Allopathic Horseshoeing LLC

01/17/2024

Current package for horse in last post.

01/16/2024

The marginal sole growth apparent suggests some reestablishment of vascularization. Far from out of the woods, but going in the right direction via multidisciplinary approach.

10/23/2023

10/23/2023

Before and after

10/23/2023

Been a little while, been busy, but here’s some feet.

08/06/2023

Unfortunately neglected to take before and after, but radiographic confirmation is a beautiful thing. As are Derek Poupard’s 3 deg wedged pink eclipse pads and 15 durometer glue shu DIM

07/15/2023

Congratulations to this duo! 🎉
It is such an honor to work with this barn; and to shoe this sweetheart of a horse!

04/03/2023

Still dealing with this bruising. From solear surface, however, foot is making great strides and HPA’s look good. Polyflex have been a G-d send in this particular case.

04/03/2023

Was quite happy with these rudders (indication: “splitting” in the reining horse). Whether this is a cure all is nonsensical, not the assertion here by any means.

This particular client has a particular horse that happens to split. Their previous farrier applied rudders and it resolved the situation to an extent such that said client was happy. I have followed this farrier’s awfully tidy/excellent work, although I’m more inclined to brazing rudders vs folding steel over. Why?

Mostly aesthetic, as from a functional standpoint the debate is more or less nonexistent. If the horse goes sound, and is performing at his/her perceived best, that’s all a guy/gal can ask for. From a farriery perspective, jury’s out on whether to even dabble in rudders to begin with, don’t even get me started on footfall, palmar angles (hinds in particular), or nailing up in general…. that’s a discussion for another time.

Farriery has serious limitations, much like orthotics in humans. The idea that the application of some sort of wedge, toe, heel, or other fill in the blank support has the possibility of resolving conformational defects smacks of “snake oil” for a reason. Reflecting back on my proper medical days/case in point, some shoe insert is not going to completely resolve longstanding osteoarthritic change or bursitis, that’s ridiculous on its face.

In the case of the horse, the best anyone can do is achieve an appropriate trim according to the only gross morphological structures extant for the coffin bone (assuming said practitioner is operating without properly shot radiography). That is, the coronary band and white line.

After that, it’s nails at sufficient height, and not getting carried away with creating beautiful soles/frogs for the sake of Instagram, tic tak, fill in the blank toxic social Media outlet that happens to be destroying our younger generations.

No shoeing can fix conformation. As well, neither can any shoeing fix the weight of the rider, their saddle or rather saddle fit, their particular bit and it’s associated mechanics, the footing of the arenas they happen show on vs live upon, their stewardship in general or exercise protocol.

Net net - a good farrier under the horse is akin to what Tom Brady has espoused about “body workers”. Worth their weight in gold, despite not being grounded in evidenced based protocol. Farriery is entirely informed by anecdote. It is making great strides to deliver in the evidenced based direction, however, the study of prosthetic application to the equine distal limb is exceedingly difficult to control for confounding variables as most data comes from either cadaver limbs or the kill pen.

Point of departure. What makes for a good farrier then? An individual of a certain obsession. An individual willing to get under YOUR horse. An individual willing to endanger THEIR LIFE, everyday, because they care more about the comfort and, dare I say, “balance” as even that term is controversial amongst the pinnacle of farriery, of your horse than they do about your dollars.

So please, horse owners, perhaps take into account and appreciate the extent to which we as farriers push each other and risk our lives, every single day, to keep your horses comfortable.

If your horse lacks ground manners, this is not your farrier’s job. It’s not cute. It’s not sweet. It’s not whatever you want to call it. It’s simply dangerous not only for your farrier, but for you and most of all for your horse. The job is a direct function of how well your horse stands, which in some cases requires your veterinarian to prescribe appropriate sedation for you or your vet to administer. If you are overweight, lacking appropriate training/education, or been strung along to think a farrier can correct constitutional conformational defects, this is not your farrier’s job either. Please keep this in mind so that the next individual may safely go about their work under your horse and achieve the best outcome possible.

Love this job and feel so blessed to work with such an incredible creature. Safe travels and happy shoeing, riding, training and showing to all!

04/03/2023

After

04/03/2023

Before

02/22/2023

Price is what you pay. Value is what you get. And, in this particular case, I am over the moon.

Incredibly fortunate to have the gentlemen behind these tools in my back pocket, each of whom are not only juggernauts in the art of toolmaking, but farriery in general across every discipline. For colleagues interested in picking up tools produced by these craftsmen, I recommend you reach out immediately, as both are currently in a position such that demand exceeds production, not to mention they have full books of horses and families.

For Jeremy VanSchoonhoven, you can find him on Facebook.

For Paul Skaggs Horseshoeing, please see business card image.

Both are incredibly approachable/humble, capable of building whatever your heart desires from hammers and hoof knives to Damascus and artisanal pieces, and eager to share their vast wealth of experiential knowledge of farriery and metalwork.

01/28/2023

What an event this was. From forming new relationships with colleagues from around the world, exploring the latest in modern materials, methods and research, to problem based learning in small group didactic sessions mediated by the legends of our field. Can’t thank the AFJ and IAPF enough for organizing.

01/23/2023

Congratulations! It is always a pleasure to see the horses I work on perform!

01/13/2023

And this is what it’s all about. Posted upon receipt of client permission of course.