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What we do
"Shoeing the performance horse"
We strive to shoe all horses so they can fulfil their maximum potential in their chosen field, be it Racing, Show jumping or other events. We place a strong emphasis on the horse’s comfort.
Click Here For Some Recent Photos
Videos
There are two videos featuring some of our work. Click the links below to watch them
100_0793.MOV ( 20.3 MB )
100_0798.MOV ( 9.7MB )
At an authentic forge we offer:
- Shoeing of the performance horse
- Specialised knowledge in therapeutic shoeing covering angular limb deformities in foals, laminitis and navicular diseases
- Seminars and Farrier Foundation Courses
- Demonstrations
- Mobile forge facilities
- Overnight stabling facilities
We are available for
- Seminars (at home and abroad) and Exchange Programmes on your chosen subject such as foot balance, lost shoe syndrome.
- Live Shoeing Demonstrations for visitors, as well as tour groups.
- School tours and visits to an authentic working forge
- Film and TV work at home and abroad
- Commissions as a resident farrier at equestrian events at home and abroad.
- Contributions to Equine publications.
We specialise shoeing the performance horse. We enhance the ability to jump to its maximum.
Reasons for shoeing
The primary reasons for shoeing are to prevent the foot wearing away quicker than it grows, and to help to protect the vulnerable areas of the foot from picking up foreign bodies, i.e. the white line. Shoes are also required for defective feet, to prevent injuries due to abnormalities of gait or to assist in the treatment of disease or injury.
Under natural conditions the foot can take care of itself quite
well, only when the horse
carries what nature intended it to carry, i.e. it’s own body weight. However,
the domesticated horse is expected to carry a load, either in the form of a
rider or a cart. As a result of this the foot wears away rapidly, if unshod.
Some horses are born with or grow abnormal feet, some turn in, others turn out, and sometimes the feet are too upright and boxy with contracted heels, thus affecting their action. These deformities can often be remedied by trimming but sometimes material is required, to either prevent or cause wear to a particular part of the foot. Therefore, shoes have to be fitted to correct any malformation, which may be present.
Characteristics of a well-shod horse.
Good shoeing and well-shod horses have several basic characteristics, which are common to all.
- Firstly, the comfort and natural movement of the limb of the horse is of paramount importance, remembering that the hoof has evolved to protect and prevent the foot from slipping without the use of metal shoes. Whatever type of shoe is used it should not interfere with the natural functions of the foot.
- The excessive growth of the foot must be trimmed back to the correct level to ensure that the horse’s weight is distributed over the whole foot. The wall should be trimmed to the best natural shape, being a straight line from coronary band to ground surface, not flaring out or being cut back too far.
- The shoe being the correct weight and size for the horse and work involved, should be level, with clean nail holes spaced evenly between the toe and the quarters, shaped to fit the foot accurately, with clip bedded into the wall to fit flush.
- The shoe must be of adequate length so that there is no loss of bearing surface.
- The level foot and the well-prepared shoe should fit perfectly with no gaps between them. With the shoe appearing to be an extension of the hoof. The nails driven into sound wall will have emerged a third of the way up and been turned down into strong clenches and rasped smooth.
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John McDaid, Registered Farrier, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, is always willing to give a helping hand, or advice. |
Therefore, the well shod horse has;
- (a) the correct weight and size of shoes
- (b) level feel
- (c) correct limb alignment
- (d) no loss of bearing surface
- (e) clenches in a regular line, smooth and firm into the wall.
Good communications is the key to progress; co-operation between the horse owner, vet, farrier and the horse will ensure that the best possible work can be completed.
The age old saying "no foot, no horse" still rings as true today as yesteryear. This is where your farrier comes into his own bringing with him a high degree of skill, knowledge and expertise acquired through a long apprenticeship, training and experience. Therefore one can say farriery is an art, a craft and a science.
The horse owner is required to:
- Give the farrier adequate notice for him to arrange the visit and make the shoes.
- Provide a clean, dry well lit, place to shoe the horse, with a clear level floor, or arrive at the forge in time for the appointment.
- Ensures that the horse is properly trained and prepared to stand quietly while the feet are picked up and shod.
To conclude here have been great advances in the study and techniques of feet preparation, the making and fitting of shoes (ie natural balance) involving ‘glue on shoes’ and plastic alternatives. Unfortunately this progress is relayed to the horse owners too slowly. As a result any changes to the traditional way a horse is shod are often seen as something amiss with one’s horse. Let us hope efforts such as this and by many of our national and international farriers and associations will help to alleviate any myths regarding the way forward to the new age of horse shoeing.
Some Recent Photos
NO Job Too BIG |
NO Job Too SMALL |
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