How to “stand up” a flat footed horse

[@racenail9086]

Very well explained and understandable. Thank you

[@horsecrazy7655]

Well explained! You shoe just like my farrier and I love his work, I have a horse with bursitis in front right so break over is very important and she does well with my farriers job, she also used to struggle with abscesses until I started use this farrier and haven’t had one since he has been doing her for 2 years now, great video I loved watching ❤

[@Falco45able]

If you look at how the horse stands at the very beginning then at the end it seems to be standing straighter in the foot ankle area , good job fella stay lucky, stay safe! 😉🇬🇧

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

I always look at the horses posture, it can tell you so much if you pay close attention to the subtleties.

[@ASDMNFPLW13498]

please keep this coming. Heading to shoein school in a few weeks and want as much as i can obsorb prior.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

That’s awesome! I’ll try to keep them coming for you!

[@pgree6176]

You really care for your work and horses

[@Westernmountaintrapper]

I agree. I personally set the shoes back on a lot of front feet, stretched lamina, straight quarters.

[@abbykoop5363]

Thank you for this. This is mostly how I shoe, though fit a little fuller. I learned a few things about setting the shoe back though.

[@vanaruone6767]

Some horses just have flatter hooves, I got a 28 year old flat footer been doing great her whole life, no shoes (I keep the heels and bars all the way down).

[@TroyReinholdt-fz2ds]

Good job Cowboy! 8 weeks only helps the budget not the horse in my opinion. We have 20 Ranch horses all are on 4-6 weeks cycles. Waiting 8 weeks your always behind and have much to take off often leaving the horse sore. Little at a time is preferable to manage distortions and encourage proper growth. Thanks for your video.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

I think you’re spot on! Thanks for watching!

[@CanadianCowgirl1955]

Agree

[@uliseslobo2180]

I’ll choose a bigger shoe, work on the shoe a nice break over, rocker whatever. Because the strongest part of the hoof is the wall at the toe, and when you move back the shoe are transferring more stress on the heels plus you are making weaker the toe.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

Another thought though, I do agree the dorsal aspect of the hoof capsule is the strongest portion, but would you still consider it a proper weight baring structure if the lamina between P3 and the capsule is compromised resulting in a misalignment of the wall and P3?

[@jeannierickard8504]

You’re an excellent explainer!!! You could be a teacher. On top of that you can really see you know what your doing by looking at the feet before you even start. Even with laminitis and going 8 weeks, you that horse’s feet still look fairly good. That is how I judge a shoer’s skill and performance. I have had horses come out of the field 2 weeks after being shod and their feet look like shit. I am assuming that you shod this horse before since you know what you’re going to find before you pull the shoe off. Excellent job all around!!! You are someone I would hall my horse to if you were not in my area. Actually where is your home area, it looks like Idaho or Utah maybe even Nevada? I am always looking for a good shoer in the Boise area, and even better if you were trained by the Smith Brothers. 😉

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

Thank you for the kind words. I am located in western Nevada. This is a horse I have had on my books for about a year. I was taught to shoe for that 6 or 8 week mark. Not just for today. Thanks for watching!

[@jeannierickard8504]

@@thewesternstatesfarrier it shows!!! I live in Eastern Oregon and have to haul to Bend or Boise if I want a good shoer that makes sliders or even natural balance shoes. I will definitely have to keep up with your videos. Thanks

[@lauralauren6432]

Nice work

[@orvillehead]

How much and where you gather your peripheral margin needs to have an anatomical reference. The more you set back the shoe, and shape for break over, the more you can add to the cycle of distortion you see in the sole and sole wall junction. You do reference ratios but dint specify what ratio w what parameters. The suspensory apparatus of the distal phalanx is disengaged by shaping and setting back this way. I know. I’ve done it for years. lol. And now after years I see yes it can be managed that way but it can be managed better by engaging and using the SADP and natural arcs found in the hairline. When pathology creates enough distortion that the SADP has failed then yes we have to shape more to accommodate pathology than natural normal anatomy. Migrations happen slowly and recovering these distortions can take time. I understand when it’s still a using horse, the owner may not have time to wait and we have to cheat the hoof to get them by. My main point is in the long run I believe this adds to the cycle of distortion.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

I can’t argue with any of that as I have seen the effects of continually setting shoes back on horses with a sound hoof capsule only to see negative results in the long run. As far as as my ratios goes I’m still learning how to explain that on the fly without continuously referencing COR off the coffin joint, one of these days maybe I’ll get it figured out. Regarding the suspensory apparatus I would have to argue that it has no affiliation to the hoof capsule itself rather the boney column of the limb inside, so assuming the “set back” of the shoe is correctly aligned with the tip of P3 there shouldn’t be any infringement of the operation of the apparatus correct? I still consider myself green in the trade so I’m always interested in more knowledge. Thank you for engaging.

[@horseshoe182]

nice work, i understand why you set the shoe back so far, i,m not so bold, maybe i will try it.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

It’s very dependent on the hoof, sometimes feet can handle it and sometimes they can’t. Let the COR decide if you can set it back. Sometimes just picking a larger shoe to add more caudal support is a better way to go.

[@nomadicsoul6341]

Can you explain why some shoers attach the shoe with heat? I apologize for my naiveness... Im genuinely interested and appreciate what you do.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

The shoe isn’t actually applied while hot, it’s cooled before nailing it on. There’s a couple benefits to “hot shoeing”. Ease of shaping is one, and when it is burnt onto the hoof it seals parts of the hoof and will help the hoof maintain its structure in wetter environments.

[@senseneystokes8204]

I don't understand why you keep the toe long. His pastern angle and hoof angle don't match.

[@vanaruone6767]

He needs more toe and less heel to be able to heal that inflammation?

[@ImogenC-rt3fm]

Bar abscesses?? No forge on your truck? Used to call this "gravel"--the idea being gravel worked it's way up the white line.

[@ImogenC-rt3fm]

Hooves like fingernails strengthen and grow in response to concussive stress. The art of shoeing is in keeping the horn tubules in optimal alignment with horse and gravity: Hoof grows faster where it STRIKES harder. This is an ART!

[@bryanmontgomery4050]

Very seldom used a forge after my apprenticeship, folks just don’t want to pay for the price of hot fitting unless it’s absolutely necessary.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

Terms for such things like this can be interchangeable depending on who you’re talking to. I reference it as a bar abscess rather than a gravel simply because of the location. I was taught a gravel is usually found in the wall. And I do hot shoe about 80% of my horses. But I firmly believe it’s critical to be proficient in both methods.

[@colinburdenmc]

Any pointers for trimming a horse for the first time. I work at a horse ranch and we have over forty horses. If you know anyone down in Texas send them!

[@colinburdenmc]

A yearling. His hoofs are starting to round n I think he’s having pain.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

That’s a tough one! Trimming and shoeing is very situational. What you do to one horse or even one foot might be completely opposite on the very next one. Best bet is to find an experienced farrier near by and ride along. Best of luck!

[@GracefulAcresHorsemanship]

Thank you very much for sharing.

[@jaysanders7472]

I am not a farrier but I would not be running aluminum. I think I would go with a steel heart with heals

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

This horse has steel shoes on.

[@jaysanders7472]

Oh I am sorry they didn’t look like it. My apologies no offense intended.

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

None taken. Thanks

[@dshe8637]

Horse seems to have trouble distributing weight

[@RobertSkene-qw3ob]

Just don't show up for your date! !!🇨🇦🤣

[@GailCardell]

All this with no xrays, get the owner to xray

[@cayuseHP]

Somewhat sad the horses don't get all thhey need to do their job absolutely comfortably and get and stay healthy Very nice job though

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

I will say, I’ve been around plenty of places that refuse to allow the farrier the apply something to help the horse in the long run. This though isn’t that place. The only thing keeping me from applying bigger shoes, or bar shoes is purely the situation this horse has to work in. I wouldn’t have very good luck keeping bar shoes on in the bogs this horse has to go through. Part of the message to this video was shoeing to the situation. Thanks for engaging!

[@foldsky]

Hello from Sweden! Really nice channel this!👍 Too bad you couldn't put pads on this one, especially because of the abscessing. Would've be cool to the the results! Anyhow, that's an awesome officeview! 🏔

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

Thank you for watching! I do wish I could put something on him to help, but for now it works for his job. 👍🏻

[@EricCraig-km4sb]

Great video. Never get to old to learn, especially with such a critically important subject. I 'll be watching more. Are you in the Owen's valley?

[@thewesternstatesfarrier]

I’m located near Gardnerville NV so not much further north.

[@EricCraig-km4sb]

I knew I recognized the place, but couldn't place it. Yeah I now the Carson Valley. And Smith Valley. I like a lot of your perspective on shoeing. Your measurement system is something I used to do, and maybe should revisit. (Yeah I watched some more of your videos). I am not a farrier. I have shoed some on ranches and at pack stations. I certainly have had some excellent help developing some skill from a few good carriers along the way. And a couple of cowboys who were good. Best of luck to you there in the Carson Valley! And thanks for your videos.