Farrier Work
Since man first took the horse out of its natural setting and began to use it hoof care and farrier work became imperative. In the wild, the horse will naturally self trim by moving an average of twenty miles per day. This substantial movement slowly wears down the hoof wall and creates a hoof that is both very strong and sufficient for moving over any terrain. For the domestic horse, twenty miles of wear is often not accomplished and therefore hoof trimming is required. Natural barefoot trimming strives to mimic the wear a wild horse would receive on its hooves while conventional farrier techniques place metal shoes on the hooves to protect them from the ground. Which technique is better is largely dependent on the preferences of the horse’s owner and of the farrier. Some owners like the idea of natural hooves whereas some owners have more piece of mind with a shoe. Some farriers believe it is easier to correct hoof problems with a shoe and other believe it is easier with a more natural approach. Irregardless of the technique, farrier work is necessary and should be done at least every two months or severe hoof problems can occur.
Traditional Shoeing
