By: Matthew M. Brendal
There are many schools of thoughts on the periodicity. The traditional farrier pracitice is to shoe or trim a horse every six to eight weeks. The "new" natural "shoemanship" hoof technicions is to only trim a horse. The horse is "trimmed" every couple of days to mimic the wear a horse in the wild would incur. The basic theory being if the coffin bone is kept at the constant proper angle, then the hoof sole can endure any terrain condition. I have read numouros studies and methods of natural shoeing and trimming and I believe a lot of the stuff has merit. I have been using my 4 year old mare as a study of natural trimming and I have never had a problem with her. Of course I have a luxury most people don't, I am a farrier, so the frequent rasping and trimming doesn't cost me anything.
Here is my traditional view on horseshoing: Not every horse needs to be shod. I like to think that a horse is very capable of going barefoot in most cases. The average Mustang travels rocky and rough country averaging about 20 miles per day. I think a horse only needs shoes under the following circumstances:
Shoes will increase the performance in a competing horse
Shoes will correct a severe hoof or leg problem
Shoes will provide protection to a horse exceeding the wear of his feet
As a general rule a horse requiring shoes will need to be shod between 4-8 to weeks depending on the hoof growth and use of the horse. A healthy hoof grows approximately a 1/4 inch a month. Hoof growth depends on a few factors. Use,though is a two way street. The more the hoof is used, the more blood flows to it and the more it grows. The different terrians also wear the hoof down. Nutrition, protien is main property of the hoof. There are also a few other minerals. Don't be fooled by advertizements, spend your money on good quailty feed and hay, not supplements. In the winter months hoof growth may slow due to the horse using more energy to stay warm. Genetics, don't breed or buy a horse with bad feet! The feet are the foundaition of the horse. You wouldn't buy a house that was sinking, would you?
