THE FAILING FARRIER INDUSTRY - PUTTING YOUR HORSE AT RISK , here's why .
Search Engine Optimization |
Quite a Striking opening title for an entry wouldn't you say?
First thing to do is simply subscribe to this blog - it's right there upper left .
Just simply leave your email
we will NEVER pass on your email - Ever !!!
Ok ! Now let's just cut to the chase . Horses are put down ( euthanized ) every day due to lameness related to faulty horseshoeing practices. Would you want your horse to be next ? Considering the state of affairs within the Farrier industry , sadly enough that may very well happen.
Fact ! Farrier Schools produce Farriers. Fact ! Farriers ruin horses.
Are you seeing the connection yet ?
More specifically: When the educators (horseshoeing schools) produce the Farriers which produce lame horses , do you think there may be something faulty with the education itself ?
Is this becoming more clear ? Can you blame the horseshoer when the Schooling is at fault in the first place?
Where do you turn . who do you trust , how do you prevent your horse from being next on the list of lamenesses due to Farrieritis - the sickness within the industry. Farriers that ruin horses.
First here's the why.
1.) The industry still operates out of "Old School Thought" - Sure there have been advancements like the "Natural Balance Shoe" which addresses alot of issues but still lacks the deeper inner insights of correct shoeing.
2.) How do you view the horseshoeing industry itself when for example so much emphasis is put on "Speed Shoeing Contests". Isn't it time for the industry to get the shoeing done "Correctly" in the first place, and when should shoeing a horse as fast as you possibly can "EVER" become acceptable practice?
3.) Industry Standard textbooks are outdated - the old school thought doesn't work , really never did. The industry needs updating a break away from the old systems.
4.) When 98% of horses are pigeon toed which by itself leads to lameness , and when the industry itself , namely the shoeing schools and textbooks teach to lower one side of the hoof to "FORCE" the foot into the right direction it's simply a practice that RUINS horses. This is the current"Conventional Wisdom".
5.) Pigeon toed or toed out horses left unattended to pose huge risks of lameness in and of itself , but when coupled with what Farriers are taught in the schools and textbooks which actually compounds the problem there's Obviously something missing in understanding correct methods of shoeing practice.
6.) These incorrect methods are being taught to Farriers ( By the Leaders in the industry ) the Farriers then go off to work on horses ( your horse ) put into practice the faulty methods the results of which are lame horses , and much too many times permanently lame horses.
7.) There is a sickness in this industry and it's born of Ignorance.
Fortunately the cure is available .
8.) You are encouraged to take part in this discussion where the TRUTH about shoeing will be revealed. You can also become part of this Movement to bring enlightenment to an industry in desperate need of the truth. Your involvement will not only prevent your own horses from the real threat of becoming permanently lame but will also help stop the destruction of horses everywhere by helping spread the word about the truth that can be found here.
Just make sure you subscribe to this blog
At the top left just leave your email address
you don't want to miss the truth that's yet to come
Subscribe Now !
Come back often and by all means make yourself known here .
Leave comments
John Silveira www.Care4Horses.com
Testamonial from Pam a new client
Hi John,
Hello,
You mentioned how trimming one side lower on a toed in or toed out horse might not be the beat approach. How would you trim such a foot?
Reply to this
Hello Billy.
Thanks for chiming in. The correct way to trim horse’s feet is to trim them level. Anything other than that is putting binds and twists into the joints which are going to stretch ligaments and wear the joints. The only exception I know of to this rule is if the horse is already lame from something else and it “Must” be trimmed out of level in order to compensate for what’s wrong ( usually ligament issues ) usually by veterinarian recommendation. And the horse is lame to begin with and may always remain so.
So what is level? Not everyone knows how to recognize level because it’s done visually (eyeballed). It has nothing to do with the hairline but rather everything to do with the way the bones themselves line up.
The way to establish level is to pick the foot up as you would normally to inspect the bottom of the foot for example. Having a ruler handy would be perfect. While holding the foot up, place the ruler across the sole of the foot side to side (not toe to heel). Now just flex the foot in the only normal way it does (up and down). As the foot is moving up and down the ruler makes it easier to notice if one side of the hoof wall is shorter or longer as the ruler will obviously be higher on one side than the other. So you’ll need to trim the foot so that ruler is 90 degrees or like a T-Square. While you’re doing this you’ll need to be placing your eyes directly “over” the top of what’s going on so you can see.
This is all a bit difficult to explain in text – sorry bout that – and that’s the reason I’m producing the DVD and writing a book. By trimming the foot level at least the bones are all in alignment which is the best thing for now. Then you can come back and do the right thing with shoeing. But for now at least the horse’s bones will be better off.
This holds the same for barefoot horses as well. Being level is mandatory.
My DVD and book will be very comprehensive and will go through the whole processes from start to finish. You’ll get how the anatomy affects shoeing and travel and contributes to lameness, how to recognize what will lead to lameness, how to line up the bones correctly, proper angles of bones and feet, what fallacies and non truths are currently being taught and used by Farriers so you can eliminate the problems with using such methods, how making the right adjustments change gait and in which ways, what is perfect balance, proper shoe placement, and in the most severe cases how to forge and fashion the custom shoes that “Work” how to place them, what to rasp what not, and promote everything needed to grow foot in the proper way for support stability proper alignment and optimum performance. And more.
Thanks for stopping by Billy. Good luck and remember to Care4Horses.
We’ll be doing promos and some cool things (ok – giveways etc) from this blog so check in with us.
John Silveira.
Reply to this
Unfortunately it is very hard to find good farriers. I guess this would have a lot to do with schooling. Thanks for the article.
Reply to this
Hello Mona. Thanks for stoppin by. You're absolutely correct about the schools having faults. It's also to do with the industry standard textbooks as well. When i graduated from what is considered by many to be the worlds best horseshoeing school ( i took the mastery program at a cost of 5 grand to me ) i still felt like there was something missing from the education - when i was picking up the feet and working on the horses i just knew there was still something wrong with what i was taught. By the way - i did graduate at the top of the class, In fact the owner of the school came up to me about the 2nd and one half month and just told me flat out that i was one of the best students he had come through the school in about 2 years , beside the point - but after i graduated i found out for myself what was missing in what is being taught and the reason so many farriers just don't know what they're doing. It's a sad fact and too many horses come up crippled as a result.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the most popular Farriers in the area who charges 200.00 for flat shoeing - Wait - let me back up - i was approached by a horse owner who asked me if i would look at their horse - i agreed - as soon as the horse was brought up to me i took one look at it and couldn't believe my eyes at the work that was being done - the horse was obviously not at all happy - head hanging and droopy/depressed. After talking over with the owner what was happening we agreed that i would work on the horse - but i coudn't help but ask who the farrier was that had been doing the work - turned out it was that very popular farrier who i know personally. My jaw hit the ground !! The new client went on to tell me that this Farrier who charges 200$ per horse had told him that the "Method" he used on the horse was called " THE NATURAL METHOD" - Wow - i couldn't believe how anyone could - well basically there was "Nothing" natural about that shoeing - it was so bad that even the horse owner just suspected something was wrong. I'm often times just baffled at how difficult it is for people to detect what's wrong with their horses- i guess i just forget and take for granted my skills - but have to realize there was one time i was totally in the dark about shoeing as well.
Now when i am able to sit and explain to people what my method is all about it's awesome to see the expressions on their faces as the light bulb goes on the the veil of ignorance is lifted . Like i said and you said as well - this stuff isn't taught in the schools and textbooks so people are just sorta stuck with figuring things out for themselves - unfortunately that's easier said than done - for some reason the whole idea or notion or process of shoeing is sorta hidden behind a big combination of quite a few different principles - leave one ingredient out and it makes a mess out of the whole process - so as you say when you combine these facts with the fact that farriers just aren't getting the education from the schools or textbooks you end up with - again - as you said - there's just not very many good shoers... i have to agree with you whole heartidly - i could go on and on and on - and on - and on- OK I'll STOP - but i could go on and on ---- LOL you get the idea...
anyway - thanks again - if i can help you in any way please feel free to contact me . I'm currently giving horse evaluations at no charge - it works out pretty well as people send me pictures of their horses and i can evaluate them quite well regarding conformation and how or why i would or would not recommend the horse for the type of riding they are doing ... I've done extensive riding - and i am totally into performance and come from a long line of athletics and competitions so i look for and am higly attuned to body type and all . So Just let me know.
Ok then - have a good one
john silveira
Reply to this
I found your comments very interesting. Im from way over in NZ and i feel in general we have a good tandard of farriers. I have a two year old horse who has a turned in foot. She is very long in her joints and we make sure her hoof is trimmed like any other horse so as not to cause any stress on her joints. My question is will she adjust and be sound? Her mother had pigeon toes and was sound day in day out. Im not worried about asthetics, more than Im doing th riht thing for my horses. Im a little unsure how to approach the situation with my farrier, I certainly don't want to tell him how to do his job but If i knew there was a better way then i would certainly do it! Thankyou for your time.
Reply to this
Hello Emma in NZ, pleasure and thanks for stoppin by to leave your valuable contribution. I have a friend that just returned to NZ- name is BEN - he is a very good Aikido guy that came to San Francisco just to train with us at City Aikido under Robert Nadeau instructor.
I'm sure NZ has some pretty good farriers. Let me give you some feedback. Your horse is young which means there's still chance as you start riding her when her chest fills out more with muscle it's liable to turn her shoulders out which will help bring that foot out as well - so the condition can still improve. The point is and my recommendation is - since it can still improve on it's own do not attempt to fix her pigeon toe by shortening one side of the hoofwall which is how the textbooks teach Pigeon toe correction. Just don't do it. Leaving her just as she is "For now" is much better than trying the correction. It can all be fixed with the right kind of shoeing at a later date. The main thing is you don't want to start twisting her joints all up- let her continue to grow out naturally and address the pigeon toe later.
Now let me attempt addressing some of your other questions. To be honest with you she probably won't adjust and be "Correct" 100% on her own (that's where the shoeing comes in). the main thing for now is keep her short- and don't let her toe grow out too far in "Front" like "Bozo the clown feet". The short foot length reduces the leverages and torques on the joints- This is probably the main reason horses manage to survive in spite of the issues like pigeon toes etc etc. But realize "short feet" are Not a guarantee - remember there are horses with short feet coming up lame every single day- day after day. Without going too far in depth - every horse is different - some tolerate pain some don't- some are much more sensitive than others to tweaks going on within the joints and bones of the feet and fetlocks - some are heavy bones some very delicately boned so when it gets down to it if the shoeing is not "Dead correct" it's a Risk. And i can't overemphasize enough - a Dead Serious Risk! So to answer another of your questions - is there a "Better Way" - Yes there absolutely most definately is.
To be blunt - your farrier might be the best guy in the world but you really have an obligation and responsibility to do the best for your horses protection and future. Look if i told you right "NOW" how to fix this horse ( so now you would know how and have the knowledge ) but you didn't tell your farrier and your horse soon enough came up lame - Who are you going to blame - and who is the one left holding the bag with the big problem to deal with - Well " you AND the poor horse.
The truth is i can pass on the information to you which will enable you to know 100% you're doing the correct thing for your horses feet - You would be enlightened . From that point on you would Understand shoeing in a way you've never heard before ( i can tell just by the nature of your questions there is information and the truth that is missing for you )... and believe it or not this method "Covers All the bases" when it comes to straight up shoeing - unless your horse has some kind of real "Oddball Deformity". So you would understand a method that you could rest assured you now have what it takes to rest assured you know how to address proper shoeing for your horse and any other horse. That's why i call this method "The Missing Link"- Cause it really is. the information puts "All" the pieces to the puzzle together and uncovers the hidden aspects of shoeing that no one knows about - It's very strange to think - i just showed this method to a woman the other day and in her words she said " the holy grail " of shoeing. The reason she said that was because after i told and showed and explained to her the method the "Light Bulb" went off inside her mind. So she decided to have me shoe her horse that was lame at the time due to no farriers knowing how to fix or shoe him correctly.
Ok - the problem is this method i have is difficult to explain in just "TEXT" like i'm doing now - that's why i'm putting together a DVD program on it and also writing a book.
Just keep in touch ok - it will pay off for you big time - it will help keep the Vet bills away. OK ??
So i hope this helps some for you .
By the way - i'm currently doing Consultations at no charge - i evaluate the pictures of horses people send me before they buy them or if they're having problems with lameness and i evaluate what i see. It's amazing how much shows in a picture - really amazing . So keep that in mind - but i won't be able to keep doing that at no charge. ( well --- maybe ) (-:
So take care - thanks again for coming by and i wish you the best of luck with your young horse.
Remember to pass on what you found here - it's a mission. Gotta save these horses.
Happy safe riding and remember to Care4Horses.
john silveira
Reply to this
John, I have a 15 year old gelding who has had feet and leg problems for the past 5 years I have owned him. I would love and evaluation of his feet and would even be willing to bring him to the Bay Area. If you know of a good Farrier in the Sacramento area that would be great. Thanks Sabrina
Reply to this
Hello Sabrina . thanks for stoppin by. I'd be very happy to do an evaluation for you . if bringing your horse down here is too much trouble you can send photos here. It works quite well and gives me alot to go from. I'm pretty easy to get to though if you do decide to make the trip here. Just let me know when you're planning to make it.
reach me by phone 650 921 5287 or here at my email address : John@Care4Horses.com
take care , happy and safe riding .
john
Reply to this
Hi once again John, I couldn't agree with you and the above writer about the quality of blacksmiths. We have four farriers, and I say that with tongue in cheek, here at a harness track in New York and not one of them understands a horse's foot. I have been trying for months to get a good farrier for my trotter to no avail. He had a quarter crack which was repaired by Ian McKinlay, well known in his field, but my horse has been lame on starting his jogging routine ( the first ten steps or so) STILL and this was done in August. I have contacted Ian, a really super guy, who has told me that my horse's patch might be pressing on a delicate area and I could have someone take the patch out. He told me to have a farrier float the heel out too and put a window bar shoe on him, but there isn't one farrier here who makes any kind of shoe from scratch, so my horse is out of luck. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to not be able to find a farrier who kows how to shoe harness racing horses. Most of the time, it's just about time, get them in, get them out. I see so many horses here with EXTREMELY low angles and such long toes I just want to scream, wondering if these guys have any clue as to where the coffin bones are in these horses. I actually had to draw a line down my horse's pastern to the grain on his hoof to show the 'farrier' how my horse's angle should be. I wish you could come out here John and show these guys a thing or two. PLEASE let me know when your DVD is coming out. Sincerely, Marcia Hamilton (I'm sure you remember me!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Marcia.
Nice to hear from you again and wish the circumstances will improve for you.
This is what i hear all too often from too many people - the lameness and horses in trouble is a real tragedy.
This is exactly why i started my blog. Interestingly enough i am tonight ready to write an entry again exactly about what you speak of. This whole lameness "Delemna" to put words to it really needs to be adressed and looked deeply at by the industry - and i'm dead serious.
I really do appreciate your comments here Marcia and you are always a welcome guest in this house. Together people can make the change. We shout loud enough people will start to listen. It's not just the empty shouts but the shouts about how to get horses taken care of "Correctly". I'm here - we're here to show the way. I don't have 17 years of not one horse coming up lame due to methodology as a meaningless exploit... There is a way to get things done right - that's what this blog is about .
Thanks very much for sounding off. keep up the good work.
john
Reply to this
Hello John, I have a lovely 7yr old QH mare - grandaughter of Rugged Lark, with navicular changes, heel pain, and recovering from LF suspensory injury (currently only doing walk/trot). She is shod in NB alums, but still experiencing heel pain and off in RF on circle. I would love some shoeing advice - can I send you pic's? Thanks!
Reply to this
Hello John,
Just found your website and would like to ask a question. I'm not sure whether this is the right place for my question, but here it is: Background first......I've been trimming my 15 y/o gelding myself since he was a 3 y/o. I do my best to follow advice in Pete Ramey's book. I use my horse for tame trail rides and dressage and he has never been lame (until recently). He has never been shod. I keep him trimmed every 4 - 6 weeks, as needed.
He recently acquired tendonitis and a severe strain to the R front fetlock joint capsule while frolicking in pasture. (He normally lives in pasture with 3 other horses). Initially, his fetlock was swelled like a grapefruit and he was sound in walk, lame in trot.
A month later, due to not being a good patient, he is now dead lame in the walk. Ultrasound shows only increased fluid, but no progress in healing after 30 days rest. Vet is concerned about possible chronic Tenosynovitis of flexor tendons due to constriction of annular ligament of the fetlock. Vet thinks the horse may benefit from wedge shoes since he is now lame in walk.
I'm extremely reluctant to apply shoes to a 15 y/o that has never been shod. What would you recommend? I know a good farrier who can do the work.
Reply to this
Hey Merle. thanks for stoppin by.
Sorry to hear about your horse. Sounds like you were doing well with the trims and being barefoot all this time , just an unfortunate injury.
The type of lameness issues you're talking about are all so unique to each horse and individual cases, difficult sometimes to pin down recovery times and such. I have a story to tell that might be the best way to help you in your situation.
so here goes.
I had an Arab Stallion that i raised from the day her was born - great little Khemosabi bloodline. About his second year of riding he sprung his ankle. I let someone ride him and he was brought back with what looked like half an orange on the front side of his fetlock joint inbetween the hairline and fetlock. He was dead lame. Took a year to recover. It was serious. The swelling never completely went away but he finally became rideable without any head bobbing but every once in a while the ankle is just not right with him perhaps after some long ride.
So he's lame , all i could do was visit him every day and run cold water over his fetlock and do deep tissue massage on the effected area. I did this every day. What i did do was lunge him in a very large circle ( wide enough to not bind his joint from making too close/tight turns ) for about 5 easy minutes, just enough to get the joint warmed up and keep the fluids moving in the area of injury.
When i did the deep tissue massage ( i had to discover how much my horse would tolerate ) but i would press into the swollen area quite deeply moving the fluids in the swollen area ( just keep it moving ) was my idea. Looking back over the whole year long process i feel what i was definately helped and my horse sure seemed to appreciate it. This all happened over 10 years ago and he's still ridden to this day.
The point i'm making is the type of injury you have there ( by my guesstimate ) seems similar to the one my horse had and approach the recovery in some of the same manner i went through. I know and have heard of ( through the race track crowd ) of a linament to put on a horses leg/joint that actually pulls some of the fluids out of the joint ( how much of that fluid is actually necessary right ?? ) ( probably not all of it ). i wish i could remember the name of the product for you but i do remember it is designed to pull/sweat the area and i've heard of people having tremendous results with it. so that's about all i can really add on that account....
With regard to the shoeing with wedges. i'm kinda 50/50 on that. maybe leaning toward the side of not using them. My reasoning is - if there's no real "Tear" in the joint where you really need to relieve then i'm of the mind that i prefer "Movement" in the joint to keep things in motion rather than (Putting the joint in a cast for example) and fixing the movement. Sometimes you can tell by the way the horse is moving - if when you look at the lameness the horse is acting as if he's ready to become worse just walking on it ( then maybe the wedges or something to help prevention ) but if the horse is not in that kind of danger than i feel movement in the joint can be beneficial...
that's my 2cents. I'm not a vet so i can't make a recommendation to you - but where i stand, that's my opinion.
if you come up with any more information on this please fill me in i'd like to know more and see if we can come up with something.
thank you , best wishes and good luck.
john "The Foot Doctor" silveira
Reply to this
I want to learn horse schoing
Reply to this
Hello - thanks for stopping by. Well , i'm actually putting together a very comprehensive educational program that will serve well for someone that wants to actually learn horseshoeing. A DVD with a step by step indepth look at the process of shoeing.
Keep tuned in . didn't get your shipping address for the hoofpick giveway coming up ...
john "TheFootDoctor" silveira
Reply to this
Hello John, I have a 7yr old gelding just diagnosed with "chronic heel pain". Vet recommended half shoes and half pad for support - do you agree? He also said to defer to my farrier for additional options. My current farrier wanted to try a few other options first. He just gave my gelding as much heel support as he could with a regular shoe by making it wide at the heels and leaving a long "trailer". At first my horse was 75% better -immediately. Now he has worsened and is very sore. I am definately a layman in this area and any advice would be appreciated. I am in the Phoenix, Az area and would consider any recommendations for farriers if you know of any. I do like my current farrier and am willing to work through a bit but ultimately want a sound riding horse. Thank you so much for your time and expertise.
===========
Hi Wendy , thanks for stoppin in . Sorry to hear your horse has issues.
This is a challenge, without sending me photos of your horses feet. Right away i want to know where the soreness is - in the bulbs of the foot - on the sole - the frog - navicular area ? Photos would help alot so i can see if your horse is contracted or low in the heels - long in the toe and the general conformation that can reveal alot to the eyes.
I'm feeling really kinda stuck on this one and hesitant to give any recommendations cause i'm really just guessing this time. Wish i could be more help ..
Feel free though to send some photos . rear view - side view - front view - as well as the bottom of the foot and i'll be happy to give some feedback to you .
i could recommend a bar shoe which might help protect the rear of the bulbs of the foot - would help keep the bulbs up off the ground - the bulbs might be in contact with the ground sometimes .
i'm guessing by what you wrote regarding the long trailers that this heel pain in on the rear feet/foot ? Of course one wouldn't use trailers on the front.
I'm not a real fan of trailers especially if the horse is being turned much . Trailers that are cocked out the side a bit i feel crank the foot if or while in turns , which might explain the lameness/soreness you explained came up somewhat suddenly recently. The wider shoe at the heels is fine though. Even a bit of extra length of shoe should be ok ( not to extend past the bulbs of the foot though ) . And of course an egg bar shoe would never hurt - i look at bar shoes as an ounce of prevention . Support from bar shoes is always a good thing.
The pads didn't hurt - i just don't know if they are necessary as the soreness might be caused by some particular other step in the shoeing that's not quite right - coming to mind " If the foot is level or not " which in that case a pad doesn't make any difference.
I realize all this hasn't been much help other than just to fuel thought - so - if i could see some photos would be worth a thousand words ..
thanks for stoppin in - hope to hear from you and good luck with the horse.
john "TheFootDoctor" silveira
Reply to this