Ideas on the present day approach to farriery as dictated by horse-owners
Authors: Flatters, B
Journal: FWCF Fellowship Thesis
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Ideas on the Present Day Approach to Farriery as Dictated by Horse-Owners Balancing therapeutic necessity with owner expectations around cost and horse functionality presents a genuine challenge in modern farriery practice, particularly when managing chronic hoof pathologies. Flatters' thesis documents practical management strategies for five common conditions—sandcrack, corns, puncture wounds, foal flexor tendon weakness, and laminitis—underpinned by innovative shoeing modifications that prioritise both healing outcomes and maintained performance. Key findings demonstrate that adhesive tape binding during re-shoeing substantially accelerates sandcrack healing whilst preventing reopening; threaded plug systems in set-heeled shoes enable targeted treatment access whilst preserving ridden work; and progressive corrective approaches (raised-heel shoes progressing to tee-shoes with central bar extensions) effectively address fetlock positioning in foals with weak flexor tendons. For practitioners seeking to reduce client costs and farrier visit frequency without compromising therapeutic efficacy, the threaded plug shoe system warrants consideration for corn and puncture wound management, whilst the recommendations for laminitis—positioning nail holes away from exposed laminae and substituting double clips for toe clips—provide practical refinements to conventional approaches. These evidence-based, owner-conscious techniques offer farriers a framework for maintaining equine soundness whilst addressing the real economic pressures that shape modern horse management decisions.
Practical Takeaways
- •Implement non-stretch adhesive tape binding during sandcrack treatment to prevent ground contact and reduce healing time
- •Adopt threaded plug shoe systems for corns and puncture wounds to extend intervals between farrier visits and reduce overall owner costs
- •Use progressive corrective shoeing protocols for foal flexor tendon weakness, starting with heel elevation before advancing to bar supports and tee-shoes
Key Findings
- •Adhesive tape binding during re-shoeing prevents sandcrack reopening and accelerates healing
- •Threaded plug shoe systems allow treatment access for corns and puncture wounds while maintaining work capability
- •Progressive support methods (raised heel shoes, splints, then tee-shoes) effectively correct fetlock positioning in foals with weak flexor tendons
- •Well-seated laminitis shoes with double clips instead of toe clips and strategically positioned nail holes reduce laminae exposure