If the shoe fits ….
Authors: Brown Sarah-Mary
Journal: Equine Health
Summary
# Editorial Summary: "If the shoe fits..." Brown's 2019 examination of shoeing plan prioritisation provides a framework for the systematic assessment of individual horses' biomechanical and physiological requirements before committing to a farriery strategy. Rather than applying standardised approaches, the author argues that effective shoeing demands evaluation across multiple domains—including conformation, gait mechanics, workload demands, and existing pathology—to identify which factors should take precedence in each case. By establishing clear decision-making hierarchies, this work offers practitioners a structured method to justify their choices to clients and colleagues, moving beyond intuition-based practice. The findings underpin safer, more targeted interventions that reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury whilst supporting the horse's performance capacity. For farriers, veterinarians, and rehabilitation specialists working collaboratively, understanding these prioritisation principles becomes essential to developing truly individualised shoeing plans rather than defaulting to routine patterns.
Read the full abstract on the publisher's site
Practical Takeaways
- •Provides framework for developing individualized shoeing plans based on established priorities
- •Helps farriers structure clinical decision-making when selecting shoe type and application method
Key Findings
- •Expert opinion article discussing systematic approach to shoeing plan development
- •Addresses priorities in farriery decision-making for individual horses