Farrier Tales: Valuable Lessons To Learn

   To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them – Montesquieu

In the past, I frequently attended riding instruction clinics of a very sought after Olympic medal winning rider and trainer who opened every session with the following statement (paraphrasing), “I have been doing this my whole life, 50 plus years. I don't consider myself an expert and if I'm not an expert, than you most certainly are not an expert.” That statement always received uncomfortable laughs from the participants, most likely connected to their realization, that no matter how good you are, there is always something that you can learn in horse sports if you're willing and open to receiving the knowledge. I have been fortunate enough to have experienced many such moments in my life and career. If I am ever considered good at something, anything, it will only be because of the many people who have played a significant role in my shaping my career, skill, and education.

One such moment came a number of years ago when traveling to Kentucky and finding myself in legend D. Wayne Lukas's kitchen. The Coach was patiently waiting for a film crew to set up cameras for an interview. I thought to myself “ask the guy a question dummy,” which spurred me on to ask, “what are you looking for in horses when you are at sale?” Lukas sparked up, like superman exiting the phone booth–you could almost envision him donning professorial robes. What proceeded was a 30-plus minute master class in conformation, horse biodynamics, engineering, angles, the pendulum, anatomy, and speed, including highlighting examples and drawing diagrams on images of horses. It was without a doubt a fantastic moment in time, that I was grateful to have had with the presence of mind to receive.

Another such moment serendipitously presented itself recently with another talented horsemen, Neal Shapiro. Shapiro knows a thing or two about horses, including their feet. Shapiro, a lifelong horseman has an envious list of accomplishments, including Olympic Medals earned in the 1972 Munich Games (Team Silver and Individual Bronze), membership in Showjumping's Hall of Fame, and a tremendously successful career as a harness trainer and driver. Shapiro, an affable guy, continues to enjoy his passion for horses, and with his wife, fellow Olympian and Pan American Gold Medalist, Elisa “Licha” Fernandez-Shapiro, who operate Hay Fever Farm, in Robbinsville, N.J. Shapiro invited me to grab lunch with him, taking a momentary break from his jammed-packed riding lesson schedule where he was willing to share his thoughts on all things shoeing and horses over a slice of pizza.

Neal Shapiro aboard Uncle Max at Hickstead UK | Courtesy Neal Shapiro

“I had a very good friend who did the work at our farm and he was a very good horseman and blacksmith, very skilled at what he did,” Shapiro referring to Billy Ardito, a legendary Long Island shoer, who was later an instructor for Nassau County's BOCES Thoroughbred horse program. Shapiro recounted his progression into shoeing, occurring in between riding duties with the United States Equestrian Team (starting in 1964) and his acquisition of a harness related driver licensing (1967-68) thanks to Ardito.

“I would spend afternoons at the shop [Ardito's] shop making shoes,” he said. “I loved doing it.”

“Pulling shoes, trimming, nailing shoes, years of learning,” which eventually landed Shapiro the added responsibility as the “Team's (USET) relief blacksmith” during its European Tours, he recalls with amusement.

As the discussion delved deeper, the conversation segued to all things hoof related, growth, schedules, general care, and maintenance of the feet.

“[Poor hoof growth] probably has a lot to do with nutrition, minerals, and vitamins,” he explained. “What I learned at the racetrack is very different from the horseshow world. In the horseshow world they put on hoof dressing because it looks pretty, however, at the racetrack we don't put things on [the hooves] to make anything look pretty.”

Shapiro highlighted the success realized by simply applying different types of dressing(s) to the coronary band directly below the hairline, stimulating blood flow and circulation, “that seemed enough to allow horses to keep good healthy feet.”

When asked about the possible root cause of foot related issues in breeding for performance versus soundness he explained, “The horses today are very different. Standardbreds are basically bred for soundness, Thoroughbreds for increasing speed versus soundness, and the European Warmbloods for jumping. I see so many Warmbloods with conformational flaws.”

Shapiro also cited a recent change in thinking and returning to practices of yesteryear, pulling the shoes when possible.

He continued, “[Keeping a horse barefoot] has changed a lot. It has been a big plus, the feet grow out and they get healthier. Amazingly, some [previously shod] horses have seen improvements in bone structure, contracted heels, possibly created by shoeing, opening up. Shoeing is necessary in certain instances, to keep the feet from breaking up. But [when necessary] pulling the shoes and trimming may cause some initial soreness, especially in horses that have been shod for a long time, however, it's going to stimulate blood circulation and growth.”

Countering convention, he asked, “If the shoes are tight and not worn out, why can't they go six or seven weeks, especially if they are not growing foot?”

Shapiro also underscored the probable adverse effects and impact [including on the hoof] of the 52-week cycle of expected performance and competitions.

“It's a big problem,” Shapiro admitted. “The horses basically go year-round never getting a break. Look at today versus history, how many top horses are around for any length of time today. Horses had time off back then, they didn't compete year-round.”

Overall, Shapiro believes farriers are doing a good job. However, admits he worries about the overall state of horsemanship, recounting multiple stories to prove this point. Something that I can also directly attest to, I recently having found myself working on a horse known to be difficult for shoeing, and multiple grooms standing witness to the unfolding events were immersed in a discussion about favorite cruise destinations, seemingly unwilling, or unaware that it was part of their job to assist the farrier.

He concluded, “I don't think it's rocket science. We need to try to do what's best for the horses and making people a little more knowledgeable. It's a balancing act, you need to balance everything. We keep these horses going way too much, they need a rest, a long enough rest which can also allow their feet to be healthier.”

   Jude Florio, who has served as a professional farrier for over 20 years, is also a patented inventor having earned a graduate diploma from the University of London's Royal Veterinary College in Applied Equine Locomotor Research. He is among the current MSc Equine Science cohorts researching the effects of farrier interventions at the University of Edinburgh, Royal 'Dick' School of Veterinary Studies (June 2023).

The post Farrier Tales: Valuable Lessons To Learn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Growing Pains

I've often wondered about the significance and the origins of what I might label the arbitrary four-week shoeing cycle, and its strict adherence by some owners, trainers and stable managers. I recognize scheduling is simplified when the shoeing occurs the same day every month. However, having now done this job for some time, I have identified many circumstances where horses would benefit with more time in between shoeing and on more than one occasion that has been my recommendation (accepted or not).

Unfortunately, there are some non-farrier professionals who fail to recognize how frustrating it can be for a farrier in situations where there is little or nothing to do when addressing a horse's hooves. This is especially true in examples of horses with poor feet, odd hoof conformation, and the often-associated lack of hoof growth. Most unnerving are the circumstances connected to top performers, and a farrier's singular mission to ensure soundness and optimal performance against all odds. Interestingly, in top performers of any sport or discipline, there exists some correlation between superior performance and hoof-related issues.

Routine struggles can be commonplace with some farm managers' insistence on tight schedules due to travel or competitions, often overriding or disregarding individual horse needs. On these occasions, virtually little or nothing can be done from a trimming standpoint and farriers find themselves going through the motions. It seems counterintuitive and possibly even detrimental in one's attempts to maintain and/or improve the hoof's integrity, often resulting in more nail holes, broken hoof walls, possible results from the stress, pressure and “The torque of the shoe's marriage to the dynamic hoof.

Often, owners and trainers are nearby keeping a close eye, a predictable scenario when working on their top horses. Occasionally they chime in, “you did nothing” or quizzically “not much foot there.” Usually I have a quick persnickety reply, “I get paid for what I leave on and not what I take off,” borrowing from an old timer.

How does a younger, less experienced farrier react to those occurrences and statements?

Undoubtedly, the unspoken pressure results in some obligation to do something greater than lightly rasping and repositioning the shoe for compensation, which can lead to unnecessary invasiveness, harmful to the foot and the horse's soundness.

It stands to reason, very simplistically, taking something flat and rasping it flatter probably won't increase or improve the vertical depth of the coffin bone, but maybe extra time with correctly executed interventions could.

So how long does it take for the hoof to grow, what may affect growth, and how can positive hoof growth be promoted? There are many factors which are believed to influence the hoof's quality and the amount of future growth, but there are also as many mysteries. Any attempts to make a convincing argument on this topic that 100% applies can prove elusive. There is always one horse that can make you a liar. Some horses can routinely grow significant amounts of hoof, but why that is can only be theorized. Hoof growth can be quantified by measurements of the toe's length with changes equaling 1/4 to 1/2 inch or more. Farrier visits and time in between certainly can affect this measurement. However, there are always exceptions and some horses may require shorter periods of time (three weeks) in between appointments, while others can go longer (six to eight weeks). When considering the shod hoof, the frequency of visits are primarily dictated by the ability to maintain the shoe's integrity, perhaps the farrier's greatest challenge.

It's universally acknowledged that it takes approximately one year for the hoof to grow from the top of the coronary band to the bottom of the foot. Old-school horsemen often preached the belief of the dam's influence on her offspring's hoof conformation and presentation, something I can directly attest to (including a propensity to kick). Genetics aside, diet, environment, terrains, work, conformation, injuries, climate, weather, moisture or lack thereof, and the time of year, as well as previous farrier interventions, all directly influence hoof growth. The most often overlooked influence on hoof growth are forces and pressures experienced, encountered, absorbed, and dampened, affecting circulation and a hoof's ability or inability to allow healthy blood flow which plays the most significant role in overall foot health and future growth. The hoof grows away from pressure, so low-heeled hooves have increased heel pressure and restricted blood flow promoting the foot's forward migration. Conversely, the same can be said with the presentation of high heels, shorter toes, medial, or lateral pressures.

Certainly, all of this trimming and 'balancing' keeps us farriers in business and recent changes in thought have owners and trainers considering individual needs instead of the calendar to the horse's betterment. This shift in thinking likely comes as a result of previous experience and unintended negative consequences.

Regrettably, time may never be on our side and overriding factors may fail to account for the time needed for optimal hoof growth. Shoeing schedules vary throughout the world, with greater amounts of time elapsing in between farrier visits, however, economics and environment may influence those practices.

In the end, the foot can only grow with time, proper nutrition, care, and maintenance. It's amazing how resilient the foot can be and it's always advisable to follow the recommendations of one's farrier or a knowledgeable professional. They may likely suggest the application of certain approved hoof dressings and/or topical ointments to the coronary band or sole meant to stimulate blood flow, hoof growth and/or enhance protection. The added extra steps actually work and most farriers report an ability to detect improvements.

   Jude Florio, who has served as a professional farrier for over 20 years, is also a patented inventor having earned a graduate diploma from the University of London's Royal Veterinary College in Applied Equine Locomotor Research. He is among the current MSc Equine Science cohorts researching the effects of farrier interventions at the University of Edinburgh, Royal 'Dick' School of Veterinary Studies (June 2023).

The post Growing Pains appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights