay?

Ben explains: “A quality set of shoes may set you back £80 for the shoes and £10 callout, plus a pound for a road pin or a stud hole, but you’re paying for the skill that comes from a four-year apprenticeship and degree-level knowledge of equine foot anatomy.

“Twenty years ago, a similar set would have cost £58 plus £10 callout but today’s equivalent to that price is around £90 plus callout, so in real terms the cost is now lower. Think of it as insurance against vet bills, or like investing in properly fitted running shoes or ski boots for yourself.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 4 June 2020

Road nail study paves the way for future farriery research H&H Plus

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 12 May 2020 13:00:14 +0000

It’s believed the research into farriery effects opens the door for others to measure how remedial shoeing is affecting horses, over the long-term as well as immediately. H&H finds out more...

Research on the effects of road nails on equine symmetry is particularly noteworthy for its implications for future study, one of the professionals involved believes.

The peer-reviewed study, undertaken as part of the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) graduate diploma in equine locomotor research, indicates that it is important to look at the effects of shoeing changes on symmetry of movement, rather than the other way round.

The researchers used gait analysis to show that using a road nail in the lateral heel of a hind shoe created asymmetry in pelvic movement.

Peter Day, who has worked at the RVC as a farrier for over 20 years and carried out the study with Lee Collins, told H&H while the results were interesting, they were almost a “red herring”.

“If I’m putting road nails in, I’ll put two in each foot, as far back as possible,” he said. “Sometimes people only have one in each foot but if someone could only afford four, I’d put two in each hind foot. The horse’s movement comes from the back end, and if you can stop that slipping, you’ll stop the front end slipping.

“I’ve proved that anecdotally, through observation, as that’s what farriers do. We might change a shoeing protocol, and the vet will say, ‘That’s made a difference,’ but you think, ‘How do you know?’

“But there are ways of measuring, and this has proved we can measure what we do.”

Mr Day says his research into farriery effects opens the door for others to measure how remedial shoeing is affecting horses, long-term as well as immediately.

“Maybe we can start nailing down a protocol that could give horses an edge,” he said.

“Whether it’s for lameness or improving performance, this is where we can really get one over, by measuring improvement. I hope we’ve unlocked the door for people with ideas to come forward.”

Course director Thilo Pfau said it was “very exciting” to see the first peer-reviewed published research from the diploma.

“We always encourage our students to create research of publishable quality and to contribute to the much-needed evidence base surrounding trimming, shoeing and farriery,” he said. “Peter and Lee have done exactly this, and we congratulate them for this achievement and are looking forward to others following in their footsteps.”

British Equine Veterinary Association chief executive David Mountford told H&H: “It is great to see farriery research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Intuitively we all recognise the importance and impact that farriery interventions have, but it is through published research that we can understand and enhance our use of those interventions and expand the key relationship between farriers and vets.”

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