Specializing in: Farrier - Massage - Aromatherapy - Training
We all work for you.
Do not take this the wrong way if you're a client and read this! :)
I spend a lot of time focused on horses, how they work, how they move. I spend everyday trying to help horses do the job at hand, which for some horses means they are shod differently than another horse in the barn with the same job. I try and stay far away from cookie cutter my horse events so he’s shod this way shoeing and more on how this horse will do its job the best for the longest time. I promise that I am in no means ever short changing your horse, they can do the job at hand how I am shoeing them. Do you have concerns then please feel free to present them to me, I make an attempt to watch all my horses do their job so I see first hand how they go. More often than not actually hardly ever do I say he needs lighter shoes, more traction (unless on ice, ect) if you find yourself in that situation maybe we should look at more things than this shoes. Main reason I say this is because my favorite pair of boots worn everyday well almost everyday weight more than 30oz per shoe, and my new balance tennis shoes are 15 oz per shoe, I weight around 180lbs. Horseshoes for the same size foot will range from raceplates 4oz a shoe all the way up to toe weight gaited horse shoes at 16oz per shoe, that horse will weight on the light end 1000lbs. Does this make you wonder because it sure makes me! Your poor horse is asked to carry less weight on his feet when you could ride bare foot and shed a few pounds. Traction is a different deal, but can fall closely into the same line of fire. My goal is to give the horse just enough traction to work safely (in soft footing) this maybe in a plain shoe, rim shoe (another terminology issue of me), concave, added studs dive in or screw in or heel caulks. If you wish to have light shoes you will also inhibit the horses ability to get into the footing because the area the shoe possesses does not dig into the work surface if the shoe is only ¼ of an inch tall it only gets that far into the footing, a week later the shoe is thinner, week later thinner, so on and so on.
If you find yourself in this siltation, lets look at more things that may factor into what is going into how the horse is asked to perform.
Does the tack fit properly? Are you riding in an 80lb saddle with a huge rhinestone headstall? What did the horse eat did you give him the proper nutrients to perform his job without overloading him, is she well exercised? Has the horse been vet checked lately, how does he look does the horse look spry or is their something that could be causing him issues? How was the trailer ride to the facility? Is this a new facility? New/different footing? So many things will go into how the horse does his job.
We as farriers are asked to spend around an hour with a horse every six weeks, after that they are at the mercy of what is put in front of them. So please help us help them help you.
Why OES Was Started
After attending school at Hocking College in Nelsonville Ohio , my wife and I started OES to provide quality equine care along with a more personal experience.