HOW TO PROPERLY SHOE THE MISSOURI FOX TROTTING HORSE

                         HOW TO PROPERLY SHOE
               A MISSOURI FOX TROTTING HORSE
                                             By Bob Blackwell

Shoeing a Missouri Fox Trotting Horse may seem different from other breeds, but even so the basics of good shoeing practices hold true for all breeds. I have shod horses for 50 plus years and have shod gaited horses for 30 plus years. I was trained by and apprenticed under my grandpa who was a professional blacksmith and received formal training from Cal. Poly. Tech. in San Luis Obisbo, CA.

My Pre Veterinary training from Univ. of Pennsylvania helped give me a better, more in-depth understanding of the rational and justification of procedures used in both standard and correctional shoeing. I have stated on my personal web page from the beginning that I fit the shoe to the horses hoof and not the hoof to the shoe. When necessary for correctional shoeing, I have even made my own shoes.

I prefer to shoe a fox trotting horse with flat plates. My reasoning for this is that it allows the hind feet to slide making the gait smoother. I start out shoeing to the horse's natural angles: ie hoof, shoulder, front pastern; hoof, hip, rear pastern. All three angles should be the same. The natural angles will work on most horses bred for a natual foxtrot.

The angles can be changed to enhance gait. To help a hard trotting horse fox trot you can raise the angle in front and lower it behind. A pacey horse is shod just the opposite to achieve a fox trot by lowering the angle in front and raising it behind. The changing of the angles in either case should not excede 2-4 degrees.

I first trim and ready the bottom of the hoof, then I LIGHTLY rasp off any flares. I use a draw knife very little on the frog just to trim off the dead material. I then fit the shoe and shape it to fit the edge of the foot. On the rear quarter of the foot to the heel I leave the shoe fit over the foot 1/16-1/8 of an inch. This allows for enough foot growth that the foot does not grow over the shoe. I use a shoe large enough to extend past the heel at LEAST 1/4 inch. With the shoe fitted full and extending past the heel and the frog left full there is little danger of contracting heels.

I feel that the current popular ways of using a shoe at least one size too small, bending in the heels, and using heeled shoes are causing or contributing to the following problems: contracted heels, rough gait, and there is some evidence that some of these practices may be soring some horses and causing them to react to pain when examnined. A "coon-footed" (underslung heels) horse fitted with small tight fitting shoes will not travel in a normal manner. After discussing this problem with two different vets we concur that this could be a reason that this type of horse could test positive for soreness at the DQP station.

In closing, farriers are contracted by and paid by the owner and SHOULD shoe the horse the way the owner requests. If they refuse to follow directions, I would get rid of them and DO NOT PAY THEM for work done wrong and not contracted.

I have worked with owners, farriers, and veterinarians from all over the country with excellent results. If you or your farrier has any questions about shoeing please feel free to contact me.